The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-05

the corner drug store. Step in, ma
dam ] am sorry to have kept you
waiting 50 long"
| was about to protest against being
compelled to travel such distance
with the mysterious stranger but
Martha interposed.
Remember what the little old wom-
an said" she cautioned. ~ was to
meet him under very peculiar clrcum-
stances and was not to avoid him, no
matter what happened. Let us go. We
will accept your offer. sir" she said
turning to him with dignity. Come,
Clara"
the Jack of Spades assisted US into
the carriage, then after hastily giving
the driver some directions. which I
could not hear. he sprang In after us
and we were off, leaving the manager
of the livery looking after us i'm n
dazed, bewildered way as though he
halt suspected we were three ghosts
who were out for cornwall on that
stormy night.
We had left the downtown district
and had crossed the river COINS north
before | remembered that ] had not
told the strange man where to take
us.
Where are we going" asked.
anXiously. 81 forgot to give YOU our
address"
by George, that's so" said he, re-
gretfullN. Il forgot about YOU and
told him to take me straight home
But perhaps we live in the same direc-
ton. My home is on Greendale ave-
nue."
"Greendale avenue?" Martha and I
cried in unison. so is ours"
How fortunate!" said the Jack Of
Spades, with a short laugh Of exulta-
tion. THAT simplifies matters for all
of Tie. What is your number, please?
Mine is 1167."
Eleven hundred and sixty-seven?"
Martha and I chorused again. why,
that's ours, too"
Really" he exclaimed, with uncon-
cealed interest. THAT is still more
fortunate"
Martha rested her head against my
shoulder and i'm the stiffness that
reigned in the carriage for n short
while after that. | could almost count
the tumultuous throbbing of her heart.
1t was very late and quite dark, for
that portion of the city through which
we were passing was poorly lighted at
best, but few yellow rays fell into
our carriage now and then as we
passed gas jet on a corner and by
their dim light I could see that our
companion was studying us even more
intently than I was studying Him. SO
he lived at 1867 Greensdale avenue. 7
could hardly credit the statement, for
we had been occupying an apartment
there for the last three years. and al
though | was not personally aCuuaint-
ed with the occupants OF the other
flats ! had learned to know most of
them by sight and I was quite sure |
had never seen any one there who re-
sembled Martha's Jack Of Spades.
Having learned few things about this
man who seemed to have reached the
superlatiVe degree of mystery | was
determined TO learn something more.
My husband" said I, after a somber
silence. 'is DR.. Harrison. II you live at
1l67 Greendale avenue you have prob
ably heard of him"
Yes, l think ! have" he said; "al-
though | am not sure, as I have lived
there but a little while"
Are you on the second hoOr?" | haz-
arded wildly.
NO" said he. ION the third floor"
Then after short pause he added:
Flat D."
Flat D?" | answered. Great heav-
ems. man, that cannot be. live in fiat
II myself"
He and Martha both started bolt up
right then and we three sat looking at
each other through the darkness in a
sort Of terrified stupefaction. None OF
us spoke again until the carriage
stopped before l1G7.
"Ah, here we are. ladies'" said the
Jack Of SPADES. blGudly. when he came
to a realization CT where we were.
He offered u his assistance in alight-
ing. courtesy which respectfully de-
clined but which Martha, feeling that
she in measure already belonged to
him, accepted alphabetically. Then he
gave his commands to the driver.
You know where to stable the
horses" he said, cOncisely. We all
sop here"
Then, before I was fully aware Of
what was happening to me, he had bid
den us goodnight and had hurried up
the steps and into the house.
Come on, quick" said ! to Martha.
now"
The elevator at 1867 Grecndale ave-
nue. did not run after midnight, and
the only way of reaching the upper
floors between the hours of - and 6
was to climb the stairs Our strange
companion was already half way up
the first flight when we entered the
lower hall Again | urged Martha TO
h,f oil
speed to the best rate we were capable
or on an upgrade, it was apparent that
the Jack of Spades was leaving us he
hlnd We were still at the foot of the
second stairway when he reached the
top and withdrew into the shadows on
the landing. ! listened for his foot
steps on the Hight of stairs leading
from our apartment to the floor above,
but there was tense quietude reign
ing there ana II was evident that he
was going no farther. I had reached
the middle of the stairs when / hear I
a low, grating sound like the turning
or Key I'm the lock. A second later |
came in sight of our own door and at
that instant II swung rapidly on its
hinges and closed with gentle little
click that was scarcely audible at that
short distance. | cried out then, and,
literally clearing the remainderSof the
stairway at one bound, commenced TO
peat on the panels of the door with
both my hands, Martha, with more
presence of mind. rang the bell. II
seemed an eternity before any one came
To let us in, although it was in reality
nut few seconds, as Joseph was stIll
sIt'lhs up studying over difficult case.
ne professed complete ignorance of the
stranger whom | had just seen enter
our house. We Eparphal ON, ro,,,,o