Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1898-03-31

maid who answered my ring. and thez
stammered and looked foolish.
had forgotten that aid not know hel
name.
The girl smiled behind her apron
It's all right. sir. Will you come thil
way. please?
"She showed me into the daintiesi
of boudoirs. Rich curtains and rugs
the thick administer on the floor, and
the array of little ornaments scattered
profusely around the room proclaimed
its owner to be accustomed to luxury
A second or two later the curtains
opened and in walked. not she whom
l was expecting, but-Barraud! ] gave
a start of amazement. / had pretty
nearly forgotten his existence; but the
insolent smile, just showing The white
of his teeth, on his face as he advanc-
ed. brought back wildly to my Iecol-
lection the circumstances of our last
meeting.
$50 we meet again, Mr.. Deuchars?
cit seems that we do l replied
coldly; and, seeing that he was about
to speak, / added; But will yon please
acquaint your mistress that l am here?
My time is limited I took him to be
servant. / had heard that since his
dismissal he had contracted habits OF
incompetence and gradually sunk own
the social ladder.
much to my relief, after moments
hesitation, during which he appeared
undecided whether to continue the con-
versation or accept rebuff, he chose the
latter and vanished. Five minutes,
perhaps, elapsed. Again the curtain
divided, and this time-ah! stepped
forward to greet my divinity.
81 must apologize most humbly for
keeping you waiting, Mr.. Deuchars,'
she said. I hardly dared hope that
you would find time to pay me a Wis
it,
Beauty has but to express a wish
and it Immediately becomes a COM
mand,' l replied in my most tender
manner, and bent low to take her hand
when
"'Ho! no! no! ho!-ha! ha! hal
"A burst of derisive laughter check
ed the gallant intention and caused me
to start back in dismay. furious
clutch at flaxen wig, the sound of d
dress being roughly torn down the
middle. Barraud! Again. 1t was a
grotesque figure that confronted me-
Shreds of feminine attire chung to him
here and there, and the hasty wipe he
had given his face had had the effect
of distributing the grease paint and
powder on it in blotchy, uneven
patches.
Then I comprehended. l have said
that he was a consummate master Of
the art of makeup, and his slight,
girlish frame had lent itself to his tai
ent with marvellous effect. l had been
tricked, duped deceived completely.
And now! FOR what purpose had he
lured me into his power? For in his
power | felt that | was. There was
CLEAN of incipient madness in his eyes,
and the smile of hooking triumph Oh
his patched and powdered features gave
him the appearance of some unreal,
fantastic figure; some bizarre concep-
ton of an overheated imagination. A
sense of impending danger caused me
to shiver slightly.
"At last he broke the silence, which
was fast growing oppressive.
We'll, M'sieur Deuchars, Go / not
make a charming young lady? Does
not your mouth water when l cast my
eyes up at you-so? l suppose you
thought that because my revenge was
long in coming 1 had forgotten. Bar
raud never forgets. | have waited
long for an opportunity, but now
You see that?' he said, breaking off
suddenly. 1t was a revolver, and
looked apprehensively at the polished
barrel. Shall / tell you what l pro-
pose to do with it? But let me con-
graduate you before l do. You sang
well this afternoon, exceedingly we'll
for the last time
"The emphasis he threw into the last
words confirmed my worst suspicions,
and l heard my heart beat faster. Bit
terly / cursed the headstrong foolish
ness which had placed me in his grasp.
| looked round the room. l was caught
lint a at III d Trap. HtIt was dppdI-
emily only one exit, and he sat guard
ing that and toying carelessly with the
revolver. l waited in trepidation for
him to resume.
eft is now 5:35. AT $50 or soon
after you ought to be at the theatre;
is not that so? But you will not be
there, make up your mind to that. l
propose to-to-what you call kill two
birds with one stone.
In the next hour you and 1 will
have a nice, quiet conversation--we
will recall old memories-and by that
time, my very dear friend, the stage
manager will be saying to himself:
Where the dickens is that Deuchars ?"
He will begin to fret about and get en-
cited, as he did on a former occasion,
for the understudy is away and there
Is no one who can take Deuchars's
part-ah! you are surprised to fnj
that l know anything about that, are
you not?'
with callous refinement of torture
he prolonged his words until cold
perspiration came out all over me as
sat there helpless and inert.
So much for the stage manager:
shall consider that we are quits. For
you, my dear friend. l have another
method. At seven o'clock l shall in