The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-10-18
CHAPTER TX.

was startled by the sight. NC
Drawer or more resolute boy breath
II ed. But the silence, the mystery
the gloomy aloofness of Johnson
Mews-lent a sinister aspect to an ap-
partition formidable enough under any
circumstances, but absolutely threaten
Ing and full of danger to one situated
as he at that moment.
He never remembered seeing the man
before, not that this repellent physiog
nomy was Of type to be soon forgot
i ten. A bullet head, with prominent
bloodshot eyes, a strong, cruel mouth
huge nose, badly broken-a certain
strength of character in features de-
based by drink and criminality-these
were the tokens writ legibly on the
countenance glazing intently at the boy
! from without.
| The two gazed at each other for an
appreciable time. The mans face wan
dered from Philips face to his costume
and then rested on the open portman-
teau at the boys feet There was in
his expression an air of astonishment-
certain gloating bewilderment-as OF
one who had stumbled unawares upon
some object of such t0tential value
that the finder could hardly believe /.
to be true. He was thinking, wonder
ing. debating, with himself. The soa
gle eyes seemed to see more than the
brain was inclined to credit.
l 10 oil nm
right course was to resent this imperti-
nent prying into his affairs.
Hello, your he shouted. What do
you wantY
The man grinned. He seemed to be
about to answer when he suddenly
turned his head and looked down the
yard toward the entry.
Instantly he swung round and van
ished noiselessly with the silent alert
ness of cat, for the boy heard no
sound. He simply disappeared in the
darkness, and Philip, who knew every
inch of the ground, realized that his
most unpleasant visaged spy had not
only dived into the further obscurity
of the news, which formed a Guide
sac, but also was either in his stocking
feet or wore something over his boots to
deaden any possible clatter on the paw
Ing stones.
Here was a nice thing, his habitat
discovered by some tramp or criminal
skulking In the untenanted building
marked out for the house breakers
within few days. 1t was too bad.
He was sorely annoyed that he had
not thought sooner of the potentialities
Of the window when the interior of the
house was illumined by candle and a
ruddy FIRE. How long had the man
stood there watching himf He had
certainly seen some portion of the con
tents Of the last portmanteau. Had he
also witnessed the removal of the 9th
ers to the pantry
Philips experience as a newspaper
vender told him that all London was
now familiar with his own personal
appearance AZ well as with the sem
blance and value Of his meteoric dia.
monds, The white stones, the cfufi1ps
Of iron ore, had been described minute
lly by clever journalists, who su- pie
mented Isaacstein's clear statement by
facts cleaned from encyclopedias and
interviews with biologists.
Most probably this man had read
long articles about him, for the story
was such as to bring watery curses to
the lips of every penniless vagrant In
the kingdom. Indeed. the careful scru-
Tiny bestowed on his face and clothes
bore out this suspicion. Had he not
changed his garments the stranger
would have known his Identity beyond
all question. As II was, the man was
puzzled and disturbed ut the very mo
ment he was about to say something.
What had happened to cause him to
run away? What had he seen or heard ?
Above all how much did he know Of
Philip and his affairs?
Well. the door was locked, and It.
would bc folly to go out again Tint
night The house was absolutely nm
Approachable gave by the front Philip