The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-08-27

the English alphabet The compiiers little
knew when they chuckled In secret over
their fiendish work that they were Great
ing an infinite source of Intricate happi-
ness for at least one son Of man.
After studying the mystic pages for
some time he. having absorbed his In
formation carefully deposited the pre-
cious tome once more In his bag. Then
he began to collect his various papers.
which he also placed In the bag. 1t
looked TO me as though ne was making
preparations for leaving the train; but.
knowing this 20 be an impossibility, I
merely regarded IL as another Of his little
eccentricities. However as we began TO
slacken down he cried out suddenly,
Stand by"
looked at him. He repeated almost
harshly: stand by. Get ready. Don't
stare at me Like a fool"
But this Is Shrewsbury"
II know that as well as you"
Thinking it just possible that the liquor
he had slipped might have made him for
get, I said. But We started for Den
bigh?"
I'VE did nothing Of the kind. We
started for Shrewsbury. and here we
are"
At that moment the train giided into
the station and 30 out short all further
remonstrance. But think he saw that
he had annoyed me, for as we jogged away
together In the cab he explained, with
some attempt at plausibility. that II had
been his original intention to stop the
night at Shrewsbury. but that he had
forgotten to make me acquainted with
such a trifiing detail. assured him that
his explanation was quite unnecessary.
Indeed. II was a matter OF perfect indif-
ference to me where we went, since every
place was sure to prove distasteful. Ny
fas n Af UAf nd a rat a md
each other, and 20 have as q travelling
companion one with whom you are In no
sort Of sympathy IL distinctly distressing
Arriving at the hotel. his trst inquiry
was for room with two beds. and !
may here state that during the renainder
of our wanderings we always slept In
the same room when IL was possible. and
when not no insisted upon two rooms
communicable with each other. In this
instance O very excellent room on the se-
cond floor was shown Us. glance at
which at once convinced me Of Its suit
ability, but he was harder to please. He
felt the beds, examined the windows,
saw that the door had both q bolt and
a key and then and NOT until then de-
ciared himself to DO fully satifished.
As II was already late he ordered din
ner to be brought to the room. and
thought that he now seemed like a ra-
tional man for the first time. His frigid
reserve thawed In the most remarkable
manner and he condescsnded TO crack
an occasional Joke at my expense. What
wrought this change In him could not
then Imagine. for did not think II was
the good food. and felt sure that II
could not be the quantity OF wine. II
seemed to me that he cast aside his sus-
picions as one would cloak and that
FOR the first time that day no felt the
blessing of security.
hot WA m n n
comparatively early hourbut before 80
doing he once moreexamined the windows
very carefully and saw that the door
was locked and bolted. Then he lifted his
bag on the table, opened II and drew forth
an extremely handsome six chambered
revolver. This he handled very carefully,
almost lovingly, thought. and then. az
ter balancing II and taking sundry imag-
mary aims he turned to me.
II suppose you know what this isr'
Truly ne had but an Indifferent opinion
OF me. an opinion bred OF Ignorance, no