The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-04

whnt was said 10 him and automatic
nlly invent and hear another state
incnt which always seemed to be tn
truth. But IN MurleI's presence b'
had rarely done this. Now for TN
lirst time her influence was powerlcss
All through the evening hc felt himself
lmpcllcd 10 question and amend what
ever she said. Ills peace OF mind wai
gone.
On tho following day he met Mr.
Winston agnin, and only with tht
greatest difficulty could no avoid ask
Ing questions about Carllngford. Tbs
name Of that city lowered upon hi
lips until II finally obtained utterance
though quite harinlessly.
"Oh, by tho way said Winston
"did Miss Deane ever mention to 20!
man named Mortlmer--Curtis Morti
merf Brilliant, but untrustworthy
He was cutting quite a figure when
was In Carlingfori-- handsome yount
rascal and great favorite with Tho
ladies'. Two often wondered what bc
came Of him"
II don't think Miss Deanc knew
him." replied Clavering "She never
mentioned him"
well. that's odd" said the old gen
tleman.
lie eyed Clayering for moment and
then turned the conversation 10 an.
other topic.
For more than week Clayering
struggled with his desire TO mention
Curtis Mortimer's name to Muriel, lie
had no special question to ask. lie
merely felt drawn toward tho 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 II was uttered spring In.
side Of Claverlng'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 II aloud.
"iiow did you know that?" asked
Muriel In 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 sayf"
Claverlng repeated the conversation
between himself and Winston with
such ready accuracy as revealed tho
fact that II had been often In his mind
Muriel was silent for some moments
and then spoke Of other matters.
When Clayering left her house thai
evening he dared not go home and bf
alone. He was afraid OF his own un
comfortable thoughts He felt no i'm
pulse toward any friend Mere hu-
man companlonship, with Its restraints,
was all that he desired. There was n
billiard room near by where he had
often played. Tho 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 no already had nm opponent
Clavering watched the game for n
few minutes. when the proprietor Of
the room came up to him.
Would you care to play with
stranger7" said he Il don't know
him, but he's a gentleman all right
And he plays good game. He was
here little while this aft.
ernoon"
ClaverIng turned toward the stranger,
who had come In just behind him. n
tall young man. extremely good look.
Ing and very carefully dressed. 1t
seemed to Claverlng that he remem.
bered having passed the man on the
street near Muriel's house.
''Yes," said he, an play"
1t appeared that the stranger bore
the name Of Jones. SO far as Claverlng
could judge by the mumbled introduc.
tlon Of the proprietor. and 1t presently
became evident that his skill had not
been overrated, Claverlng was no
more than his equal In the best Of
circumstances, and upon this occasion
his condition told heavily against him
There IL probably no other game which
Is such searcher Of weaknesses In a
mans nervous system.
Claverlng lost two games and de.
clined n third. He was so nervous that
his knees were shaking when he stoop.
ed to take his coat from the rack un-
der the table, where 1t lay folded.
As he began to draw 1t out he was
aware OF an object In the breast pocket
which seemed unfamiliar, a large en-
velope containing something hard. This
he pulled out of the envelope to see
what 1t was and beheld familiar pho
.ograph of Muriel Deane.
He was still STOPPING under the end |
Of the table, The stranger had gone
to the corner Of the room where cigars
were sold. A great battle ragged In |
mind, and he lost. He pos.
lively could not help taking the en-
pelope partly from the pocket that he
might see the address, The envelope |
was torn. Clayering saw only the
,on,n ItorItn rfnpl nnd thn ctata IN |