Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-04

ling me for the moment. 1t was a constable
and | questioned him.
Il saw man in grey cloak go by just thre
minutes ago."
Carrying bag marked C. VIZ"
Carrying bag, sir" he replied, with marked
emphasis what the grammarians were won
! to call the indefinite article. AZ didn't notic
any letters on it. If you hurry you'll catch hin
up. He went that way" pointing with his hand
SIS anything the matter? Can l be of assist
ance?"
II don't understand you,' returned sharply
wondering whether he, too, like the railway por
ter, thought that my brother was fugitive from
justice
mo offense sir, but your friend seems tc
need looking after. He is either mad or dying
His eyes burned like live Goals, and his face was
white as this snow here. / called out a
rough night, sr!' but he glided on, looking Meth
er to right nor left, and taking no notice of me- y
These words increased my misgivngs. thank
ed the constable and rushed on A line of foot
prints in the snow served to guide me, and fol-
lowing their course, l presently found myself in a
street with semi-detached villas fronted with
quiet unpretentious gardens separated from the
pavement by stone bdlustrades.
There he was! Halfway down the street,
standing beneath the light of a gasamp, was a
cloaked man apparently taking survey of a
house facing the lamp, while shaking the snow
L
"George" I cried eagerly and breathessly
when within a few PAGES of him. "George!"
The figure turned to meet but not to greet
me. 1t was my brothers face, but so haggard
and disfgured by lines of pain to be scarcely
recognizable. His eyes frightened me as they
cleaned in the lamplght.
With dread at my heart tried to clasp his
hand, but he waved me back with gesture sug
gestive of surprise and terror. If 1 had come
upon him in the very act of murder he could
not have shown greater agitation. The fingers
of his left hand relaxed and the valise dropped
upon the snow.
To my mind there could be but one cause of
his emotion, and it burst from my lips in
hoarse cry.
Good heavens Georgel Surely-surely Daphne
isn't dead?"
There was no reply Then sudden gust of
wind blew aside both his cloak and mis- coat, ex-
posing his white vest to view. And there upon
that vest, was red stain large and round! For
one moment only was it visible in the htful
light of the gas-lamp; the next the folds of his
cloak enveloping him again, concealed it.
"What is the matter? Why don't you speak,"
cried and overcoming the vague terror that
had possessed me, / stepped forward.
But before l could touch him, he gave a swift |
glance around, and suddenly snatching up the va
Use, darted through the gateway opposite. Hur-
rying up the garden-path, he ascended flight |
If steps, and while I still gazing after him
n amazement, he disappeared within the portico
hat gave entrance to the house.
Putting aside the fears for my own safety
With the thought that in case of an attack my
,ries would summon the inmates of the neighbor-
ng houses to my aid, l cautiously groped my
vay to the dark portico, but on mounting the
snowy steps I discovered that the porticc was
Empty, and the front door of the house scarcely
hut.
A brief inspection of the dwelling failed to af
ord any clue as to the character of the occu-
,ants. / knocked at the door once, twice, thrice.
There was no reply. Then, seizing the knocker
Nth vigorous grasp, l executed a caunonade
With it, loud enough to not the inmates
# that house only, but those of the whole
treet.
At length the door slowly opened. Fully ex,
ecting to meet my brother, his eyes aglow with
assion, drew back with arms appraised to pro-
ect myself from his rush, but nothing more ter
lble met my gaze than a venerable old man
18th silver hair, who shivered visibly as the
old wind drifted the snow into the passage.
"We sir, may l ask why you rouse me thus
4 the dead of night?'
My eager impatience gave me no time for apol-
gy.
''I want my brother cried brusquey. "He
anne in here. I think"
''Your brother!" exclaimed the old man in a
one of surprise, that, if not genuine, was GER
iinly well feigned Young man, YOU have been
DO long at the taverns this morning. There is
o one in this house but myself"
''You are mistaken" / replied, "Some one en-
cred here only minute or two ago. unknown,
may be, to you. These foot Prints are not
line"
But on looking downwards I found that
now-wreath had drifted over the pavement, eff
ctrlally covering the footsteps of myself as we'll
; those of the refugee.
The old man smiled at my perplexty.
'"Who is your brother?"
Captain George Willard"
captain Willard? I have never heard the
anne before. He is not here. You have mis-
lkcn the house.
"Would you allow me to search the place." I
sked at is bold request for stranger to
lake, especially at this unearthly hour, and !
othing but the certainty that my brother has {
,ncealed himself within induces me TO make it /
ou sec, he's madman, and might do you :
arm
'I shall certainly not allow you to search the {
ouse Your brother is not here This door was
ouble-locked when / went to bed. You heard
e unlock it. How could he enter without the I
oy. / must hid you goodnight. for l see it's
o use arguing with You in your present state of c
lind {
And without mere ado, :he door was closed
nd locked.