The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-08-12

Qudl1Iy Oh mluQ. LIE WUulu llntcH "
what was said to him and automatic
ally invent and hear another state
ment which always seemed to be the
truth. But in Muriel's presence he
had rarely done this. Now for the
first time her influence was powerless.
All through the evening he felt himself
impelled to question and amend what
ever she said. His peace of mind was
gone
On the following day he met Mr..
Winston again, and only with the
greatest difficulty could he avoid ask
ing questions about Carlingford. The
name of that city lowered upon his
lips until 1t finally obtained utterance.
though quite harmlessly.
"Oh, by the way" said Winston.
did Miss Deane ever mention to you
a man named Mortimer-Curtis Morti-
mer? Brilliant but untrustworthy.
He was cutting quite figure when
was in Carlingford- handsome young
rascal and great favorite with the
ladies' I've often wondered what be-
came Of him.
81 don't think Miss Deane knew
him." replied Clavering "She never
| mentioned him."
"Well, that's odd" said the old gen.
tleman.
He eyed Clavering for moment and
then turned the conversation to an
other topic.
For more than a week Clavering
struggled with his desire to mention
Curtis Mortimer's name to Muriel. He
had no special question to ask. He
merely felt drawn toward the topic as
/ If by some occult attraction. There
was a family named Mortimer in their
social circle. and the name was there
fore common in their conversation.
| Whenever it was uttered a spring in
side of Clavering's mind would work
| like the mechanism of an alarm clock.
and an inward voice would say,
"There was a Curtis Mortimer in Car
lingford."
One evening he said it aloud.
"How did you know that?" asked
Muriel in a tone not quite familiar to
his ear.
''Mr. Winston mentioned him." re-
piled Clavering, filled with that pecul-
lar terror which the man of wretched
nerves feels when they betray him.
"What did he say?"
Clavering repeated the conversation
between himself and Winston with
such ready accuracy as revealed the
fact that 1t had been often in his mind.
Muriel was silent for some moments
and then spoke of other matters.
When Clavering left her house that
evening he dared not go home and be
alone. He was afraid of his own I'M
comfortable thoughts He felt no i'm
pulse toward any friend. Mere hui
man companionship. with its restraints
was all that he desired. There was a
billiard room near by where he had
often played. The game was his IA
vorite recreation. and he was very ex
pert Perhaps he might find some one
in the hall whom he knew. but there
was only one acquaintance present
and he already had an opponent.
Clavering watched the game for 9
few minutes. when the proprietor Of
the room came up to him.
would you care to play with {
stranger?' said he. 81 don't know
him. but he's a gentleman all right
And he plays a good game. He wa:
practicing here little while this aft
ercoon."
Clavering turned toward the stranger
fr ;,,e,+ hahin6 him
J tall young man. extremely good look
| ing and very carefully dressed. I
seemed to Clavering that he remem
bered having passed the man on tn
street near Muriel's house.
Eyes" said he. I'll play"
It appeared that the stranger Dor
the name Of Jones. so far as Claverin
could Judge by the mumbled introdut
ton of the proprietor, and it present.
became evident that his skill had nc
been overrated Clavering was n
more than his equal in the best G
circumstances, and upon this occasio
: his condition told heavily against hin
There Is probably no other game whic
is such a searcher Of weaknesses in
: mans nervous system.
Clavering lost two games and d.
clined a third. He was so nervous ths
his knees were shaking when he stool
p ed to take his coat from the rack III
der the table, where it lay folded.
: AS he began to draw 1t out he we
aware Of an object in the breast pock'
which seemed unfamiliar. a large e.
velope containing something hard. TIL
;. he pulled out Of the envelope to 81
= what it was and beheld familiar phi
tograph Of Muriel Deane
He was still STOPPING under the en-
Of the table. The stranger had go1
to the corner of the room where ciga
were sold A great battle ragged
- Clavering's mind, and he lost. He pc
" itively could not help taking the e.
!" velope partly from the pocket that
:. might see the address. The envelol
was torn. Clavering saw only Il