The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-12-31

truth. But in Muriers presence hs
had rarely done this Now for tho
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 it finally obtnined 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 quiteA figure when l
was in Carlingford-a handsome young
rascal and a great fkvorite with the
ladies. I've often wondered what BE-
came of him. s.
II don't think Miss Deane knew
him." replied Clavering. "she never
mentioned him." "a
"well. that's odd" said the old gen.
tleman. 4
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
II by some occult attraction. There
was 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 Claverings mind would work
like the mechanism Of an alarm clock.
and an inward voice would say,
There was Curtis Mortimer in Car
lingford."
One evening he said It aloud.
"How did you know that?" asked
Muriel in tone not quite familiar to
his ear.
"Mr. Winston mentioned him." re-
piled Clavering, filed with that pecu!-
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 it 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 un-
controllable thoughts. He felt no i'm
pulse toward any friend. Mere hu-
man companionshfp. 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 a
few minutes. when the proprietor Of
the room came up to him.
would you care to play with a
stranger?" said he. II don't know
him, but he's gentleman all right
And he plays good game He was
practicing here little while this aft
ernoon."
| Clavering turned toward the stranger
| who had come in just behind him. Z
, tall young man. extremely good look
, Ing and very carefully dressed. 4
: seemed to Clavering that he remem
bered having passed the man on thu
street near Muriel's house.
'Yes." said he, 'I'll play"
! 1t appeared that the stranger bor'
, the name Of Jones. so far as Claverin,
8 could Judge by the mumbled introduc
t tion Of the proprietor. and it present..
. became evident that his skill had no
i been overrated Clavering was n
more than his equal in the best 0
" circumstances, and upon this occasion
r his condition told heavily against him
e There is probably no other game whic
Is such n searcher Of weaknesses in
l. mans nervous system.
Clavering lost two games and dc
e ,lined third. He was so nervous tina
o bis knees were shaking when he stooT
}. ed to take his coat from the rack ur
der the table. where 1t lay folded.
q AS he began to draw it out he wa
d aware of an object in the breast pocke
which seemed unfamiliar. a large eT
y velope containing something hard. ThI
be pulled out of the envelope to sc
It what It was and beheld familiar PHI
k tograph of Muriel Deane.
He was still STOPPING under the en-
Of the table. The stranger had gon
to the corner of the room where cigal
. were sold A great battle ragged
II Clavering's mind, and he lost. He POI
" itively could not help taking the el
=, velope partly from the pocket that /
might see the address. The enveloI
;" was torn. Clavering saw only th
name Carlingford and the state
n Muriers hand.
Ut Shame rush9d upon him. He thru
back the envelope and rose.
h "Those are my things there" sal
D. the stranger, approaching. yours al
t. at the other end of the table"
70 "Yes," said Ciavering. $50 | pc
m -sive."
rs He walked the streets all night,
Of prey to the most absurd confusion
at thought. His mind wheeled about Ill
e. /, bird and returned always to one ce
he trail spot Muriel had lied to hiI
q She had told him that she had
IL friends in Carlingford and that 81
,e had severed all relations with the TOW
If and its inhabitants, but she had Sc