Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1898-02-01
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begged him to stay; and | begged him
to give me a call some night, for-ah.
really, he was very-that is, his COM
pany was very-ah! very agreeable, ha!
ha! ha! He was going my way, would
| go with him? or would he wait for
me? No; would stay an hour longer
at least and then see the Misses
Browne to their home Hal ha! ha!
what a notion | had of it.
He thought me very simple, no doubt
he thought all / said was true.
often wonder now whether he ever sus-
pected that the quiet individual who
did not shoot nor put his money in the
bank, and slept in the house alone, and
put bells on the doors and windows,
was detective, who would do his best
to see him safely I'm quod" before
| twelve hours were over. Ha. ha. we
shall see what we shall see-so we
shall.
He is gone. He shuts the hall door.
He looks wildly about him, and then
sets off in the direction of my lodgings.
| am watching him from my window.
oh, | forgot to tell him. All. really |
must go. Good evening, Mrs. Jones;
ia ia! l will clap on my hat and fol-
low him. shall shut the hall door
quietly and start in the same direc-
ton. Ha! | thought So
There he is in the dark, round the
corner. He does not think any one sees
him. Here is low wall-how handy,
I'll just get behind it and watch him.
His position is well chosen-no one can
see him unless just where / am.
Look what he is at. Well, I'm
blowed! He pulls out coat from
goodness knows where. 1t is quite
black. He puts it over his other coats,
and even pulls off his trousers. All. he
has others on under them-they are
black, too. And then he takes off his
tall hat, and slows all his traps where
the coat came from. His hat is re-
placed by glengarry. Then out comes
great black beard and mustache,
which are carefully adjusted. My yah!
wouldn't know him again.
Look again; he is examining some
thing in his hand; it shines as he turns
1t over-it gives faint click, click, as
he holds 1t up. Ha! / thought so; it
is a pistol He puts it into his breast,
and then looks about him. l creep
closer to the wall. He does not see
me, although he is coming this way.
He passes me, and walks on. whis-
tie a tune, and step after him round
the corner | am coming up to him.
lie asks me the time. | tell him, and
ask, did gentleman in light suit pass
that way? Yes; he went up yon street
smoking a cigar-good-night sir! Ha!
ha! goodnight! But surely he is fol-
lowing me! Yes, there can be no mis-
take about 1t. No matter, l will out
wit him. | reach the corner-he Is ten
yards behind me, or more set off at
run down the street till reach the
next corner. Round 1t fly.
A glance backward-he has not en-
tered the street yet. l enter a half
open door. The next minute | hear his
steps; he is running for life and death.
one would think. He reaches the cor
ner, too, and stops. He is not ward
from me, and l am grinning at him
through the door, which is about six
inches open. He looks about him. He
Is Mt fault. "Blast him." he mutters.
III have him yet" He sets off at n
headlong speed along the street. and |
saunter out quietly and follow him at
an easy walk. l arrive at the corner.
Heavens! he is coming down the street
towards me. Yes, 1t must be he, al
though his beard and mustache are
replace by carroty wniskers, and he
has pea jacket and jerry hat! BY
what trick of sleight of-hand is this
done? l cannot imagine. 1t must be
he. He is filling his pipe. My house
Is just In advance; still he follows me.
enter the house. Casually he
glances up at the windows. | bolt the
door. | hear him turn into the lane
that goes up alongside the next house.
steal quietly into the front parlor, anu
leave the shutters open, and put back
the window fastening. Then | go up-
stairs to the back room. light the
candle. l don't draw down the blind.
for reasons Of my own. One glance at
the lane. thought so; there he is,
staring at the house. can see him:
the lamp Is not far Off. l draw back
out OF sight, and, taking my revolver
out OF the drawer, l put fresh cart.
ridges therein, and slip 1t into nv
pocket. Then go to the window
again, with my nlghtcap In my hand.
stare into the glass while adjust II
am full In the glare of the canule-
light; | am sure he sees me. Then
quietly drawing down the blind, | ex.
unguish the light and pull It (the blindD
little on one side to look out. seel
| he Is rnnnlnr rnnnh o.. ~. L..