The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-01-25
CHAPTER ".

clurcn wall. II - az SACNA " $780,
as gray of stone. as irresponsible to the
passing fOotstep.
Facing the rallied IN grass plot OF It's
little court stood the house In which
John Loder had his rooms. Taken at
a first glance the house had the desert
ed air of an Office, inhabited only in
the early hours, but as night fell lights
would be seen to show out. first on one
floor. then ON another-faint, human
beacons 1neonseiously signaling each
other. The rooms Loder inhabited
were on the hlghest floor, and from
their windows one might gaze pnilo-
sophIcally on the treetOps, forgetting
the uneven pavement and the worn
railing that hemmed them around, ~ "
the landing outside the rooms his name
appeared above bis door, but the paint
had been soiled by time and the letters /
for the most part reduced to shadows, !
so that. taken in conjunction with the
gaunt staircase and bare walls, the .
place had cherries look.
Inside, however, the effect was some
what mltigSted. The room on the right
hand as one entered the small passage
that served as hall was of fair size,
though low ceiled. The paint OF the
wall paneling, like the name above the
outer door, had long ago been worn 10
dirty and nondescript hue, and the
floor was innocent of carpet Yet in
the middle of the room stood fine old
Cromwell table, and on the plain deal
.kshelves and along the mantel-
10 nre some valuable books-polit
5bidRce rrical There were no cur
al 35lq R%.. lows and common
-oine. - TIC Ma zen shade stood
'eading lamp with a. " ~
IN a desk. 1t was tbs Ko~~ e"ou,
With few hobbies ana d., Ps anu
Who existed because he was aFVS"
worked because he alust. ~ahn
Three nights after the great fog ), .
oder sat by his desk in tho light o.
he green shaded lamp. Tire remains r
Y a very frugal supper stood on the g
enter table. and in the CRATE 81 small "
nd economical booking fire was burn c.
1g.
Having WRITES for close Oh two
ours. he pushed hack his chair and al
.retched his cramped fingers, Then IN
e yawned. rose and slowly walked CT
cross the room. Reaching the mantel- to
Iece he took pipe from the pipe rack We
nd some tobacco from the jar that We
.ood behind the books His face hi
oked tired and a little worn, as is Fl
with men who have worked pr
ng at an uucongenial task Shredding
le tobacco between his hands he SD
owly filled the pipe, then lighted it m;
om the fire with spill of twisted H,
lper.
Almost at the moment that he ap- lar
led the light the sound of steps wi
bunting the uncarpeted stairs outside WI
Iught his attention and he raised his Ne
lad to listen 20
Presently the steps halted and he do
an match struck. The stranger bri
= rIently uncertain Of his where Ed
y, ts. rhen the steps moved forward enc
lin aud pan>ed. knc
N ex;xession of surprise crossed G
ier's face End he laid down his pipe. "Yc
the yia,t>W knocked he walked T
city across the loom ard opened the w.
r. lucl
he passage outside VAS dark and Of !
newcomer drew bacE Before the sion
It from the room. time
dr. LoderT he began intercept aste
~ Ihen all at once he laughed IN you
apology. Forgive meP me-
'aid. The light rather dazzled me- sam
dn't realize who 1t was" m
'uer recognized tne Volcs as Deiong- crop
to his acquaintance of the fog. an
III, it's your' he said Wont you the ]
INK His voice was little cold. "Bi
sudden resurrection left him sur "A
I'd, and not quite pleasantly sur Ger
III. lie walked Dack to the FIRE Chi
E. ro'lowed by ms guest take
e guest seemed nervous and agi- 'T?
|. Il must apologize for the hour had
y WISH ne sald. My-my Tune IS pride
quite my own" IN a ,
Ter waved his hand. Whose time "Bu
own he said. my
Icote' encouraged by the remark tune.
nearer TO the IRE. untll this mo- "Yo
ne nav r|ifhned from looking d. Lod
Y at his host Now. however he 7 wa,
Il ms eFe"' anu despite DIS prepa- tinge
u, he reeoled pnavoldably before his n
resemblance Seen things
III The cIsual sulTouG ings Of prosn,
= furnished and cru1cy ligllted not IN
W. even MORO asto Ihd'hg said
II had haen IN the mystery OF the "whel
my be
'~.'-1 re-" he said AGAIN 1T is table
I'll. am boWled put
w III beard
er sAii. contempt ital in
: hileo" hlo L'.V rose out sa
'ihd win u second ic' 'ess "For
ccnaeG The man seemed so un- "oh
!, 50 Incapable yet 40 grotesqueIy over /
stive 10 himself AZ All
G llke'iess - ralher oNerWheini- sAnC
he 81 q. "lut not heavy enough to "Tbe
ndcr. Come nearer the Gre. What and On
BIT you here Curiosity" There I'd At