Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-10-18

Slough and round to the railway sta
ton, yet never saw sign of the man
with the strange eyes.
If were to say that my fathers
warning made me very frightened
fear should hardly be combining my
self to the truth. l think my mothers
serious face caused me the greater
alarm. Once away from 1t the warn
Ing did not seem fraught with much
Significance, or, II II were, could not
grasp it. Uncle Jim would probably be
over that afternoon, We should hear
what he had to say. Jim was man
Of nerve and practical common sense
and as such always knocked the bot
tom out OF my silly, sentimental fan
cies.
As I returned along the road 1 saw
bis well known trap standing before
cur gate. the big bay stamping impa-
tiently and tossing the files from his
/ ears. High up on the drivers cushion
sat Saunders, the boy, a diminutive
rascal with a wien face. he greeted
me with formal salute and an extern
sive grin and favored me with the SUI
perfuous bit of information that the
/
after asking him sundry questions con-
corning his rats, his dogs and the chase
generally, 1 turned to open the gate,
when 1 was attracted by something
which saw on one of the posts.
AT first 1 thought that the village ur-
chins had, in accordance with their
usual custom, been endeavoring 40 de-
face our paint aud mentally express
Ing the pious wish that / had only
caught them at the game stepped up
closer 10 inspect their handiwork. The
gate and the posts were grained so as
TO represent n light oak, and as the
work had only been completed some
three months previously l was ex-
ceediDgly proud OF Its smart appear.
Rnce. TO my surprise, however, found
that the destroyers had confined them
selves TO one particular design. This
was an elliptical or egg shaped ring
drawn with q red pencil. The design
was very accurate, the steadiness Of
the lines proclaiming the adept. That
IL was meant for an egg there could be
no doubt. A little filling In would have
made the drawing perfect.
Afraid 20 attempt cleansing OF the
1 4
turned toward the house, meaning lat
er on TO obliterate the mark with Q wet
cloth; but as entered the hall heard
the voice OF my Uncle Jim In the ad-
jacent sitting room, and 1 forthwith
forgot all about the sign.
At the time of which write my I'M
Gle was a man just yerging on to 40, 8
well set up, powerful creature, with a
good natured face, rather inclined to
ruddiness. he was a man who seemed
TO enjoy every hour of his life, and 1
don't believe ever saw him when his
blue eyes had not a merry twinkle in
them. Therefore the serious look with
which he now greeted me was just a
little disconcerting My mothers trou-
bled face also added a chilliness to the
reception.
"Well, Davie, lad" said he, what is
all this that has been troubling your
mother7"
told him all knew. repeating word
for word that which had passed be-
tween me and the stranger.
az have heard as much" said he,
when I had finished, sand upon my
word can't see any cause for this IN
easiness. Your mother has got fright
my boy, and nothing can say viii con-
vince her of her folly"
"You may call it folly If you like"
she replied. land I wish I could think
SO, but feel sure my husband would
not have written In this strain without
good cause"
Jim shook his head. Out of respect
! 20 hn nAf 40
was on the tip of his tongue. lie had
not his sisters admiration for my ia
Their.
"a man who can leave his wife and
: child for seven years is capable Of
! writing anything" he growled.
"Ah, but you don't understand" she
replied. "You don't know the dangers
and vicissitudes Of seafaring life. If
he has not come, you may be sure 1t
: was for very good reasons"
( 'Humphv' grunted Jim, but perhaps
/ even he loved her all the better for her
: loyalty. No doubt 1t was foolish, but
t 1t is that foolishness which endears
, women to us. 1 thought she looked
l her best and her prettiest just then
: and If Jim hadn't been there to poke
r fun ct me would have given her q
I good kiss.
: "Still," said he as he slowly began tc
5 ill his pipe, 81 consider vague, terrify
| ing scrawls no excuse for such an alb
e sence, and If were you I should try
to think that they were written after
' mean under-much mental depres
5 sion, the result of systematic squar
ing of the elbow"
2 She shook her head.
al believe it to be nothing of thu
t kind. Do you imagine that the coming
5 OF this stranger right on the top o.
{ Bob's letter was all matter OF chance
No; he knew my husband was leaving
/ Australia, and he meant to see him
n For what reason? All, let me know
l that and shall know everything. But
n tell me, does 1t not strike you as beinj
L l vary N11rfo11c fhof \ chnrrId raao4r.