The Cook County herald., 1901-06-22


in in Cuba or Yucatan. But in all this
there was no word Of an Italian nor
any sign Of mystery. N
0 In the very last paper, however,
there was one item not SO clear The
accountants who were charged to veri-
~ the failure had, it seemed, come up-s
OF on "a asle tpe traces Of a very large number:
OF thousands which figured for some
time in the transactions Of the house
OF II Huddlestone, but which came from
nowhere and disappeared in the same
mysterious fashion. 1t was only once
referred to by name, and then under
the initials s'X. x.," but it had plainly
been floated for the first time into the
business at a period Of great depres-
sion some six years ago. The name
OF a distinguished royal parsonage had
been mentioned by rumor in connec-
ton with this sum. The coWardly
desperate such, remember, was the
editorial expression-was supposed to
have escaped with large part of this
mysterious fund still in his possession.
I was still brooding over the fact,
and trying to torture it into some con-
nection with Mr.. Huddlestone's dam
ger, when a man entered the tavern
and asked for some bread and cheese
with decided foreign accent. 5s5s$
'sSiete Italiano?" said I. -s
Isl, signor," was the reply. 10
l said it was unusually far north to
find one of his compatriots;; at which
he shrugged his shoulders, and replied
that man would go anywhere to find
work ! j>4s s%.a>, s-segg Gt
n. Even as he was speaking, I raised
my eyes, and, casting a glance into the
street, beheld three men in earnest
conversation together, and not thirty
yards away. - @a- -
It was already drawing toward the
close of the day before I had return
ed the newspapers at, the manse, and
got well forward on to the links on my
way home. shall never forget that
walk. It grew very cold and bolster
GUS; the wind sang in the short grass
about my feet; thin rain showers came
running on the gusts; and an immense
mountain range of clouds began to
arise out of the bosom of the sea. The
sun was about setting; the tide was
low, and all the quicksands uncovered;
and was moving along, lost in un-
pleasant thought, when was sudden
ly thunderstruck to perceive the prints
Of human feet. .@f5 S-4 lila :
Step by step followed the prints un-
til, a quarter of a mile further, be-
held them die away into the south
eastern boundary Of Graden Floe.
There, whoever he was, the miserable
man had perished. One or two gulls,
who had perhaps seen him disappear,
wheeled over his sepuleher with their
usual melancholy piping The sun had
broken through the clouds by a last ef-
fort, and colored the wide level of
quicksands with a dusky purple. +;
I stood for some time gazing at the
spot, chilled and disheartened by my
own reflections, and with strong and
commanding consciousness of death.
I remember wondering how long the
tragedy had taken, and whether his
screams had been audible at the pa
vilion. And then, making strong res
olution, I was about to tear myself
away when gust fercer than usual
fell upon this quarter of the beach,
and saw, now whirling high in air,
now skimming lightly across the sur
face Of the sands, soft, black felt
hat, somewhat conical in shape, such
as I had remarked already on the
heads of the Italians. '1s5&
I believe, but am not sure, that I
uttered "a cry. The wind was driving
the hat shoreward, and ran round
the border OF. the foe to be ready
against it's arrival. The gust fell, drop
ping the hat for a while upon the
quicksand, and then, once more. fresh
ening, landed it a few yards from
where stood. I seized it with the in
terest you may imagine. It had seen
some service; indeed, it was rustier
than either of those / had seen that
day upon the street. The lining was
red, stamped with the name Of the
maker, which I have forgotten, and
that Of the place Of manufacture, Ven-
edig. This ct is. not yet forgotten)
was the name given by the Austrians
to the beautiful City of Venice, then,
and for long after, part Of their do
| minions.
The shock was complete. saw
imaginary Italians upon every side;
and for the first, and, I may say, for
the last time in my experience, became
| overpowered by what is called panic
| terror. knew nothing, that is, to be
| afraid Of, and yet 4 admit that L was
heartily afraid + and it was with a SEN
sible reluctance that / returned to
my exposed and solitary camp IN the
| Sea wood.
There 4 ate some cold porridge
which had been left over from the
night before, for was disinelined to
~ make a fire, and feeling strengthened
a and reassured, dismissed all these
/ # .fanciful terrors from my mind, and
lay down to sleep. 25sa
How long + may have slept it is i'm
| possible for me to guess, but was
awakened at last by a sudden. blind