Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-06-16
The Man From the Clouds :
CcpyyioAt, 1919, bp George n. Dorar Co
THIS STARTS THE STORY

Roger Merton, descending in par
on an island in the north of Scot
4 land. Supposing he is in Germany he
speaks German TO the first man he
meets and thus causes a German spy
to reveal himself momentarily. His
efforts to uncover German plot
bring about his own arrest through
Kendall, the owner of the island.
He meets Rendall's daughter, Jean.
Lnckily the visiting officer proves
TO be his cousin and he has no diff
ticulty in clearing himself. His
story, however, gets little credence
and independent investigation seems
to disprove it. Later the British
government begins to suspect that
there is really spy on the island
and Merton is induced to return to
the island in the guise of an alcoholic
named Hobhouse, who becomes pa
tient of Doctor Kendall, a relative
of the owner. Among those whom he
meets is O'Brien, topper and a
patient of Doctor Rendalls.
AND HERE 1T CONTINUES
ssT SUPPOSE you have heard of the
mysterious man who appeared here
last summer?' she inquired.
II took MIR. Hobhouse all this time
to adjust himself to this question, out
/ think he managed it not unsuccess-
fully.
'"The-aht Oh, yes; oh, yes! Ihe
doctor told me the story. Most mys-
terious--most mysterious! What do
you make of it yourself, Miss Rem
dall?"
"Did the doctor tell you that l once
walked with him along this very shore!
1t was at night, too, and he was armed
with pistol"
A single stare of astonishment was
fortunately able to cover two emo
tions. My own was expressed in the
thought, "What the devil is she driv-
ing at now?" Mr.. Hobhouse's was ex-
pressed otherwise.
'.You don't say so! God bless me :;
what a risk to run! He didn't-er-
shoot at you, I hope?"
NO." she said, "he seemed pretty
harmless"
'.Ah, but you shouldn't run such
risks, my dear young lady; you really
shouldn't! Now i remember young
lady whom 1 used to know And
thereupon Mr.. Hobhouse launched into
an improbable anecdote which tried his
inventive powers considerably. How
ever, he was able to make it, and the
comments thereupon lasted till they
were back at the house.
The fact was that my hardihood was
not quite sufficient to stand conver-
sation about my own self behind my
own back. 1t might have been anus
ing, and it might have been instructive,
but it would certainly have been EN-
barrasing. However. the incident served
to reassure me that whatever she sus-
pected me of land I could not get that
sense of being watched out of my head) !,
it was not the correct suspicion. Had
she guessed the truth / could see no
point at all in her reminiscence of the
mysterious stranger, unless 1t were
sheer pointless mischief, and she did not
seem a pointless lady. Besides, when
/ glanced at myself in the drawing room
mirror, said to myself, "Who could
possibly guess"
After that walk, tea and talk with
her father were unexciting episodes. She
kept very much in the background, but
when we parted seemed to note again
that flicker of very alluring smile.
"Can it be that she has a morbid
taste for inebriates?" l wondered.
Zone has heard Of women with curl
ously diseased fancies. Or perhaps she
has simply passion for reforming
them. One of those smiles for every
sober hour would be a distinct induce
ment to behavev'
But this was not business, and as !
walked home I turned my thoughts
sternly to that scythe blade.