The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-06


table the better to inspect the wigs. and
presently an ejaculation OF his wheeled
me round.
He was standing. looking my way. q
curious smile playing about his mouth
and Frightening his eyes. In his hand he
dangled that which at nrst took 10 be
wig, but which upon closer scrutiny
proved to be false beard and mustache.
''Davie. what do you think OF this2'
He put the question almost gioa ungly,
humor / failed TO comprehend. What
did l think Of IL? Why. what could any
body think of IL but what 1t was obvious
ly intended for?
Can you guess It's user"
'T think So"
1t seemed to mo that this required no
prodigious strain on the intellect.
Then what do you think OF the idea?"
confess his mysterious language pug
zled me, and no doubt my face reflected
IL reading my thoughts, he Immediately
fixed the beard 'on his face, and, 10! q
perfect stranger stood before me.
''WonderfulP' said. What a trans
formationi''
Yes" he replied. IT believe It win pug
zle even our friends"
His meaning was no longer obscure !
grasped the idea with avidity.
"Excellent. I should never know you.
Lend II TO me-"
took the beard from him and. adjust
Ing IL to my face, which at that period
was entirely clean shaved. looked at my
self In q mirror. The change was start
ling In the extreme. A man OF about 40
stared at me from the glass. Even the
eyes were those of q stranger
"Admirabler' cried my uncle. 1T should
pass you by In the street We must try
the effect Of this upon our friend wooch-
ing
But as I laid the disguise aside still
saw many dangers abroad. 1t was one
thing TO adorn ourselves here In the pri-
yacy or the managers room, but II was
quite another TO set out secretly from
Dover street. This i was not slow to
mention. and for the moment II staggered
jim, and something like a desperate look
OF hopelessness racked his face. But pres
emily his brows contracted, and be threw
back hts head, habit OF his when act
ing upon sudden resolve.
I'VE must go back to Dover street"
He saw my look of amazement and con-
tinued:
"To go back, take II, would be a SUI
preme act Of folly. There would then
be not the slightest hope OF escaping the
watchers. The present affords the very
opportunity we require. My dear Davie.
after all we are not without some luck"
Explain"
I'VE will borrow these disguises from
the present moment for certain reasons
OF his own is inclined to be exceedingly
friendly. make our way out through the
stage door and take the night mall to
Paris"
"A pretty idea. But what about pre-
parations for the trip7"
There Is no time for preparations. /
have enough money on me to take us
over. Once there I shall communicate
with my bankers. What do you think
cf the plan7'
l thought 1t excellent. though I had
some doubt as to its efficacy. However
that was in the hands OF chance. and l
was fast reaching hat state OF helpless
ness which reposes increased confidence
in the powers OF Providence.
Soon after this the manager returned
full OF the most profuse apologies for
the length Of his absence. an absence
by the way, which had not been quite
so dreary to us as he seemed to i'm
agine. Then, after some skilful fencing
on the part OF my uncle, which. consid-
ering the Issue at stake, considerably
impressed me with his power of restraint
he broached the subject OF the disguises
and. as he had foreseen, the manager
was only too willing 10 prove his good
will
But there Is something more" quoth
Jim. looking mighty knowing. / thought
go out through your stage door"
why, certainly" was the reply. Then.
with smile. You haven't been doing
anything. eh7''
Nothing very bad believe me. But
we are going somewhere, and went want
TO surprise somebody You shall have
the properties back I'm a day or two with
out fall"
"Covent Garden, my dear old boyf"
he added famiiiarly. with n chuckle.
Don't hurry yourself In the least. I
hope we shan't want them for the next
three months"
Thanks TO his aid. the boards were sat
isfactorily adjusted. and he. experienced
hand as he was. expressed himself de-
lighted with the Transformation. He then
led us on to the stage past many highly
interesting females In saudy costumes
who were huddled In groups at the wings,
and presently we emerged into the COM
parative gloom Of n side street. This We
ttaversed swiftly and a little further on
hailed a passing cab, into which we
sprang. directing the driver toward well
known house IN the Strand.
$50 far 80 good" said my uncle, throw
ing himself back with n sigh OF relief as
the hanson dashed of. II think we have
managed II all right this time"
thought So too. for though had caro-
fully scrutiniyd the street into which tho
ing OF n suspicious nature. That he had
not his words proclaimed.
In the back parlor of bar OF the
Strand we made our arrangements. First
time table was called FOL. n nd after dis
covering the hour Of departure Jim added
n5 note 20 my little store with which /
was TO purchase my own ticket. for even
yet We were not sure that our enemies
would not be on the watch. Then we
went out separately. enioining each 9th
er not 20 leave the crowded thoroughfare
upon any pretense whatever.
ne cigar and strolled up ono side
of the Strand and then down the other.
my thoughts full of our projected Night
A strange adventure was this. and we
were setting out upon ~ most strangely.
clad as we were I'm evening dress and
tor hats Fortunately the evening being
bIt chilly we had worn our heavier
overcoats without these 7 don't know
how ~ would have been possible to un-
fxfr af al