Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1901-11-21
CHATTER II.
The House. of Pain.

CHATTER II.
The House of Pain.
The man who waited on the outside
Of the house in the clustering. wind and
rain, while his messenger went OF his
e,rand, had but little time to wait.
after all. Expecting some delay, he
had drawn himself up as snugIy as pos
sible in the shelter Of the doorway on
the opposite side of the street.: had
even made two unsuccessful attempts
to light cigar, but had given it up as
hopeless.
Il wonder what they'll say to him.
he mutterei. glancing across at the
lighted window of the house. What
message will this cousin have to send?
Ugh! This is not the pleasantest spot
in the world to wait in I almost wish
that I had gone myself. I suppose if I
hadn't lived such self-eentered life, I
should long ago have cast off these sus-
picions and distrusts. How the wind
howls: I'm nearly wet through
Then, quite suddenly, into the dark
and dreary night, was shot forth man
from the same gateway that had
swallowed up his messenger. But this
man came out as though fearful of
something behind him-dashed out
biindly. with one hand half-colering his
eyes, and the other stretched out, CROP
irgly, before him, turned swiftly and
darted off down the street; turned the
first corner and was gone. Even as he
disappeared, another figure rushed
through the gate-looked in all tIirec-
lions, and ran swiftly in the opposite
direction; halted moment, and looked
about; and then ran back again.
Scarcely realizing what he did; the man
who had waited in the doorway giided
out and ran at top speed otter the first
fugitive.
The man had good start: and. as
the streets in that part were short and
were bisected. moreover. by narrower
streets. the fugitive had good chance
of getting clear away. Indeed, it was
only by good luck that the man who
followed could have hoped to come up
with him. But luck happened to be on
his side; coming to the end of a street
and glancing to left and to right in
search of his man. he saw him, little
way down the street to the right, sit
ting On the steps of q building that
looked like church. with his head in
his hands. The pursuer crossed the
road and made rapidly towards him.
He was within couple of yards of
him when the man started TO his feet:
beat off the other with both hands. and,
with q cry of terror. dashed away again.
The other set his teeth grimly. anc set
tied down as grirnIy to the chase.
Street after street they traversed,
racing madly through the driving rain
Sometimes in the roadways. sometimes
on the pavement-through pools of wa
ter, over heaps of stones. through and
over everything that came in the way
And the first man maintained the lead
even though he darIed on. in that mad
fashion. crying TO himself. and with one
hand covering his eyes partially. and
the other stretched out before him.
Then another sound grew out of the
night-a sound above the wnistling of
the Eind-abo.-e the noise of racing
feet. great roar and rattle Of wheels
and hoofs, the patter of many feet on
the pavement, the shouts and cries of
men who ran. The second of the two
men, with but yard dividing him from
the man in front, glanced rapidly TO the
left as he came to the end of a street:
saw q cleaning, fiery thing. with brass
helmeted men upon it, sweeping down
towards them. and shouted franticauy
to The man who ran before.
In the roar and rush and hurry of the
moment he saw and heard only two
things: saw the man in front dart
straight before the flying swaying
monster. beat it with his feeble hands,
and go down under it; heard the shout
that went up from many threats as one
of the firemen dropped nimbly off be-
hind. and the engine swung along on its
way. The crowd divided. some roaring
along in the wake Of the engine. some
gathering about the little group il the
roadway.
They picked Up the poor. broken.
bruised. soiled thing and placed il ten
DERBY in a cab after some little delay.
the man who had been the indirect
cause of the disaster had pressed for
ward and proffered his services; the
iiremen had left them. and set off. run
ming in the direction the engine had
taken, leaving a policeman to take the
matter in charge.
Did you see it, SIR, asked this OFF,
cial, turning to the man who stood be-
side him.
Yes. II was close behind him. He
he ran-right into the thing. /, was
HORRIBLE
Seems to have shaken you up a Bit,