The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-11-01

come to figure the man in his long
lays Of hopeless brooding.
Who's that?" he cried. who's
.here7 What the devil"
He paused to control his agi-
tation. But Coast withheld his reply
An appreciate moment. Then, Mr..
Black. believer" he said quietly.
Black" The man started at sound
Of an unfamiliar voice. and Coast saw
his great frame quiver-siightlys In
deed, but percspubly. That's my
name" he continued hoarseiy. But
who are you? What
dyou mean by coming In here with
out knocking?" he added with q show
Of buster.
Il knocked-several times" Coast
lied steadily. The wind. doubtless :.
Sorry l startled you; thought
you'd be expecting me-"
Expecting you!" Blackstock moved
impatiently. But. damn 1t, who are
you? Can't you give yourself a manner"
Why. Handyside, of course"
Coasts tone was a perfection of po-
lite surprise. Surely" it seemed TO
say. you must've been LOOKING for
mel" Distrusting deliberately arti-
fetal infections, he was at pains to
speak crisply, as was not his habit;
such being the only way he could
think of to disguise his voice. He
was watching Blackstock closely. alert
for a sign of recognition in the mans
expression Somewhat to his surprise
he detected none. Il got orders to
come here and relieve Power last
night" he continued Came down
this morning to New Bedford and"
The words froze upon his lips. A
door to his left had opened; Katherine
stood there. watching. listening. APP
parently she had started to enter
without any suspicion that her hus-
band was not talking to one of the
servants, and In her establishment
had stopped. The figure Of the man
by the door could not but be strange
to her. masked as its every line and
contour was by clumsy and fitless
the broad turned-down brfm of SOU
wester Yet Coast thought to discern
a deathless apprehension in her pose.
a mute but infinitely pitiful question in
her eyes And his heart stood still,
for the crucial instant was imminent:
In another minute, two at most, she
would know him. And then ;?
"Well?" Blackstock reused him.
What you stopping for? I'm listen
ing."
81 beg pardon" Coast tugged at
the button on the chin-strap of his
sou'wester. THE lady there
didn't know
Blackstock turned his head impa-
tiently. moving his sightless eyes in
the direction of Katherine. oh" he
said, my wife"
The woman moved quickly into the
room. YES" she said, still with her
eyes to the stranger. ut Is l, Doug
las. l didn't know fancied one OF
the servants
This is Mr.. Handyside," Blackstock
told her sharply, as if irritated by the
interruptions; hes to take Powers
place"
coast removed MS SOU WeSteT anu
came forward a pace. SO that the light
was strong upon his face. Yes,
ma'am," he said, I'm the new opera,
tor. How d'you do?" He contrived
to keep his tone coolly respectful and
impersonal, but his eyes were plead
ing with her. and he hung upon the
issue of her response as condemned
man lives In the hope of a reprieve.
She knew him now; his action in
discovering his features had but
fastened slightly the confirmation OF
her most dread premonition. And of a
sudden her face was a mask of chalk
set with eyes that blazed with cold
| fires of terror. Coast saw her sway
| but though he feared she was about
to faint, dared not move to her as
sistance. Indeed, there was no need |;
she was fashioned of sterner stuff ;
| though every atom of her being shud
| dered, she remained mistress of her
self. An instant's delay would have
been damning; she knew that
and her answer fell pat as he ceased
| to speak