The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-25
THE MAN WITH
THE
GLASS EYE
by Charles Playfair.

arsen, a young professor OF Chris
ania University. We were driving
y carriole in opposite directions-he
outh to the capital, and | north to
Throndhjem.
We were the only travellers, and
shut up in the lonely posthouse for
three days, It was but natural that we
should exchange views upon life in
general, and discover that our ideas
were Identical on many points
On the fourth day, when the sun
shone again, we grasped each others
hand in farewell; not, however, be-
fore | had promised to call on him
when l returned to the capital on my
way to England.
1t was six weeks before the wheels
OF my carriole ratified over the un-
even cobbles of Christiania, and on
the evening following my arrival I
took train for Bygdo, a pleasant sub
urb overlooking the picturesque
FJord, to find my friend. 1t was all
ready dark when | alighted, but
the chief of the rural station directed
me to Larsens house, which, he
said, was a small white cottage near
the water.
Built, like most Norwegian houses,
of pine logs, it stood secluded and
isolated facing the Fjord. There was
no light in the window, and the
wooden porch was so dark that In
feeling for the knocker I placed my
hand upon the flap of what was evil
IDENTIFY the letter box, producing
loud rafting and causing me to
start.
] was passing my hand over the
woodwork in search of the knocker,
when the door was suddenly thrown
violently open, hand grapsed my
shoulder and | was dragged into q
dark passage. The door was closed
quickly; then a womans soft bare
arms were thrown around my neck.
hot, fervid kisses were rained upon
my head and face, while a voice
murmured in my ear the words In
English:
Returned at last! My love, So
many months | have been waiting!
Oscar! My own"
The remainder OF the sentence
S lost in terrible Shrek. The
re arms loosened their hold upon
neck and body fell to the floor
IA thud!
I stood motionless In horror The
awful intensity Of the darkness un-
nerved me. Had the woman who had
caressed me so affectionately been
struck down?
Bending down to the body that
lay at my feet, listened eagerly. My
strained ears caught only the sound
of heavy breathing and an occasional
gasp.
Again l bent down. My fingers
came into contact with something
wet and warm. No light was required
to tell me 1t was blood!
shouted for help. but my voice
echoed weirdly through the house,
and no one stirred. Just at that mo-
ment, however, there was the click
of key In the door, and some one
entered.
"A light" cried. Quick! This
lady has fainted!"
The newcomer, uttering a cry OF
surprise. pushed past me. presently
returning with a lamp. Upon the
floor in pool of blood lay hand
some girl with wisp of dark brown
hair straying across her blanched
cheek.
What have you done to my
daushterf" gasped the woman in
alarm.
Help me to raise her. | will tell
you all afterward," said.
We carried the unconscious girl
into a sitting room. and remained
while her mother went for medical
assistance.
The doctor, upon examination.
found curious triangular wound in
her back. evidently inflicted with q
strangely-shaped but exceedingly
keen knife. In the darkness she had
been struck down by an unknown
hand
l remained an hour, until the doc
tor. assuring us that the wound would
not prove fatal, departed. Then the
tluCI lOllOWcu llS W IH6
door, and l told her all I knew.
'I have not the pleasure Of know
Ing your name" she said. Mine Is
Tremayne. VIII you-will you prom
ise to keep our secret? Remember
no one must know Of this extraordi-
nary affair-no one. Do not mention
the matter even to your dearest
friend, for scandal would result, and
my daughter Eve would be the suf-
ferer."
promised secrecy, and left. To
seek Larsen at that hour was, CON
sidered, not desirable, for the
weather had changed and dense
fog overhung everything. Therefore
/ groped my way toward Bygdo sta
ton. / had not gone far before
became conscious that some one was
walking about a hundred yards be-
hind. | quickened my pace, when,
TO my surprise, the heavy shuffiins