Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1914-04-09

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.lystery. g Ga not necessarily follow
that he mus. fail to see him when he
emerged. Sooner or later the man
must depart
Van Vechten was eminently well
qualified to wait. since all his energies
and such ambition as he possessed
were directed toward that most labori.
GUS OF all tasks. killing time;" despite
which. backed by considerable fer
tility OF invention. most OF the min
utes OF each passing day fitted BY
leaving him more bored than ever. SO
he resolved TO keep his station at tbe
window-all day II necessary-and sat
isfy his curiosity respecting the man s
general appearance.
The first twenty minutes or 80 were
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 AZ still as 1t had been
for months. Not blind was raised;
no sign OF life was manifest.
8
restless. AS the minutes licked on
and nothing occurred, he glanced at
bis 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 a
sudden apprehension that the man
might take advantage OF his brief in
attentiveness TO vanish-as the fellow
had caught him mapping before.
A cocktail was presently set beside
him upon a tabouret: he gulped 1t
down, then lighted cigarette which
he began to smoke feverishly. But he
tossed it away after a pun or two: he
had smoked too much the night be-
lore. 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 to ten. Would the
fellow never appear?
And then Van Vechten's attention
was all at once diverted. He had or
uered and consumed a second cock.
tall, and was attempting q 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 instinctiveiy that
this could not be the first man. but his
manner copied that worthy's 30 pre-
cisely that Van Vechten was con.
strained to watch him instead OF main
aiming his Improbable vigil.
he lighted his cigarette. tipped the
match away. and waited.
This second individual was walking
lesitanty, just as the other had done,
IND also seemed to be devoting his At
ention to the house numbers.
he paused before the house across
he way. There could be no doubt but
which was only imperfectly outlined
pom the red-curtained fanlight. Then
nat he was searching for the number.
'bruptly all signs OF hesitation van.
shed from his bearing; he went de.
erminedly up the steps and rang the
'ell.
AT mat very instant the clock In the
AL began striking ten.
First OF all, Van Vechten was struck
" this coincidence. Even before In.
entorying the mans semblance, he
sked himself how many had preceded
Inn; how many were yet to come. And
low did they time their arrival 30
Iicely7
There had been something furtive
bout the second fellows admittance,
IAN Vechten recalled; not particularly
IN the mans part, but suggested rath-
IT by the narrow crack which the open
Ioor at first disclosed, making one
hink that the chain had not been re-
eased until after q parley. And then
he aperture had widened only enough
or the visitor to squeeze his bulk
through. whereupon the door had
promptly banged shut. Van vechten
'etained merely sense OF absolute
darkness beyond the threshold: NOT |
he slightest glimpse had he caupbt |
u servant or attendant. The door
might have been tended by inyisIbIe
hands. ''oie
again ne asked himself: Would tba
incident De repeated In another hour,
me walt between ten ana aIo,
o'clock dragged with most erasnere,
ne s'owness; but the self-appo,nted
Ha'cners Interest was at such h,ah
'asted. eocAtaii I'M
,u Hs the hour approached, he darted
ioea siances along the street in an.
.nor OF a new arrival. And sure
'nvusn, at minute or two before the
'vur, mere came third muscular. reso.
young man, not over.faa.
!, ,uiousiy attired. who was scann,na
n nc house numbers as intently as his !
wo predecessors had done.
Ano Just as the chimes in the hall h
ssan tolling eleven, he moun,aa Ia. . K
f4pS and rang the bali 'eo the n