Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-01-02
he took up a position .chere he could see
their faces.

the way his underlip writhed knew
that he was in great rage. Indeed 1
fully expected that he would strike me,
and somehow | didn't care much. So
that we understood each other nothing
else mattered. But If that had been his
Intention, he very considerably altered
his mind. Indeed he came close up to
me, and his look bore decided wish
for an understanding.
"Look here" he said harshly, 'you
seem to be an obstinate mixture of
your mother and me. What do you
want?"
simply to know, sir, why we seem
to be hiding"
He laughed. "And If we are not hid
ing at alp
"Why. then, do we take such precau-
tons to conceal our identity? Why do
we travel under the name Of Martina"
A curious smile fitted over his sal
low face.
"And why not that as well as any
other nameY
"People do not change their names
without a reason"
"Why should theyT' He smiled, but
only with his pale lips, showing his
teeth in decidedly unpleasant man
ner. might have said more had it not
been for the sight of that pallid, writh-
ing mouth. After pause he continued:
II will admit to you that there is rea-
son, but what it is l may not say. Per-
haps one day, but not now. 1t is q long
story and one which, If known to you,
would contain but little consolation.
And SO repeat-there is q reason. As
you see. am getting old; shall soon
set sail for foreign parts" his reference
to death. my nerves are not what they
We're. need companionship; maybe I
shall require help, and look for 1t to
my son. We shall go to many strange
places and do many strange things, and
I cannot say when our wanderings will
cease. Perhaps soon, perhaps late; but
soon or late want obedience and an
end to this questioning. If do an odd
thing, you are to believe that have
good reason for 1t, and leave me alone
when you see me struggling with the
devil of fear or melancholy"
Though this confession left me no
wiser than was before, 1t to certain
extent cleared the air. In his own way
he had spoken civilly, had treated me
for the first time as rational being,
and as result felt considerably mol
lifted. That some potent reason forced
him to this contemplate subterfuge
had no doubt whatever; that it did not
encroach upon the domain of Scotland
Yard also firmly believed. Whatever
my father was. or whatever he may
have been, 1t was not to escape the
police that he behaved in this extraor-
binary manner.
We left Shrewsbury that night by a
late train. spent that day wandering
about the town, but do not believe
my father left his room during tho
whole Of our stay. When the time
came for our departure, he went
through the same mysterious perform
ance, muffling up to the ears, ordering
q closed cab and sitting huddled up in
the corner. He was not on the plat
form when the train arrived, but as
soon as 1t came to standstill and the
passengers began to make toward the
exit he took up position where he
could see their faces as the lamplight
streamed upon them. Evidently salts
fed with his scrutiny, he chose his
carriage and entered it. A minute or
80 later and we were pounding along
through the night.
We arrived at Denbigh without rlis-
hap and there acquired rooms on the
outskirts Of the town. For some six
or eight weeks we pursued quiet. un-
eventful life, and my father, who
scarcely yentured out of the house for
the first eight or ten days, gradually
began to throw off the fear which
seemed to clothe him as cloak. But
though he went abroad he seemed un-
able to forget. He never left his room
without first going to the window to
see who was In the street; he never
stepped out from the door without first
taking hasty glance up and down
the roadway, and when in the street
1k N SElk -Mlgl. fQESYaT darling