The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1898-10-06
MAN OF MYSTERY.


sry. sbeb psstlns frame eaildins o
Eli, street, uLsfe large force OF es'pe
lefs we're at wprk ssibsins on s'aa
.esaolds many ieet from the eronnd.
observed tall and uBnsualiy thin ms
sesie on pile Of lumbsr. ssiehins VT
The utmost inlettress the wofhmeD
With the instinci OF newspaper rel ot'ef
ever seeking Information, ! ssked him Y
wbom the building belonged snd What
was intended Tor. believing ihs, be va
The srcbiteet, or possibly the contractor
| DO not know. SIR sm . stranger u
the city. be replied. 10 voice oi sinsu'a
harshbess.
beg your pardon. thought you nigh
be the architect, | said Jon seem TO taxi
ap interest 10 the work.
Not 10 the wora. bu, 10 the wofknPn
he reioined with grin. which made bis
small. mean face. with its little lred eye'
absolutely disboiesl.
Then possibly you are yourself carpen
ter, | conlioued, hne trade the. .csrpen
ter aud mason are. TO my mind, the
noblsst orders OF mechanics; they are the
eteatotF, or rather the instruments that
carry out the inspiration OF the srchitect.
They do not interest me 10 that way.
said the stranger, she iplng of the lumber
pile aud moving ca. pslsble hint that be
required no more OF my conversation.
This inciien, left no impression on my
memory. for, although | frequently passed
the new building on my way TO the office,
saw no more OF the red eyed man.
One iae Sunday. attracted by the an
nounoemen, OF 9 balloon ascension st Bsk
er's Beach, / strolled out 10 that pictur
esaue carve 10 the harbor's entrance. As
the aeronsut took hold OF the parachute
and gave the word to let go. | saw the
stranger. The expression on bis face was
one OF intense, and, 1 might say, msIig
nant concentration. His eyes we're fixed
on the spsugled figure OF the athlete with
ierocity which not alone astonished me,
but gave me such decidedly uncomtotts
BILE feeling that l invoIuntsrily stepped
from beside him.
am ell right and away We gol cried the
seronsut, and the crowd cheered as the
graceful sphere sailed skywsrd. Under
and over the bar the aeronAut tnl0bled,
Gov holding on with one arm. now cling |
ing with bis toes. still leaving The dull
earth further behind him every moment.
BY Heavensl he'll get down safely. He's
not nervous unless the parachute should
collapse. Then we'll be all right. and
there wou't be whole bone in bis body.
This peculiar speech was uttered by the
mysterious stranger who. in the forward
movement Of the crowd, was agsia at my
elbow. Determined to discover the
source OF this extraordinary display OF
mslignity, | said,
1t seems, sir. you do not feel we'll die
sed toward our friend who is now tum
bling 10 mid sir. Is be an enemy OF yours
or q rival PROFESSIONAL
He is neither. come here. ss every one
else, yourself included, young man, hop
ing that he will fall am candid enough
TO say SO. and presume you are hypot
critic enough to declare that you hope he
will descend 10 safety.
/ certainly do hope so, with all my
heart, replied warm ly; why, no one but
, fend incarna.e would wish that yonder
iarins fellow might come 10 grief,
The stranger smiled. but the smile was
srdonic enough TO come under the head
II a gfimsce.
have met You before, be said; one
morning on Ellis street. l remember
our face now. Come, feel rather com y
this evening. Dine with me. !
am almost q perfect stranger in this city,
nd you will be doing a lonesome = favor p
you accept my Invitation. .
| consented, overcoming the repug
snce felt for the sake OF knowing more
bout:this person, who was evidently
ian OF mystery. He named an address =
o Pine street, the hour seven. and hitting =
is hat. with an agreeable, almost smis y
lie air, OF which could not believe his u
ard. grim features capable. We parted IN VI
i that hour.
While dressing ier dinner Was full Of :. -
objsctute about my strange scq qusintsnce.
lis name he bad not given, nor had he ~
Ientioned whether be was o married man y
bachelor. AS he had not appointed -
for our dining place. conclud - =.
that No. - Pine strtet must be -
oardiag house. However, OF ten min -
tes TO ths hour oi dining, rung the bell "
q large old fashioned house. dingy and ~
eslected looking to degree. A Japan 80
'e servant admitted me, and found my "
ost seated 10 . hsndsomely furnished
srlor. He was in evening dress, so | at
ace decided that We were not to be wi b
At ladies' society. 81
yon -, rut p.rdon mo ha said snn,taons IA