Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-04-08
CHAPTER II.
on the Stroke Of the Hour.


perpetual mien of impassivity
which effectively repulsed advances
or familiarities on the part OF the
strangers and persons whom he dis.
liked, was perhaps Rudolph Van Vech
tens most noticeable physical char
acteristic; for an impassiVe face. and
the ease of manner which customarily
accompanies 1t. is due to one of two
things: Either a set of sympathetic
emotions that are sadly atrophied, or
else an acquired self-control so habit
ual that every genuine feeling is per-
fectly masked. In either case habit is
not long in asserting itself And 1t
has been shown that Mr.. Rudolph Van
vechten was capable of being startled
and astonished.
On the present occasion, therefore,
he did not long permit his amazement
to haunt itself. Quite soon he was
The same imperturbed Individual whose
presence had surprised the club at
tendant a few minutes previously.
1t occurred to him by ard by that
while he had missed Witnessing the
strangers entrance into the House OF
Mystery, it did not necessarily follow
that he must 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 laborl-
Gus of all tasks, killing time;" despite
which. backed by a 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 the
window-all day If necessary sat
isfy his curiosity respecting the mans
general appearance.
The first twenty minutes or so 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 as still as 1t had been
for months. Not blind was raised;
no sign of life was manifest.
Then the watcher began to grow
restless. AS the minutes licked OF
and nothing occurgds he glanced at
| his watch with increasing frequency.
Presently he rose and went over TO a
! 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-
effectiveness to vanish-as the fellow
had caught him mapping before.
A cocktail was presently set beside
him upon tabouret; he gulped 1t
down, then lighted cigarette which
he began TO smoke feverishly. But he
tossed it away after a puff or two; he
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 to ten. Would the
fellow never appear?
And then Van Veohten's attention
was all at once diverted. He had or.
dered and consumed a second cock
tail, and was attempting 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 worthys so pre-
cisely that Van Vechten was con
strained to watch him instead of main
tanning his Improbable vigil.
He lighted his cigarette, tipped 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 bui
which was only imperfeetly outlined
upon the red-curtaned fanlight. Their
that he was searching for the number
abruptly all signs of hesitation van
ished from his bearing: he went de
terminedly up the steps and rang tbs
bell
At that very instant the clock in th'
hall began striking ten.
! GRO BE CoNTINUED)
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