The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-02-13


up to the private office and
laid his hand upon the little gate that
we have there in hot weather so that
the door can be left open for the sake
of the air. The man was coming right
in when l stopped him.
l have a table and chair just inside
the gate, and the best part of my job is
keeping people out. If anybody gets by
me without Mr.. Stones invitation, it's
the same as my resignation. I've got
his word for that.
On this particular morning there was
nobody in the room except Miss Ham
mond and myself, but the orders are
the same whether Mr.. Stone is in or
out.
'Whom do you wish to seet" said /,
taking hold of the gate.
The man had package of papers in
his left hand and he let it fall on the
floor when l spoke to him. 1t made a
loud noise, and Miss Hammond, who
was giving her typewriter little
warming up, just to take the stiffness
out of its joints, turned around to see
WIdC WAS the ndllcT.
WELL" said l to the man ut the gate,
"who is it that you want|
THE devil" said he, staring at me.
Then it struck me that | would be
funny.
you've got the wrong address," said
l. This is the Tract society building"
He laughed nervously and put up his
right hand to his mouth with a peculiar
motion. When the lower part of his
face was covered in that way, l knew
him. He was Mr.. Stone.
Honestly, the strength went out of
my legs so that ! had to hang on to the
gate to keep from falling on the floor.
He opened it and pushed me aside. l
dropped into my chair with a groan.
Miss Hammond was sitting with her
back against the typewriter as if she
had been trying to push it through the
wall and herself after it, She was look
ing at Mr.. Stone with a frozen stare,
and yet there was queer expression
in her eyes, as if she saw something
made clear that had always puzzled
her
There nothing the matter with
Mr.. Stone except that he had shaved off
his muStache. He had always worn a
heavy one that dropped over his mouth,
and the change in his looks with the
loss Of it was something that l never
saw equaled. | had read in stories
about detectives DISCUSSES, but l never
took any stock i'll these yarns before.
Don't like it, eh?' said he to Miss
Hammond, and then he turned to me
with n sort of fierce grin such as | new
er saw OH anybody's face before.
yes, IL think l shall-shall like it
much better when-when | get used to
it," stammered Miss Hammond.
Mr.. Stone uttered n strange growl--
that is, it sounded strange, but really it
was the same old growl, only it seemed
entirely different when l could see his
lips move. He had rather thin lips,
and they looked 50 hard that l had a
feeling of surprise because they didn't
make a clicking sound when he shut his
mouth. l had never noticed anything
peculiar about them before.
The fact is that Mr.. Stone is a hand
some man. He has high, broad fore
head and the finest eyes l ever saw
wide open, bold blue eyes, but not at all
hard or unklnd. His nose and chin are
well shaped and regular. He has a
strong, straight figure and is very
graceful and quick in his movements.
used to waste good deal of time just
watching him, and on this first morn
ing after the transformation I couldn't
take my eyes off him.
After Miss Hammond's effort to say
something agreeable he waited about