The Detroit times., 1909-03-12


toned houses and was now waiting
for my clients TO come. TO get more
room for my old books and manu-
script | had the scrub woman clean
an old closet In which the former
tenant had left mass of old letters.
papers and bills all torn into small
pieces and scattered all over the
shelves and floor.
The woman told me that these two
rooms which now inhabited had been
empty for more than three years.
When | questioned her further she
said she didn't remember the name of
the last tenant, but she knew that IL
was foreign name which she had
never learned TO pronounce. she
didn't know what his business had
been, but she said that he was always
writing and that very often other Tor
eigners came TO see him. That he
didn't attend any regular business she
judged from his quiet retiring way OF
living While she was telling me all
this she swept all the paper together,
but suddenly she found something
which she handed me.
Look at this she said, "he re-
ceived this the day he left. | remem-
Der when | brought him the mail that
he picked out this card first. put IL on
his table and stared at il AS il he did
not understand II. Probably he has
thrown the card with the other letters
into the closet"
| took the card and looked at II. II
was common playing card, the ace
OF hearts. OF course this was moth
ing extraordinary. But through the
heart somebody had drawn a stiletto
so natural that II looked as II II had
been printed at the same time as the
singleheart.
| kept the card In a drawer Of my
desk and often when | had nothing
else to DO | looked at IT and wonder
ed what IL might mean. II seemed 10
me as IL II had been message or eyil
tidings To the man who had lived in
these rooms before me. II was GER
tain that he had left the room In a
great hurry Immediately after receiv-
Ing the card and had never again re-
turned. Perhaps he had been tangled
up In some mysterious affair and the
card had been warning TO him that
he might save himself
A year passed and | began to get
quite a good practice. SO that had
less time to think OF the card and the
man To whom IL was sent During the
first days OF December was very
busy and stayed later than usual at
my Office where | no longer lived Sud.
denly thought heard a noise as of
stealthly steps in the hall outside. |
looked up and noticed that il was al
ready late | took my lamp and open
ed the door quickly and as | did so
| received shock. for outside stood
a man dressed in rags and looking as
II he were in the last stages of can
sumption He was man of middle
age whose face showed that he suf-
Tered much. His hair was almost
snow white and Immediately knew
when looking at him, first that he was
foreigner and second that ne must
be starving
was So surprised AT seeing this
unexpected visitor that | was speech
less for "A few moments The man
kept on staring at me and al last !
was able TO control my voice once
more
Are you looking for anybody
here" ! asked, "at this hour there Is
nobody in this building
NO ne replied and shook his head,
81 was looking for you.
FOR me? Why"
"Will you kindly let me step into
your rooms for a moment? Just FOR
one moment Oh. no needn't be afraid
of me I'm not dangerous. although
| may look as II | were
| hesitatcd. but he looked AT me
calmly and continued: once used To
live In these rooms
rs that 500" said and the thought
came To me that this man must be
the mysterious tenant and | told him
to step inside.
When the door had closed behind
him | asked him To sit down and Of
fered him glass of wine which ne
refused saying:
First | must tell YOU why ! came
here. For more than an hour have
been standing outside on the stairs
thinking OF how ! should get your per
mission to come into this room. You
know | once used TO live here and |
had to leave here in a great hurry
some four years ago. Undoubtedly
the other people in the building were
surprised at my sudden departure.
opened the drawer in my desk and
produced the mysterious ace OF hearts.
Did this card have anything to do
with it,"
AS soon as he saw the card he
jumped To his feet, great beads OF per
spiration came on his forehead and
his whole body seemed 10 tremble as
he looked at the stiletto piercing the
blood red heart
Where did you get this" he asked
drawing a deep sigh and sitting down
again.
II found il among IA lot of torn let
tiers. But may | ask you what does
this card mean?
What does this card mean" he re-
piled. 1T means that my life was at
an end. that ! had been sentenced TO
death. and that the executioners We're
at my heels | am Russian and
have been connected with the revolu
tionists ever since | was very young
was the agent Of a secret service In
this city. | happened to offend the
leader. | was sentenced and this was
the warming
And then you ran away"
Yes. like a fool. fed. only To come
back as you see me now A beggaT
without home and dying from starya
ton"
again asked him to take a sip OF
wine and eat little for ! wanted to
hear the whole story.
mo. sir" he replied. II am not go.
ing TO eat or drink until have told
you everything and especially Why
/ have come here have come 20 get
something which left behind when
| fled and left II behind because