The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-11-14
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THURSDAY. NOVEMBER Il, 1901
A BLACK ROBED MAN

| SloItiN III stI tlie SlbNt pl t4it ldSt AuI-
list war, and was employed in an i'm
portant case in which the liberty and
probably the he Of distinguished
Carlist leader were AT stake. This gen
tlcman was relative Of my mother.
and. apart from my youthful enthusi-
assn for my profession, | was dcvotlng
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. can only state most solcmnly
that when they occurred | was never
more in my sober senses.
1t was long past midnight when |
took leave of my friends. As | passed
along l had the street almost to my
self, and paced brishly, enjoying the
night air suddenly. though l heard
no sound of footsteps. the sensation
came To mt that some one was walking
behind me glanced around and saw
the figure Of a man walking on the
outside of the pavement about six
PAGES in my rear.
He was tail and clad in a long black
Cloak. the end of which WAS thrown
over his right shoulder In the Spanish
fashion and In such manner as 10
conceal the lower half of his face. A
broad black Somhrero was crushed
down over his browS and from be-
Meath its brim nothing but the tip Of e
thin white nose was visible. His APP
pearance at once brought my mind
back to the case on which l was en-
gagged. aud 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 IL
As walked on ] began 10 be some
what uneasy. There were so few peO-
pie about. | thought OF assassination.
| knew the murderOuS nature Of the
Navajo" and was defenseleSs. not
NAV fu- fNFn tux lANtt'A iNil VI a sum
Then again. reflected. il might be
that this man was some cOmpatriot OF
my client who wished 10 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. ! crossed over
10 the other side Of the street, where.
AT least. / would he better able 10 OBJ
serve his motions, but before | had
got half way across | was aware that
he had also left the pavement and was
following NE 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 / presently
crossed the street again. and, sure
enough. there was my purSuer at the
same distance at my heels
| now resolved 10 take action. and.
turning myself sharply around. ! ask
&c him what he desired Of me. To my
CONSERVATION there was no one there
| rubbed my eyes walked few
PAGES back | examined one or two
doors which had just passed hut all
were securely fastened and there was
no trace Of the mysterious figure in
any direction. asked myself what il
could mean.
But where had the man vanished tof
An uneasy feeling began to take pos
session Of me. am not superstitious,
but the appartion was 50 extraordinary
in itself and its disappearance so un-
accountable that | felt n cold shiyer
traverse the region Of my spine. Pres
emily / walked on. a good deal be-
wildered and upset by my experience.
When reached home in the little
welllike courtyard before my own
door stood ihe figure silently awaiting
me- My heart stood still for a mo-
ment as | found myself face to face
with the inscrutable being that had
Haunted my hOmeward journey. There
was something so sinister In the mans
aspect, something so daunting and I'M
canny in the silent persistence with
which DC had led me 10 my very door,
that | confess | was terrified. and my
heart began to iutter in my bosom.
did not know how 10 act. ] tried
TO speak, but my tongue refused TO
utter a sound. Something had 10 'e
done. however, and | advanced a few
PAGES. The figure Immediately turned
and disappeared in the black archway
Of the passage 10 my stairs.
finally went out at the other door
Of the inn, and. being quite unable to
overcome my fears, went and put up
at a hotel for the night. | passed
restless night and only fell asleep at
dawn. and it was II o'clock before
awoke.
When | arrived at Staple inn the
first person 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 n 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 CHM
ney of the house had fallen in through
the roof durinl the night aud the room
was filled with it's debris. II had
crashed down into my bedroom and
fallen right upon my wooden bed, the
broken fragments Of which were in all
corners of the room.
| bad escaped certain death.
never saw my ghostly visitant
again, and the case against my Carlist
client was decided in his favor.
Whether there was any connection be-
tween the two events I am unable to
say. ] have narrated the circumstances
4 IL. a