The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-08-12

# IObn WAS III a HQl = e'iAN -
tak;ne the shady side of the street he
carelessly neglected this precaution
and defied the torrid rays. A good
many people were affected that day
nv the heat. and their names made a
long list in the morning papers.
when John Edwards returned to
4 his ofice-he was the local represen-
n tatiye of an out-of-town iron mill, his
head ached and his skin seemed pain
fully parched. He bathed his face in
a cold water and, being little dizzy,
sat down suddenly and waited. A lit
n tle later he picked up the morning
naner and glanced at it. and was sur
nrjsed to notice how queerly the type
ioggled ITSELF about. And when he
N tried to hold the paper very still and
a give the lines a chance to settle back
! in their places he was alarmed by
'Sthe way they resisted his efforts.
He let the paper fall presently and,
n staggering to the washstand, soaked
4 the towel in cold water and tied it
. about his head. Then he fell back
4 into the chair again and almost in
n stantly dropped alseep, if sleep it
4 could be called.
When he awoke he was waving his
4 hand to the motorman of suburban
4 car. He stepped aboard the platform
and passed up the aisle to front seat.
He wasn't quite sure that he I'M
derstood why he took the suburban
car. He had thought only the day
before of making little trip into the
country and taking his wife with
him. There was a pretty place, a
gorge on a quiet stream, he liked to
visit, and he concluded he was on his
way there now. He was sorry he
hadn't brought his wife with him.
He paid little attention to the pro-
4 gress of the car, and it was not until
he was we'll out in the country that
he looked about him.
Stop IT," the conductor called.
John Edwards remembered that the
stop" he used was 49," and when
the car resumed its rapid pace he
\ pressed the button.
n As he left the car he noticed the
cconductor looked at him little Curl
ously.
Going over to the shed?" he asked
Il guess So" John answered, some
what vaguely.
Better look out for shotguns, the
conductor warned him.
Thank you," said John. "I'll re-
member"
He swung himself to the roadway
and took the slanting path down the
embankment, and then followed the
trail along the stream. Presently he
noticed in the clearing at one side,
half hidden by grove of trees, pc
culiar looking shed.
And just then a voice hailed him.
A man was standing by the fence that
inclosed the field, a young man, hat
less young man, very sallow, and with
a short briarwood pipe in his mouth.
"Hullo, friend" said this stranger
SIN hurry?"
No." replied John Edwards. He
knitted his brows thoughtfully. 81
am quite sure there is no claim upon
my time
Good" said the stranger. Like
to take a ride?"
John Edwards looked around.
Yes" he said in the same DELHI
crate way.
Good again. said the sallow
stranger. You are not a nervous
man. are your"
John Edwards shook his head.
:" Is it question of nerves." he
asked with a cunning smile.
"Oh. no." replied the young man.
Nerves really have nothing to do
with it. It's just little novelty, you
understand, and some people might
be startled-but only at first. l can
explain it to you more clearly if you
come this way"
The fence was low and John Ed
wards climbed it with much care. He
was afraid the queer dizziness might
come back. The stranger watched
him closely.
You seem a phlegmatic person, ="
ne said. And that's just the tenn
permanent | want. And your weight
IS about right, too. This way, please. "
John Edwards followed the sallow
young man, followed him to the barn
like structure at the edge of the wood.
John paused and stared up at the
blue sky and the lazy white clouds.
Fine day for flight" he said.
The sallow young man turned on
him suddenly.
By George" he cried, that's
funny!" His sallow face grew dark.
You must have known about this .
And he struck his knuckles against
the closed doors of the barn.
John Edwards shook his head and
smiled
i do not understand you," he
SAID What is it you are concealing
there?"
Inc intense expression of the sal
low young mans face slowly relaxed.
spoke hastily" he said. II was
AFRAID my secret had been discovered.
nave guarded it such long time.
IL you understood my anxiety you
would forgive me-"
he produced peculiar key and I'M
rocked the big doors, and, after a
swift glance about the field, threw
Them open.
Here is my secret" he said, and