Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-12-06


Scotland Yard, and In due time we
were waited upon by one OF the chief
inspectors, but as cur story would
serve no good cause by being made
public it accordingly never reached the
newspapers. But the police were duly
Informed OF the society and it's do
ings, and for some time afterward
their vigilance was such that we ate.
slept and walked IN safety, knowing
that our house was watched at night
and that wherever we went q police
officer was at our heels.
Unfortunately Scotland Yard had
met its match in the society. Nothing
that could by the greatest stretch of
imagination be construed into a sus.
picious incident occurred during the
three months we were under police
protection. The reason was naturally
a subject Of much conversation be-
tween my uncle and me, he contend
ing that the fear Of detectives had
rendered them impotent / airing my
hopeful views as to the grim tiger of a
society being at last satiated But he
refused to share In the hope. Indeed, 1
sometimes harbored the belief that he
had no wish for the enemy to with
draw. So far he had done nothing but
stand upon the defensive, and his soul
wearied of receiving thrust and stab.
BE longed to hear the advance sound
ed-to do some cutting and thrusting
on his own account.
AS there had been no sign OF the en-
envy during the whole OF the period we
were under police surveillance I think
of1cialism came to the conclusion that
1t had attached undue Importance TO
our story, for we were somewhat curt
ly informed from headquarters that
there being no longer evidence Of dan
ger our guard would be withdrawn
forthwith. And IL is not a little singu-
lar that two days after this notification
as we sat at dinner In a well known
house OF Coventry street the waite.
brought letter to our table, inQuiring
as he looked from me TO my uncle for
"Mr. Kingston"
held out my hand and took the mis-
sive and with but an ordinary amount
OF curiosity opened it. a sheet of pa
per somewhat cUriously folded met my
gaze. This I opened gingerly, for il
seemed to me that the paper was a
blank, and I was getting Just q trifle
weary OF mysterious communications.
However, It was not all a blank, for In
the middle of 1t were these words.
Hold this up TO the light" / did so
and saw at once the reason of the re-
quest.
The paper had been so folded that
hn % 81
oval 1t was the fatal sign once more
passed it on to my uncle, and he,
who had been intently watching me.
guessed the bad news from my face.
BE read the words and accordingly
held the thing up to the light.
"Yes," be said. There can be no
doubt as TO the meaning. 1 wonder
where the gentleman is who sent it?''
But though he spoke nonchalantly ]
saw his mouth harden, and knew
that the old fighting blood was bub-
bling once more to the surface. He
had long since passed the terrified
stage and lived now In the hope OF one
day meeting the enemy. And I, too,
was slowly gaining some Of his spirit,
the constant companionship OF the
Terror lessening the horror which sur
rounded IL. don't think IL was the
thought OF lighting or the probable end
that / feared so much. 1t was the Sc
cret, crawling method which engender-
eu most horrid uncertainty and put
me upon the rack. This ii was which
had shattered my fathers nerve and
made him the wreck l knew, and this
was the fear which had haunted me.
But perhaps at bottom l was my ia
theirs son, and 1t would have been
strange ghost that could have cowed
him at my age, or the stories they tell
of him can have but slight foundation
in fact.
My uncle looked around inquiringly
for the waiter, but 1t was some min
utes before that worthy returned.
When he did, Jim held the letter I'D be-
fore the man.
who gave you this?'
"a gentleman, sir"
as he still in the room?"
mo, SIR. He handed 1t to me as he
was going out"
do you know him at allT"
mo, sir; not that know Of"
DO you remember what he was
likeT'
For moment or two the man warily
scratched q dark chin.
Cant say that do. sir, though l
rather fancy he was foreign gent"
Thanks"
The description was quite sufficient.
Foreign gent" was near enough 20
the mark. The waiter would hardly
distinguish his nationality at glance.
Strange" said my uncle as the man
departed with load OF empty dishes,
that we, the superior animals, should
be so utterly lacking In instinct. We
have evidently been within touch OF
our esteemed Wentworth and yet had
no suspicion OF 10. An animal would
have smelt danger; a man blunders
Into 1t. Yet the one has only instinct,
the other reason. A pretty question,