The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1902-04-18

W. -
sidious pursuit crept over Mordaunt;
he shuddcrcd, he knew not why: his
resentment gave way TO a swift and
meaningless apprehension. With this
new sensation dominating him, he
hurried forward. and presently
plunged down a side street, thinking
to eludc his shadower by a quick
maneuver.
To his su~rprisc-cvm to his alarm
he was the next instant aware that
the man in the fur coat was again
walking exactly opposite to him on
the further pavement.
The continued p%ropinquity OF this
mar commenced to affect Mordaunt
strangely: a nervousness qui~tcforclgn
to his ordinary nature a..ailcd him,
and he fastened his pace.
But the quicker he walked. the
quicker walked the stranger. Nor
daunt. cxaspcrated out of patience.
crossed deliberately. with the inten-
tion Of addressing the man. and de-
handing some explanation ofhi. per-
sistent intrusion. Again. however,
the other at the same moment pro-
cecded to cross also. and the two met
in the middle Of the narrow street.
Mordaunt stopped.
Excuse me he began.
The figure. arrested in hi progress.
paused for the fraction Of a second
aud glanced at Mordaunt. IIis face
was mullled in the collar of his coat.
his feature. hidden: but Mordaunt
insiinctiyely ,hrank back. and a ~
rious fear grippcd his heart. What
words he may have intended TO ut
ter frozc on hi. tongue. With a silent
gesture the figure moved IN. and
reached the opposite pavement.
Again Mordaunt struck sharply
round u corner into a wider street;
not for an instant did he dare to look
over hi. shoulder. At length he haZ-
ardcd n quick sidc-glance. aud shiy-
cred. In spite of hi fur coat he felt
a sensation II cold. Rcsolutely set.
ting hi. face toward the college walls,
which now doomed grayly out Of the
darkncs. in front Of him. he FASTENED
forward. Then. as he approached the
college. u sudden uncomfortable i'm
pulse Of flight caused him to break
swiftly into a run. lie hammered,
painting. at the college gate.
quick he cried. Quick" And,
as the door swung open: Don't Jet
that man in" he added to the aston
ished porter. and fed acros. thcquad'
ranglc.
At the staircase leading to hi.
room. he paused TO take breath. and
for the first time the ah,urdiiy Of hi
conduct struck him in it. practica'
light.
To take fright at The figure Of 4
harml,,. pedestrian who,c way had
chanocd to lie in the same direction
a. hi. CNn va indeed . comical cir
cumsiancc.
He assembled the narrow stairs. still
chuckling to himself at his own re-
markablc exhibition Of weakness. III
reached the landing upon which hi
room. were situated. paused again al
the threshold Of hls sitting-room
threw back the great fur collar Of hi
, coat. and. with the laugh still on hi
lip,. flung open the door and walket
in.
The mellow light Of large shaded
lamp shed II pleasant and soft radi
ance oycr the apartment. Attic fur
Their end Of it another door commu
nicated with Mordaunt's bedroom. BE
tween this door and the lamp stood
big armchair. in which il was hi
habit to read at night. Mordaun
entered. and the smile faded from hi
lips. lie took n step only. stopped
short. and his jaw fell, for in tn
armchair. directly confronting him
= sat the figure of the stranger from
whom he had just fed.
The stranger looked up. and thei
: g%lances met. The room in that in
slant seemed to reel before Nor
( dcunt's eyes. lie stared through
mist at the face of the person sittimj
! in the chair. The recognition wa
instantaneous; the stranger was
stranger no longer. and, with panicil
: his heart, Mordaunt uttered a stife'
cry, and, turning, rushed headlon,
T from the room.
Down the long flight Of stairs, GU
into the darkness. aud across tn