The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-03

strolled on. When returned. he was
not To be seen.
| This in itself was not very alarm
| Ing matter. but a fruitless search from
one end OF the promenade to the other
| caused some slight misgivings. What
| had become OF him7 Where had he gone?
i walked up and down for some time.
| peerfng TO right and left. but the min
utes ran on, and still he put In no APP
| pearance. Then i really began to feel
| nervous. for his going away like this was
| In direct opposition 10 an arrangement
| into which he had entered-that of keep
| ing together while out OF doors. No
| doubt he was somewhere within the pre-
| cincts OF the house or that almost
succeeded In convincing myself But
| where?
Not daring to leave the promenade for
| fear he should return during my alb
/ sence, / went 10 the bar at the far end
! and ordered drink. which I well re-
| member receiving from weary worn
| creature whose pallid face proclaimed an
| intimate acquaintance with the least de-
| lightful side OF life. Groped around the
| bar were about dozen men OF various
! ages some with the youthful blossom
| still on their faces. others Of the mot
| tied. flushing stamp whose features are
an unfailing index to their lives.
l ordered my drink. drank while the
soda fixed and then placed the tum-
bier upon the counter while I turned
| about TO quiz the approach to the bar
| for / was not without hope Of seeing my
uncle thread his way through the throng
| and come toward me. However. he fail
| ed to put I'm an appearance. and one by
one tho men moved OF and made room
| for new arrivals. and the fellow who was
next TO me. a man with n somewhat FULL
dark brown beard. accidently touched my
foot In passing. He Immediately apollo
gized profusely and with quite unneces-
an ~ fhaxt TnAn t1,A
| little accident SCENE dto excite him great
ly and al him with an alarm which was
quite disproportionate 20 the offence.
smiled a ready forgiveness he moved
or. and not until ne was gone did seem
| TO recoileot the wild. nervous glance Of
| his eyes as he stared moment into my
| face. Under other conditions might
| have thought seriously OF II. Neverthe-
| less watched him with some interest as
he disappeared in the crowd.
Discovering no sign Of my uncle amid
the moving throng and feeling that I had
held my place for a reasonable period. I
turned with the intention OF finishing my
drink. when my eyes encountered those
Of a pale faced young gentleman who was
leaning on the end OF the counter. He
started suddenly, as though he intended
to speak but hesitated as quickly. re-
strained. so II appeared. by q second
thought. I In the meantime took UP the
tumbler and was about to raise II to my
lips when once more my look instructive
ly wandered his way. His eyes were fixed
upon me with keenness which i failed
utterly to fathom, and. seeing. no doubt,
the curious interrogative expression on
my faos he came instantly toward me. !
at once lowered the glass and watched
him intently.
He was an ordinary young fellow. with
an inspired mustache and fair hair press
ed close upon his head; perhaps not
strong man physically or Intellectually,
but apparently Of some class.
II hope you will pardon me-" he said.
II have not the pleasure OF knowing you.
but--but"-and he seemed extremely ner-
vous--"I think ought TO tell you what
I've seen. You will pardon the liberty?"
Certainly"
Then I'm afraid 1t will seem an alb
surd question to ask. Have you-have you
any enemiesT'
/ started and looked him squarely in
the eyes, but he withstood the scrutiny
without the flicker Of a lid.
Excuse me-" ] said. now thoroughly
on my guard. but you must surely recog-
nize the incongruity OF addressing such
question to n stranger"
II do" he replied.
Then why do you askT'
because / have just seen something
which--which. to say the least OF II. Is
oingular. Do you remember the man with
the beard who a minute ago apologized
for treading on your foot7'
Perfectly"
well. / saw him. while your back was
turned, drop something into your tum-
bier"
Good heavens!"
Involuntarily the exclamation escaped
me. A convulsive shfver swept me from
head to foot. The young man. watching
intently. must have seen my face
blanoh. for he added hastily:
"I hana \ havan'f frfohtsned vou hut
j thought II looked suspicious and that
had better speak"
Thanks a thousand timesl" said. II
have enemies. II was good OF you TO
speak" I seized his hand and shook IL
warmly. scarcely noticing the limp fingers
which returned no answering pressure.
oh don't mention It., he replied Then
ne added IN another key. III I were you.
I'd chuck that stun away
took up the glass and looked at Il.
but could distinguish nothing which
would lead me TO suppose that II had
q like result. Then I became curious to
know Of what this drug consisted OF
which I could detect no sign.
Il think shall preserve II as piece Of
evidence" / answered. I can detect
nothing suspicious In IT,"
Let me try" said he, and as hand
ed him the glass I turned TO the pale
faced girl behind the bar and asked her
for a bottle of some description.
The young fellow was still peering into
the glass when ! once more looked his
way. and presently he held n out. with
shake OF the head.
II also am at at loss to detect any
thing the least bit suspicious. IL II very
curious"
AS he spoke he handed the glass back.
hut somewhat oarslessly, for as my FIN
gers touch IL he let GO with the result
that the thing fell crashing TO the floor.
"Oh. a thousand pardonsi" he cried.
Whose fault was it--mine or yours7''
admitted with some cheerin that we
were both at fault but the Unforeseen
had happened. the evidence was destroy
ed. and there was nothing more TO be said
about ~. Nevertheless I was extremely
annoyed. and IN my heart censured him
greatly for his careiessness. but as moth
- furthar could ha said on, fha suhi.af