The Tupelo journal., 1912-09-20

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Tho Echo Took Her Chance
faced the light-his heart in his
mouth, If the truth is to be told.
To Coasts ~unspeakable relief he
found Blackstock alone. Apparently
the man had been sitting by the table,
his feet on a nearby stool; but when
Coast discovered him he was standing
in that logged, forceful pose OF
strength and preparedness which
seemed somehow peculiarly his: with
his feet well apart, his heavy body in
clining forward from his hips, his
broad shoulders a tribe lifted, his
round and heavy head thrusting for
ward on It's thick, strong neck.
Blackstock spoke abruptly the in
slant Coast succeeded in forcing the
door to-abruptly and harshly, but
with a certain jerky %intonation that
betrayed tangled nerves: an involun-
tary confession most welcome to its
hearer; this was, after all, with
all its viciousness, a human being
no such ~nerveless monster of blood
and iron as Appleyard had pictured
in his narrative of the hour of the as
sassination, or even as Coast had
come to figure the man in his long
days of hopeless %brooding.
Who's that?" he cried. Who's
there? What the devil"
He paused to control his agi-
tation. But Coast withheld his reply
an appreciable 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-slightly, in
deed, but perceptibly. That's my
name" he continued hoarsely. But
who are you? What
d'you mean by coming in here with
out knocking?" he added with a 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'll" Blackstock moved
impatiently. But, damn it, who are
you? Can't you give yourself a name?"
why, Handyside, of course"
Coasts lone was a perfection OF po-
lite surprise. Surely" 1t seemed to
say, you must've been looking for
met" 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. Game 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 n 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 it's every line and
contour was by clumsy and htless
oilskins and the deep shadow cast by
the broad t~urned-down brim of a 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?" B~lackstock reused him.
What you stopping fors I'm listen
ing!"
Il 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 moved quickly into the
room. Yes" she said, still with her
eyes to the stranger. 1T is |, Doug
las. / didn't know fancied n OF
the servants
This is Mr.. Handyside,' Blackstock
told her sharply, as If irritated by the
interruption; he's to take Powers
place"
Coast removed his sou'wester and
came forward q pace, SO that the light
was strong upon his face. Yes