The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-01-03
THE WEB OF THE SPIDER
CONTINUED FROM PAGE THREE

from a Friend TO warn YOU solemn!
that if You do. from the time yol
put your foot on the station platform
at Rldgely your life is MOI worth ;
handful OF rotten grain.
The path YOU walk-the air yol
breathe-the people you meet-th'
food you eat-are death to you. |
you enter Ridgely you will leave
it in a pine box.
To prove the truth OF what | say
if YOU are fool enough to doubt il
aad to stick to your purpose looR
about you. This is the first of -four
warnings which YOU will receive
before your train pulls out.
Look Out
"a Friend"
This settled the matter-for me
Every impulse of my being was up
in arms IN an instant. Give up my
work for the sake of cowardly
anonymous letter? Not l!
1t was an hour until the time for
my train to leave. / laid my coat
and waistcoat aside preparatory to
bathing my face, but found the water
jug empty. The chambermaid was
negligent and 1t was not the first
time it had occurred nor the first
time that | had found it necessary
for me to do her work. Fortunately
| knew where to find the hydrant.
I stole noselessly down the back
stairs and out into the back yard.
There was faint grayish tinge in
the east and ! heard one or two
OF the servants stirring in the kitch-
en- The rain was still falling heavily
.drearily
l had filled the jug and reached
the upper floor again when suddenly
the light went out leaving the upper
hall in utter darkness. The fact did
not embarrass me, however. I was
thoroughly familiar with the house
and hardly slackened my pace in
the least
My room was at the extreme end
Of the hall. A grayish-lighJ only no.
ticeabe as contrasted with the deep.
er blacllness of the hall filtered
through the windows, and suddenly
through the darkness ! heard a faint
sound and saw a shodaw pass across
The grayish square just outside my
room.
l hurried down the hall but met
no one, heard the sound of no clos
NE door. ! had left my room lighted
lot only by the gas but by a can
lie as well. | had lighted this last
With the intention of carrying it
town stairs but had changed my
mind and left it burning on the
able. The windows were closed, and
was forced to believe that some
me and not gust OF wind had
il. The wick was still
My first anxiety was for the let
ers. had left my coat, the pocket
II which held them, on a chair.
low found both coat and waistcoat
wins on the floor near the door. 4
inSle glance, however, assured me
hat the letters had not been touch
d. \ further examination convinced
ne that my watch was quite safe.
nd the sight of it reminded me of
he necessity for haste. 1t was five
'clock. ! was a little surprised at
his, tof ! had fancied that it must
e later.
| finished my toilet hurriedly.
here was little use in seeking to
earn the identity of the person
'hom | felt quite sure | had seen
eaving my room. He might, probably
i'd, belong to the ordinary sneak
hief variety which are the plaques
+ the second-class boarding house.
nd it was already nearing daylight.
he only concession thai | made
D my dimly-formed suspicion that
is presence in my room held any
ersonal menace to me was to thrust
loaded pistol in the pocket of my
pose coat. l locked my door behind
le, and then without the dimmest
lea of the dangers | was going
} meet or the dark and tangled
ath my feet must try before I |
ouched the threshold of my home
gain, slipped down stairs and out
the still silent house.
(TO be continued