Bisbee daily review., 1914-11-18

alleviated by lively anticipation that
the door would open almost any mo-
ment, and the man come forth; but
nothing OF the kind happened. The
house remained as still as it had been
for months. Not a blind was raised;
no sign OF life was manifest.
Then the watcher began to grow
restless. As the minutes licked on
and nothing occurred, he glanced at
his watch with increasing frequency.
Presently he rose and went over TO
push-button, upon which he pressed
with unnecessary violence, Afterwards
Fastening back to the window under
sudden apprehension that the man
might take advantage OF his brief IN
httentiveness to vanish-as the fellow
had caught him mapping before.
A cocktail was presently set beside
him upon a tabouret; he gulped It
down, then lighted a cigarette which
he began to smoke feyerishly. But he
tossed 1t away after a pun or two; be
had smoked too much the night be
fore, and the tempered spirits could
not remove the furry taste from his
tongue.
Another glance at his watch; near
ly an hour had he waited. for It was
now ten minutes 70 ten. Would the
fellow never appear?
And then Van Vechten's attention
was all at once diverted. He had or
dered and consumed a second cock
tail, and was attempting a fresh cigar
cite, when he paused, the blazing
match suspended in mid-air.
He saw another and quite different
stranger approaching along the oppo-
site walk. He knew instinctively that
this could not be the first man, but his
manner copied that worthy's so pre-
cisely that Van Vechten was con-
strained to watch him instead OF main
tanning his Improbable vigil.
He lighted his cigarette, hipped the
match away, and waited
This second individual was walking
/ hesitantly, just as the other had done,
and also seemed to be devoting his at
tention to the house numbers.
He paused before the house across
/ the way. There could be no doubt but
which was only imperfectly outlined
upon the red-curtained fanlight. Then
that he was searching for the number,
/ abruptly all signs OF hesitation van
/ lshed from his bearing; he went de.
terminedly up the steps and rang the
/ bell.
At that very instant the clock in the
/ hall began striking ten.
] uHv n1r
/ by this coincidence. Even before in
yentorying the mans semblance, he
asked himself how many had preceded
him; how many we're yet to come. And
how did they time their arrival 50
nicely?
There had been something furtive
about the second fellows admittance,
Van Vechten recalled; not particularly
on the mans part, but suggested rath-
or by the narrow crack which the open
door at first disclosed, making one
think that the chain had not been re-
leased until after a parley. And then
the aperture had widened only enough
for the visitor to squeeze his bulh
through. whereupon the door had
promptly banged shut. Van Vechter
retained merely a sense OF absolute
darkness beyond the threshold; moi
the slightest glimpse had he caught
Of servant or attendant The dOol
might have been tended by invisible
hands.
Again he asked himself; Would tbs
Incident be repeated In another hour?
The wait between ten and clever
o'clock dragged with most eIasperat
ing slowness; but the self-appointeS
watchers interest was at such higl
pitch that he left his third cocktail un
tasted.
AS the hour approached. he dRrte'
quick glances along the street in an
J ticipation of a new arrival. And sur
enough, at a minute or two before thu
hour. here came a third muscular, reso
lute-looking young man, not over-fas
tidiously attired. who was scannini
the house numbers as intently as hi
two predecessors had done.
And just as the chimes in the hal
began tolling eleven. he mounted tn
steps and rang the bell.
Van Vechten scarcely breathed, o.
intently was ne following the proceed
ings across the street. AS before, tn
door was opened perhaps an inch.
brief colloquy patiently ensued, the
the gap widened barely enough for IN
young man to squeeze through. An
also as before, the door was slamme
without Van Vechten obtaining th
least glimpse Of whatever mysterie
might lie beyond.
BY now he was taking account {
time only with reference TO Numbe
1913. He was in such a state OF min
that he forgot that he was tired an
sleepy, or that he ever had been bore'
other club members-the few unto
Inmates anchored to the city-were b
ginning TO drop In. but Van Vechte
was too intent TO give any Of theI
particular notice until Tom Phinne
arrived.