Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-11-12

shortly af-er the close Of the last Car
list war. aEd was employed II IN ian
portant case IN which the liberty and
probably the life of a distinguished
Carlist leader were at stake. Ts.s gen
tieman was relative CT my mother.
and. apart from my youthful enthusi-
assn for my profession. ! was devoting
/ all my time and every scrap OF energy
| possessed TO his interests
Now. the fact that had been dining
out will no doubt be seized upon by
skeptical persons. and TO their minds
will probably explain all the circum
stances that | am now going to set
down. l can only state most solemnly
that when they occurred | was never
more in my sober senses
1t was long past midnight when l
took leave OF my friends. As l passed
along l had the street almost TO my
self. and ! paced briSkly. enjoying the
! night air. Suddenly. though ! heard
no sound of footsteps. the sensation
came to me that some one was walking
behind me. | glanced around and saw
! the Inquire OF a man walking on the
! outside of the pavement about six
PAGES in my rear
| He was tall and clad in a long black
| COAX, the end of which was thrown
| over his right shoulder in the Spanish
| fashion and in such a manner as to
| conceal the lower half of his face. A
| broad black sombrero was crushed
/ down over his brows and from be-
meath its brim nothing but the tip of
/ W Il
| pearance at once brought my mind
/ back to the case on which l was en-
| gagged. and l could not help wondering
whether this figure. which looked SO
| singular in its Spanish costume in the
streets of London. was not in some
way connected with it
As l walked on l began to be some
! what uneasy. There were so few PEG
| pie about | thought of assassination.
/ | knew the rnurderous nature of the
Navajo" and | was defenseless, not
! having even the protection of a stick.
| Then again. | reflected. it might be
| that this man was some compatriot CT
my client. who wished to make some
| communication to me, but if so, why
| did he not approach? l felt he was
| still behind me, although his foot made
/ no sound on the curb.
Not relishing the close attendance of
| the mysterious stranger. l crossed over
to the other side of the street. where.
| at least. | would be better able to OBJ
serve his motions, but before l had
/ got half way across l was aware that
| he had also left the pavement and was
| following me at the same distance as
| before. All this was sufficiently singu-
lar and perturbing. for | now felt GER
| tain that the man was following me.
To make quite certain l presently
| crossed the street again, and, sure
enough. there was my pursuer at the
same distance at my heels.
l now resolved to take action. and.
turning myself sharply around, l ask
eG him what be desired of me. To my
CONSERVATION there was no one there.
l rubbed my eyes. l walked few
PAGES back. l examined one or two
doors which l lad just passed, but all
were securely fastened and there was
no trace of the mysterious figure in
any direction. l asked myself what it
could mean.
But where had the man vanished to?
| An uneasy feeling began to take pos
session of me. l am not superstitious.
| but the apparition was so extraordinary
in itself and its disappearance SO I'M
accountable that l felt a cold SILVER
traverse the region of my spine. Pres
emily l .ealked on, good deal be-
wildered and upset by my experience.
When 1 reached home. in the little
well-like courtyard before my own
| door stood the figure silently awaiting
me. My heart stood still for mo-
ment as l found myself face to face
with the inscrutable being that had
haunted my homeward journey. There
was something so sinister in the man S
: aspect, something so daunting and I'M
canny in the silent persistence with
| which he had led me to my very door,
that l confess / was terrified, and my
heart began to hutter in my bosom.
l did not know how to act. l tried
to speak. but my tongue refused to
utter a sound. Something had to be
done, however, and I advanced few
PAGES. The figure Immediately turned
and disappeared in the black archway
of the passage to my stairs.
finally went out at the other door
of the inn, and. being quite unable to
overcome my fears. / went and put up
ar a hotel for the night l passed a
restless night and only fell asleep at
dawn. and 1t was IL o'clock before
awoke.
When l arrived at Staple inn the
first person l saw was the night porter.
Lord bless me- Mr.. Percival" said he.
running toward me. Il am glad to see
you. We thought you must be killed.
We've had a terrible smash here. Have
you your keys? We were just going
to break open your door. for we could
get no answer"
By this time we had arrived at my
door, where my oak was still bravely
sported- On entering a strange sight
met our eyes. The huge brick chin
hey of the LcUse had fallen in through