The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-10-30

tiOSe uOcumeutS plugging Out u Ivy
yest-I must creep by and hide them
in the bedroom. Holding my breath,
I was attempting it, when he took
three strides and stood in the door,
way, his eyes wide, his lips twitching.
ooh! it has come to this, has it?'
he said, huskily. A strained pause.
I could not look at him. Then: "Jef,
I can't stand it longer. What does it
mean? I wait here an hour to see
you, and you stink past me like thief.
Not word! Come in here, you shall
speak! Now, you mad fool, what are
you mixed up in? I'll know before
I leave this house-before put the
police on the fellow"
He held the doorway, and he meant
something. The mere sight of his
face, working with mingled incredulity
and irdignation-the mere recollection
Of all the dear old times together-was
enough to break down the miserable
barrier; but there was Nina-Nina's
glorious face between us that night.
I turned my head doggedly.
"Well?" he asked.
cts too late," was my answer. I
knew Masters; only the truth would
silence him. Anything that happens
to him now, happens to me. Is that
enough?'
"Good heavens!'' He stood staring.
ftJef, jeff! do you know what you
have said-what you are doing?'
E eyes; too well!" I spun round
then, both hands out, unable to keep
it back come what might. 'Jack, cut
me dead, every one of you, but don't
ask ME questions, for I can't answer
them. He does belong to secret
society," admit to you, and not al
hour ago I asked him to initiate me as
a member-to put Inc to any test.
There! no, I'm not mad; but-but I
hope to marry his daughter, the dear
est and most innocent girl on Gods
earth? Now you know-Jack!"
lie had gone-picked up his hat like
q man dazea, and gone! L heard him
feeling his way down the stairs as if
his sight had failed him-Masters, my
lifelong chum! Myself, I could not
move for time. Call him back?--no,
I could not! It was too late. If he
meant Nina on the one hand and saliva
ton on the other-I must choose
Nina!
'For your life do not come near.
The house is watched by police. A
false move now, and the work of
months goes-pouf! We want friends
diately-friends with money and
devotion. You-you may have
double incentive! Say nothing Of it,
but go quietly to 4 Rupert street,
Soho, at seven this evening. There
is an emergency meeting, and there
may be an ordeal from which you need
not shrink. Knock twice and say,
'The Cause
VE1Azz1o."
That was it in double envelope,
dropped into my letter box early two
days later. ''For your life do not
come near!' I read it incredulously
through over and over again, thrilled
almost into cowardice by the pre-
ynancy Of the message. Ny Nina in
house watched by the police! An
ordeal! I spent that day in a perfect
lever Of misgiving Quite dozen
times I started up with the determine
ton Of seeing Velazzio and learning at
my cost what had happened since
Yesterday, but each time something
held me back. When 6 o'clock came
[ was in no condition to reflect. Iset
out mechanically to find 4 Rupert
street.
At seven I was standing outside it
"a dull-gray house in an obscure
;horoughfare. Barely a second of
rresolution, and then knocked twice;
md almost instantly the door was
opened by beady-eyed foreigner.
1.-THE Cause I whispered. Next
moment I was cropping along the
5;oomiest, stillest passage imaginable.
The mau-where was he? Where was
The meeting? I was conscious of
burning heat breaking out over me.
"Quick, this way, friend!'
1t came, muffled sound, from the
End Of the passage. Holding my
breath, I walked forward, seeing moth
ng, till suddenly my arm was grasped
oy a man who, I take it, had been
standing behind curve in the wall.
was swung round, and heard door
freak at my back. Them thick,
husky voice was close at my ear.
"Why we should trust an English
nan, know not, but Velazzio insists.
80 listen! We have one test only,
md it is usually enough. In the
larkened room behind you, twenty |
eet by eighteen, waits man, chosen
~ lot, and armed with knife pre-
'isely like this I was just family |
o,,o IL ~