The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-24
~ Modern Miracle.

# Night, F." "Ths Mystery OF The Moat H5use, Etc.
the secret which he had entrusted to my
care should be well guarded. Therefore
when [ employed the blind messenger,
ArkWright, for the first time had him
followed to ana from the chiefs Office
The note 1 had given him was mere
pretext for testing his fidelity, and / as
certained that it was delivered secretly
and quickly, and that he had not turned
aside for anything or anybody, either
going or returning. So far this was
perfectly satisfactory.
Arkwright was interesting looking
young man, hardly more than a boy,
with a bright, intelligent face and pleas
ant manners. To see him going about
one would hardly guess he was blind,
his movements Were so deft. I found 1t
was only necessary to explain the way
once clearly to him when he was sent
anywhere, and he never made mis-
take His instinct and sense of touch
were wonderfully keen, as they so often
are with those born blind.
had been established in my comforta-
bic rooms in Walpole street more than
a fortnight before [ heard anything of
Mr.. Watson. / had assumed the manner
and appearance of a 1nfddle-a ged lady OF
quiet habits and learned proclivities, who
had come in from the country to do
some research work at the British muse
UNI. There Were no other dodgers in the
house but myself, as I had taken care
to ascertain before engaging the rooms,
and my landlady was hard working
widow with an only daughter. My sur
roundingS, therefore, seemed as safe and
harmless as possible. I had just come
IN, having been at the reading room the
whole morning, in accordance with my
supposed character, when the servant,
who was a pleasant contrast to most
lodging house generals being neat and
prim, came up to say that a gentleman
had called to see me.
I was feeling rather depressed by my
mornings experience, for the reading
room at the museum is not calculated TO
raise ones spirits, suggesting, as it does,
poverty and failure, almost as much as
erudition, for it is apparent that many
of the habitues only go there to earn
daily wage. But I frightened UP i'm
mediately AT the prospect Of a visitor
and, without asking his name, I gave d.
recdons that he should be shown up at
once OF course it might be only a
dummy" visitor-of whom I had had
one or two. whose visits were arranged,
as the chief suggested, SO that Mr.. Wat
sons should not appear singular-but
hoped that it might be the real man at
last.
And it was.
I say a cenevolent-iooking gentleman,
dressed as a clergyman, whom one would
have put down at once as the vicar of a
prosperous country parish. He mad shak-
en- hands with me in sight of the servant
and I, following his lead, had greeted him
as an old friend, but when the door clos
ed, the pleasant smile died out of his
face, as though it had been wiped off by
sponge, and into the rosy face and blue
eyes came a curious alert, watchful look
The look I have only seen in the faces
of men who are accustomed to carry their
lives in their hands.
He waited in utter silence, for a few
minutes after the servants footsteps had
died away, then he opened the door with
out a sound, looked outside, and closing
it again, noiselessly turned the key in the
lock.
''You will excuse me- he said ssbut I
must guard against any chance of inter-
ruption. L saw you return from tne mu-
scum just now, SO I knew 1 should find
you in I did not wish to have to call a
second time Here are the papers, and
he took a little packet from his breast
pocket, which was only held together
by an elastic band
'They are not sealed" [ said, sur
prised.
NO" with a slight smile, ''the people
[ have to deal with would think nothing
of breaking a seal, and making it good
again. No one has seen them yet; for
that you may take my word The chief
seems to be unusually anxious and wor-
ried. I never suspected him of nerves
before
''EIe does not take alarm unnecessarily,
as rule" L replied a little drily
well, L should not keep these" touch
ing the packet carelessly, 'any longer in
your possession than you can help, If 1
We're you. They are very valuable There
is man now in Cover street VINO would
risk his immortal soul-if he has not given
it away long ago-to look at Them
Cover street," [ echoed. 1t seemed
intentionally close. Was it chance or
design that brought such man so near
to me?
All the time I was having lunch I