Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-05-01

Tom sighed rather bitterly. He was
convinced that the harlequin would
come home soon, replace the uniform
(which was probably extremely becom-
ing to him, as they were Of a height
and figure much the same) and after
ward in his ordinary dress would sally
forth to spend his last evening with
Fanchon. Tom wondered how Crailey
would feel and what he would think
| about himself while he was changing
his clothes, but he remembered his
partners extraordinary powers of men,
tai adjustment, and for the first time in
his life Vanrevel made no allowance
| for the others temperament, and there
came to him moment when he felt
that he could almost dislike Crailey
Gray.
At all events. he would 90 out until
Crailey had come and gone again. for
he had no desire to behold the mas
querader's return. So he exchanged
his dressing gown for coat, fastened
his collar and had begun to arrange
his cravat at the mirror when sudden
ly the voice of the old negress seemed
to sound close beside him in the room:
"EIe's settin' dah-waitin'"
The cravat was never tied. Toms
hands dropped to his sides as he start
ed back from the staring face in the
mirror. Robert Carewe was waiting,
and Crailey- All ut once there was
but one vital necessity in the world for
Tom yanrevel - that was to find
Crailey. He must 60 to Crailey even
in Carewe's own house. He must go
to Crailey!
He dashed down the stairs and into
the street. The people were making a
great uproar in front Of the hotel, ex-
ploding bombs, firing muskets In the
air, sending up rockets, and, rapidly
crossing the outskirts Of the crowd, he
passed into Carewe street unnoticed.
Here the detonations were not so deaf
ening, though the little steamboat at
the wharf was contributing to the con-
fusion with all In her power, screeching
simultaneously approval Of the celebra-
ton and her last signals Of departure.
At the first corner Tom had no more
than left the sidewalk when he came
within q foot of being ridden down by
two horsemen who rode at so desperate
q gallop that, the sound Of their hoof
beats being lost in the uproar from
Main street, they were upon him before
he was aware Of them.
lie leaped back with an angry shout
to KNOW who they were that they rode
80 wildly. At the same time a sharp
explosion ut the foot Of the street sent
q red flare over the scene, flash, gone
with such incredible swiftness into re-
newed darkness that he saw the flying
horscmen almost as equestrian statues
illumined by flicker Of lightning. but
he saw them with the same distinct
ness that lightning gives and recogniz-
ed the former as Robert Carewe, and IN
the instant Of that recognition Tom
knew what had happened to Crailey
Gray, for he saw the truth in the ghast-
" face Of his enemy.
Carewe rode stiflly, like q man frozen
upon his horse and his face was like
that of frozen man, his eyes CLASSY
and not fixel upon his course, so that
it was n deathly thing to see. Once,
long ago, Tom had seen man riding
for his life, and he wore this same
look. The animal bounded and swerv-
ed under Vanrcvel's enemy in the mad
rush down the street, but he sat rigid,
bolt upright in the saddle, his face set
to that look Of coldness.
The second rider was old Nelson, who
rode with body crouched forward, his
eyeballs like shining porcelain set In
ebony and his arm like fail, cruelty
lashing his own horse and his masters
with heavy whip.
"De steamboat" he shouted hoarse-
", bringing down the lash OH one ana
then OH the other. "De steamboat, de
steamboat! Fo' Gods sake, honey, de
steamboat"
They swept into Main street, Nelson
leaning far across to the others bride
and turning both horses toward the
river, but before they had made the
corner Tom Vanrevel was running with
all the speed that was in him toward
his enemy's house. The one block be-
tween him and that forbidden ground
seemed TO him miles long, and he felt
that he was running as a man In
dream and ut the highest pitch of ago.
nizcd exertOn, covering no space, but
only working the air in one place, like
treadmill. All that was in his mind,
heart and soul was to reach Crailey.
He had known by the revelation OF
Carewe's face in what case he would
find his friend, but Us he ran he put
the knowledge from him with a great
shudder and resolved upon incredulity
in spite of his certainty. All he let
himself feel was the need to run, to
run until he found Crailey. who was
somewhere in the darkness OF the trees
about the long, low house Oh the cor
ner. When he reached the bordering
hedge he did not stay frr gate or path,
but with loud shout hurled himself
half over, half through. the hedge. like
bolt from catapult.
Lights shone from only one room In
| the house, the library, but as he ran
toward the porch candle flickered In
the hall, and there came the sound OF
voice weeping with terror.
At that he called more desperately
upon his incredulity to aid him. for
the voice was Mrs. Tanberry's. If it
had been any other than she who sob
bed so hopelessly, she who was a.
ways steady and strong! If he could
he would have stopped to pray now
| before he faced her and the truth. but
is flying feet carried him on.
"Who is T." she gasDed br0kenlv