The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-02-21
he other she stretched out toward

! gave the paper to her. She
glanced at it, dropped it, and burst
into tears.
Good heavens" cried.
Then she laughed shrilly and hys,
teyically.
What is the matter?"
You positively came here, then, TO
do me a real service; and all the While
have been thinking that you were
a."
WHAT"
"A Misunderstanding her face.
"A lunatic""" | was absolutely dus@.
founded.
Yes; and when | left the room it
was simply to call the police. The
manner OF your entTanCe--the lncred,
lble thing You told me,-sir, there is
some dreadful mistake. | haven't an
enemy in the whole world. There is
no vii! in'the safe. My brother and
live with our aunt. who owns this
house. We have no property what,
ever. What | have been telling you
was IN the effort to keep you in good
humor till the police arrived. But
what can it all mean? It is simply in.
credible"
| picked up the envelope and stared
at it stupidity. The address is the
same | said, trying to lind some.
thing to stand on.
Il know it; that's what makes it SC
uncanny. | cannot possibly under,
stand. Perhaps the police can untangle
it."
The police, saw that | should
have to give a good account of myself
When the police arrived. Where did
stand, anyhow? What did it mean.
No man would write such q thing fol
the fun of it.
I'm sorry" said | awkwardly. "a
thought | was doing right. Indeed,
really thought So"
Hhu thdlLh you. iUu VIII duuli
that some of my suspicious were eX
cusable. TO whom am | indebted? ~
graciously. In this mood she was
charming.
told her my name.
She loked puzzled, and finally SHOOK
her head.
1T has a familiar sound, but | can
not place it,"
There goes the bell!" | exclaimed
Its the police-come for the luna
tic!"
The girl flew to the door. l coult
easily read her mind. If | was a bur
glar or lunatic, the police meant pro
lection; in case my errand was II
good faith, there would still be the pc
lice to greet the mysterious stran
ger.
Presently she returned, followed b,
a private detective and two police
men.
rs this the fellow" asked the fol
mer, scowling at me.
The girl explained, rather incohel
emily, her mistake. Everybody sa
down. 1t was quite a social gathering
or would have been but for the scrr
tiny Of the police, which l bore non
too we'll. From all sides question
came popping at me, and 1t was onl
by the use of the telephone connec
ing my bachelor quarters that l sui
ceeded in establishing my identity
The frayed envelope was vastly intel
esting to the police. They read it fol
ward and backward, upside down
and even held it close to the fire t
see if any sympathetic ink had beel
used in writing it.
Il guess Mr.. Carewe's a well.mean
in chap, MISS" volunteered the detec
tive. But this matter will need clos,
attention. 1t looks like a tough prop
osition." He began to ply her will
questions, but to no avail.
During the examination vaguel,
wondered what the other fellow wa
doing with my coat.
The clock on the mantel struck hal
after midnight.
There's only one thing to be done,
said the detective; land that's to turf
out the lights and wait for the blood
thirsty gent
For three-quarters of an hour w
five sat in the semi-darkness, our ear
strained to catch the faintest foreign
sound. Once l sneezed suddenly, ant
one of the policemen nearly fell on
of his chair. 1t may seem funny t,
you who read, but it was mighty seri
Gus to the girl and myself. The sus
pense was nerve-racking. We scarce
ly dared breathe naturally. The OF
casiopal slumping of the coal in tn
crate was pregnant with terrors. An
our faces, seen but dimly, were draw
and tense with the silent watching
Every eye was directed toward tn
baleful window, through which, at an
moment, we expected to see a ma
crawl.
Ssh" The detective raised a war;
ing hand.
On the stiffness Of the night Their
came a clicking sound, like that of
key being inserted in a lock. Pres
emily we heard the hall door open an
close. We waited in agony, or a
least dir. Possibly minute passet
and then we saw the figure OF ma
loom in the doorway. We saw his arr
extend toward the electric-light blu