Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-04-30

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ond VIM IA accl,, ia mine, 4 ~
come only III he nick d tine - pre-
vent my nightmare (if 1t were not I
nightmare having . fatal ending.
Grant an important reason suddenly
transpiring. for keeping me alive, why
was / to be detained in Edinburg by
such bride as the prospect Of obtain
ing "Mr. Smiths" address?
OF course his statement might be
true. He might. believing me to have
dealt by him accordingly to the COM
pact between us, rely upon my skill.
and wish to employ so trusty messen-
ger again. Or. SO great was becoming
my faith in the mans almost supernat-
ural cunning, he might already have
learnt in some way that had deceived
him, and wish to get me in his power.
There was the somewhat mysterious
photograph l had seen at the inn, for
instance. 1t had passed through my
mind, during the ordeal / had lately
been called upon to endure, that Mr..
Smith might have instructed the land
lord: IF he remarks the picture
which / send, you will know that he is
traitor, and is to be dealt with &C.
cordingly." But if that were the case,
and Mr.. Smith suspected me, why had
he pulled me out OF the closing teeth Of
peril that would have saved him all
future trouble in disposing of a danger
GUS person?
l could not answer that question,
could not see why, unless the desire
to meet me again were genuine, he
should have telegraphed at such juno
ture, rudely interrupting the opera
ton of his own schemes. STILL it was
curious that he should not at once have
wired me the promised address, and
other suggested particulars; and on re-
Fiction l began to think the crux of
tie matter might lie in the injunction
to wait, returning the next day to the
Spinning Jimmy.
The very mystery in it all, and the
sense of being baffled, was spur to
outwit the enemy, and I gave my brain
no rest as l walked up Princes street
not consciously on the way to my hotel,
but seeking inspiration from the night,
the storm and the joy of freedom re-
gained.
Whatever his motive, 1 was sure that
the old arch-villian in London was
stretching out a claw over the miles
between, to play with me in Edinburg,
and I would have given my right arm
to know how he might be thwarted.
Perhaps l should be allowing myself
to fall like over-ripe fruit into his
hand if stayed in Edinburg, and went
again obediently to the Spinning jimmy
for further tidings in the morning;
still, l did not feel that l could resist
the lure so temptingly held out to me.
l must have that address, come what
would; for, if l chose, l had right to
run risks.
Yes, l repeated, had the right, for
myself; but had I the right for Lance
Seaford? What. if by stopping here I
placed her once more in peril, against
which l might be powerless to shield
her?
This was a new aspect to the affair,
and regarded it intently, like an I'M
expected pattern presented by the turn
of a kaleidoscope.
Whatever course I chose for myself,
l must hide Lanoe-steal her from I'M
der the hawk-talons darling out to
sieze her. But how to do the trick?
If | should be so fortunate as to sue
coed, however, another difficulty would
be partially, if not wholly, solved.
was afraid of the detective, whom, after
a lax and unsatisfactory fashion, l had
and solely because of her. Had l only
myself to consider, l would pay him,
open his cage-door and risk the rest
for there seemed to me as much danger
in keeping him with us as in letting
him go. If be tired of the situation
he could end it by making public COM
plaint of my detention and surveil-
lance; or, when the first fear of my re-
venge wore off in my mind, and he be-
gan to collect the wits that l had eff
fectually scattered, he might find many
ways of betraying us, and communicate
ing with his former employer l had
warned him against this with specious
arguments, hoping to excite terror of
Mr.. Nathan Builders swiftly falling
vengeance; but he might be better ac-
quainted with the inner workings of
that gentleman's mind than | guessed.
and better prepared for various emer-
gencies.
In a moment of thoughtlessness,