The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-12-19
another's discontinue than in his
his

nnother's discontinue than in his
own.
Was it to escape any lack of con-
centration which these same memo
RES might bring, that he rose and
stepped to the window? Or was it
under one of those involuntary i'm
pulses which move rs in spite of our
selves to do the very thing our judg-
ment disapproves?
No sooner had he approached the
sill than Mr. Brotherson's shade few
way up and he, too, looked out. Their
glances met, and for an instant the
hardy detective experienced that in
voluntary stagnation of the blood
which follows an inner shock He
felt that he had been recognized The
moonlight lay full upon his face. and
the other had seen and known him.
Else, why the constrained attitude
and sudden rigidity observable in this
confronting figure, with its partially
lifted hand? A man like Brotherson
makes no pause in any action however
trivial without reason. Either he
had been transfxed by this glimpse of
his enemy on watch, or-daring
thought! had seen enough of sepul-
chral suggestion in the wan face
looking forth from this fatal window
20 shake him from his composure and
let loose the grinning devil of remorsa
| from its iron prison-house? If so, the
movement was memorable one, and
! the hazard quite worth while. He had
! gained-no! he had gained nothing.
! He had been the fool of his own
wishes. No one, let alone Brother
| son, could have mistaken his face for
! that of woman. He had forgotten
! his newly-grown beard Some other
cause must be found for the others
attitude. It savored of shock, if not
! fear. If it were fear. then had he
| reused an emotion which might re-
bound upon himself in sharp reprisal.
| Death had been known to strike
| people standing where he stood; mys-
FERROUS death of species quite unrec-
f.; ognizab,e. What warranty had he
that it would not strike him, and now?
/ None.
Yet it was Brotherson who moved
first. With a shrug of the shoulder
| plainly visible to the man opposite,
he turned away from the window and
| without lowering the shade, began
gathering UP his papers for the night.
and later banking up his stove with
ashes.
SWeetWater, with breath OF decid-
ed relief stepped back and threw him.
self on the bed. 1t had really been
trial for him to stand there under the
others eye, though his mind refused
to formulate his fear, or to give him
any satisfaction when he asked him.
| self what there was in the situation
suggestive of death to the woman or
harm to himself
Nor did morning light bring coun-
sci, as is usual in similar cases. He
| felt the mystery more in the hubbub
and restless turmoil of the day than
| in the nights silence and inactivity.
He was glad when the stroke OF six
gave him an excuse to leave the room.
! At half past six he found the iani-
tor. He was, to al appearance, in
/ state Of great excitement and he
spoke very fast.
"I won't stay another night IN that
room," he loudly declared, breaking
in where the family were eating
breakfast by lamplight ~ don't
want to make any trouble and
don't want to give my reasons; but
! that room don't suit me. I'd rather
take the dark one you talked about
|
my things moved today, will YEP
| "But your moving out after one
nights stay will give that room bad
name," stammered the janitor, rising
awkwardly. "Therc'n be talk and
won't be able to let that room all win
ter"
Nonsense! Every man hasn't the
/ nerves l have. You'll let it in week.
But let or no let, I'm going front into
the little dark room. I'll get the boss
! to let me off at half past four. So
/ that's settled"
He waited for no reply and got
! none; but when he appeared prompt
/ ly at quarter to five, he found his
/, few belongings moved into middle
room on the fourth floor of the front
! building, which, oddly perhaps,
J CHANGED to be next door to the one he
! had held under watch the night be-
! fore.
/, The first page of his adventure in
the Hicks street tenement had been
turned, and he was ready to start
upon another.