The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-02

together. and so out into the street. Then.
as gently pulled the door 10. ] saw some-
thing just below the number which made
me start I looked again and could no
longer doubt.
1t was the elliptical sign of the Hidden
Meaning.
My uncle. who had passed some PAGES
down the street. finding I was not by his
side. here turned and beckoned me TO
him ]. however. called to him instead. a
movement evidently betokening much
mystery. for he quickly retraoed his steps,
his face eagerly asking the question.
What Is it7"
For answer ! pointed TO the door. and
as his eyes encountered tho sign saw
startled look leap 10 them. He step
ped up closer 10 II and peered at II In
tently. Then he surveyed me with a
wondering look. In which detected alarm
and a profound anxiety.
Let US go in" he said.
He opened the door and rang for the
porter. and him he subjected to a search
ing examination concerning the lodgers
and the would be dodgers. But the man
could give no satisfactory Information.
The rooms were full--they had been for
some time previous to our arrival. and.
though many people had called TO make
inquiries. he could notrecollect any one
in particular resembling our description
Of Wooching.
My uncle then nodded 10 me without
speaking. and together we mounted the
and gloves on the table with a bang. he
turned and faced mo. and I saw thet his
cyss hal ei o,Sr hard and desperate. and
knew that his blood ran wickediy. His
fair skin wore dark. ominous flush which
only visited II In moments OF intense an
ger.
WELL" said T. what is 1t to Delight
or fght7"
Fight" he answered grimly "To ny
would be to live your fathers life and
e,cntually To meet his death. No; we
must stand our ground and meet Mr..
Wooching with his own weapons. He
has very kindly warned US. IL we neglect
the warning. we shall deserve TO suffer"
why should he have warned us?' I
asked.
He was silent for few moments. dur
ing which he walked the length OF the
room. Then he said. II don't know. un-
less it's vanity"
Vanity Surely this was the stran-
gest form vanity had ever taken!
"Yes: Of kind--that is. supposing he
did IL. which is not probable"
Then you think he does not work
alone7'
II am sure of It, That sign may be
merely a warning to his associates. Re-
member what your father said. The So
Clety mas agents Ill ONcT the CnSusu
speaking world We shall be shadowed
day and night. Come here"
He had been standing by the window
peering into the street. and as I mp
preached him he drew suddenly behind
the curtain and waved for me TO do
likewise. ,Unhesitatingly obeyed. though
ignorant OF the reason. I took up posi-
tion on the other side or the window and
peered out into the street, but seeing
IN ttat 4 ftfrr
ly TO him. What's the matterY'
You see that man In the billycock hat
and the gray trousers?"
Yes"
Watch him."
The person thus described. who seemed
an everyday individual OF the better class
artisan or shopman type, would. In an or
dinary way have attracted no attention
In the streets One would meet thousands
Of such men in a walk from Charing Cross
to the bank.I myself. gazing upon him,
would have seen him with my eyes only.
The brain would have retained no I'm
preston OF his unimportant personality.
But now looked at him with other eyes,
with eyes which were full of suspicion,
and I saw that he loitered In a way
which was uncommon with people of his
class In Dover street. saw. too, that his
eyes were fixed upon one object. and that
object was our house. Though his nat
was pulled well over his forehead, could
see his eyes glancing up in our direction
from under the brim.
Slowly he passed along the street, and
at the second lamppost up he stopped.
Against the farther side of II he leaned;
but. though he occasionally glanced about
him, / could see that his attention was
really engrossed by our end of the street.
And yet further to add to the mystery. II
mystery there were, suddenly left his
lounge against the lamppost, and we saw
him disappears around the corner of the
next street
More puzzled than ever, looked at my
uncle for an explanation. and I saw a
grim smile play about his mouth His
of the street, and. following the direction
of his gaze. saw II center upon a burly
policeman who rolled with lordly non
chalance along the pavement.
Quickly putting two and two together,
/ turned 10 my companion for confirma-
tion. He nodded approvingly, as though
he read my thoughts.
quite right believe that man TO be
there for no good purpose. His sudden
exit into Stafford street, just as the con-
stable appears. Is. to say the least OF it,
trife suspicious. OF course IL may be
merely a coincidence, but we shall see.
II am not mistaken, he will return by
way Of Albemarle street and Piccadiily."
But this is an Englishman." / began.
Surely he''-and then / stopped. feeling
very foolish. / was going 10 suggest in
the face of my fathers confession that
Englishmen would not mix themselves up
with the Society OF Hidden Meaning
Jim saw the hesitation and smiled
My dear Davie." he said, you must
not imagine that we have only Wooching
10 fight The society is rich. There are
always plenty Of men ready TO earn good
wages One has only 10 go into the
streets and look at the faces OF the people
to imagine how easily the society would
gain recruits"
With a sigh I assented. With so much
murder and robbery rife for problematicai
gains, how very easy II would be to find
workmen when the wage was assured II
seemed TO me that the ground beneath
us was slipping more rapidly than ever.
We accordingly set ourselves TO watch,
Jim stationing himself at one side OF the
window. l at the other I saw the spy
slowly enter our street from the Picca-
a t,t.1 h..