Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1907-04-03

! saw TIC Bill . law llOnl NllllO "
time. What a fool had been not to
ask her name She could easily have
refused. and yet as easily have grant
ed the request. At any rate, has
permitted the chance to slip out oil
my reach, which was exceedingly
careless on my part. Perhaps they
she and her uncle--frequently dined
at Mouquin's; | determined to haunt
the place and learn. 1t would be
easy enough to address her the next
time we met Besides, she would be
curious to know all about the ten of
hearts and the desperate adventure
upon which told her | was about to
embark. Many a fine friendship has
grown out of smaller things.
Next, turning from the window,
fell to examining my fellow passen-
gers, in the hope of seeing some one
I knew. Conversation on trains makes
sho, journeys. \ | sat up
eiliy in my seat. Diagonally across
the aisle sat the very chap | had met
in the curio.shop! He was quietly
reading a popular magazine, and &C.
casionally a smile lightened his sar-
donic mouth. Funny that should
run across him twice in the same
evening! Men who are contemplating
suicide never smile in that fashion.
He was smoking small, well-colored
meerschaum pipe with evident relish
Somehow, when a man clenches his
teeth upon the mouthpiece of a re-
spectacle pipe, it seems Impossible to
associate that man with crime But
the fact that l had seen him selecting
a pistol in pawnshop rather neutral
lied the good opinion was willing to
form | have already expressed my
views upon the subject The sight of
him rather worried me, though
could not reason why. Whittier was
he bound? Had he finally taken one
of Friard's pistols? For moment
was on the point of speaking to him,
if only to hear him tell more lies
about the ten of hearts, but wisely
put aside the temptation. Besides,
it might be possible that he would
not be glad to see me. | always avoid
the chance acquaintance, unless, of
course, the said chance acquaintance
is met under favorable circumstances
like the girl in Mouquins, for in
stance! After all, it was only an in
cident; and, but for his picking up
that card never should have remem-
bered him.
Behind him sat fellow with
countenance as red and round and
complacent as an English butlers,-
red hair and small twinkling eyes.
Once he leaned over and spoke to my
chance acquaintance, who, without
turning his head, thrust match over
his shoulder. The man with the face
of a butler lighted the most villainous
pipe l ever beheld. | wondered If
they knew each other. But, closely
as watched, saw no sign FROM
either l turned my collar up and
snuggled down. There was no need
of his seeing me.
Then my thought reverted to the
ten of hearts again. My ten of hearts!
The wrinkle of chill ran up and
down my spine! My ten of hearts!
Hastily l took out the card and ex-
amined the back of it. 1t was an I'M
commonly handsome back, represent
ing Diana, the moon, and the midnight
sky. A horrible superstition came to
me: supposing they looked at the
back as well as at the face of the
card? And again, supposing | was
miles away from the requisite color
and design? was staggered. Here
was pretty fix! ! had never even
dreamed of such contingency. Hang
it! / now wished / had stuck to my
original plan, and gone to the tIleater.
Decidedly was in for IT.; there was
no backing down at this late hour,
unless / took the return train for Jer-
sey City; and possessed too much
to. surrender to any
such weakness. Either should pass
the door committee, or shouldn't; Of
ONE thing / was certain.
'sBIankshire!" bawled the trainman;