The Washington times., 1905-12-17
Vk---The Trail of the Dead

ored to avoid emotion or exag-
geration. Yet as l glance over
its pages. cannot proclaim my
self as satisfied. On such an
evening as this =s.h .he sum
mer woodlands beneath the cot
tage basking in the tender glory
of the suns farewell, with the silence
of the day that is ending holding the
quiet fields-ea such an evening, l say.
my story, even 20 myself, appears i'm
possible. a nightmare born in the land
Of evil dreams. Yet | have but to turn
my eyes to where my dearest wife sits
at her work TO know that ii is true;
for it was in that time of danger that
Providence gave me the most generous
of the gifts that can be bestowed upon
man.
Two days after Marnac escaped from
our pursuit at Southampton, a little
council was gathered in the parlor of
DR.. Weston's cottage at Cornish Pol
leven. In mis- great armchair by the
fire sat the old scholar. with the lamp
light exposing the delicate fragility VI
face whereon consumption had set
its warning. In odd contrast was my
cousin. Sir Henry Graden. who con-
fronted him. Great-statured stern,
keen-eyed, he was of that type that
can fearlesSly execute. as well as in
teliigenly conceive. a plan. Mary
Weston was on a cushion al her
fathers knee, his hand in hers: and II
was more often to that noble girl that
my glance wandered than TO my
cousin. though. indeed IL was he who
now set before us the position of af-
fairs
1t was right. he said, that Dr. Wes-
ton should know. even as his daughter
knew. the danger that hung over us.
And SO, from tts ces-:.-z.z=..zz.aeut he
told that terrible story; how Marnac.
the celebrated Heidelberg professor.
had been seized with partial mania
born of heredity. nurtured by over
work, brought suddenly to the light
by the violent attacks delivered againsr
a book on which he had spent half his
life; how he had planned to destroy
MS more bitter adversaries. and how.
oy his insane cunning. he had brought
about the deaths Of Won Stockmar and
Mechersky; how. in his desperate fight
from our pursuit, he had killed the son
or Reski. the Polish innkeeper; how
he had come TO England TO end his
vengeance upon DR.. Weston; and how
he had been led to believe that Mary
was the writer of the attack which
mad incensed him. All this he ex
planned; and while he spoke the
shadow of the terror seemed 20 Green
over our very souls. so that we drew
together like sheep that hear the cry
OF wolves in the snow-clad hills.
II WAS DR. Weston =izo first broke
the silence that followed Graders
conclusion.
You have referred 10 a certain
book or diary belonging to this Mar
nae said he, for indeed my cousin
had mentioned that discovery at
heidelberg And 1 gather that from
it you nrst learned the names of the
sclentinc enemies against whom an
attack might be directed. Did this
madman include in his butchers list
any persons besides Won Stocknsr
Meehersky, and myself?''
There We're several other names "
replied my cousin: but I DO NOT tbirl,
tnelr criticisms We're sufficiently 60
we're TO place them in serious danger
have. however, communicated VIII
them all On the least suspicion me,
viii inform the police. Nv servant
there is kept Informed Of nv ad-
dress from day TO day"
And the police?"
In international matters tho,
move slowly. 1t has been a chase
hci"ss europe, remember Months
nave often elapsed before verv ordf-
nary criminals have been arrested
But this man is p rerna rlratio
linguist; he has some c5oO yot -
ms possession, and he has tho on,
70
The English police have full info-r,.
ton, but by this time he NAV he a.
France or Belgium
What, then, do you pronosa CT.
Henry?-- Sir
For the moment we have no dea,-
I'e objective il would be useless fo,
US 10 start for the Continent without
VI 'her information. Until II reaches
Us we shall stay in this country"
quite understand. I trust that for
the ten days that we still have a.
roileVen you Will consider yourselves
S suests-though ! fear that the size
oi my cottage forbids me asking Won
W iedVe your quarters at the inn.'
Are you. then, returning 70 Cam
bridge. Or. Weston? / tbouob+ 1-n,,
had settled here for the wjnter7',
asked my cousin.
1T was SO intended, but nv doctor.
have ordered me to the Engadino
They say-it Is my only cbance Sir
Henry" ."
Mary Weston's eyes rose IN be,
fathers face in one brief nittfII
glance. and then her head dronned
forward. Poor girl she knew maj h.,
had spoken truly.
The Engadine7"
Graden rose in his ponderous fashion
and stood with his back TO the fire
could see that the intelligence cor
cerned him-concerned him. indeed. too
nearly for immediate comment. II was
some moments before he spoke again.
Forgive me. DIR. Weston" he said
but Is this sudden resolution"
We decided yesterday"
Is II common property? Do the
known"
Really, Sir Henry, ! have no idea.
] should not think they know
II win be quite plain with you. DR.
Weston, for that is always the best.
Until this madman is secured, you and
your daughter go in some danger. You
should be safe enough in Switzerland II
you keep your address a secret. But
even then we must arrange that You
haze a travelling companion that can