Evening star., 1927-09-19

tary were subsiding, there came a
sharp pain in his right side which
the street, seeing the notary dash by
so madly, Joined in the hue and cry
and ran barking and yelping at his
horses heels.
1t was now late at night, and only
here and there solitary lamp
tWinkled from an upper story. But
on went the notary, down this street
and up that. till at last he reached his
own door. There was q light in his
Wife'S room. The good woman came to
the window, alarmed at such a knock
ing and bowling and Gathering at her
door so late at night, and the notary
was too deeply absorbed in his sor-
rows and worries to care much what
his wife might think of his rousing at
this absurd hour of a stormy night.
Let me in! Let me in! Quick,
Quick" he exclaimed, almost breath
less from terror and fatigue.
"Who are you, that you should come
to disturb lone woman at this hour
seemed to pierce him like a needle.
1T is upon me at last." groaned
the fearstricken man. Heaven be
| merciful to me. the greatest of sim
ners! And must I die in a ditch, after
all? Hei Get up! Get up"
And away went the horse and rider
at full speed, hurry-scurry, up hill and
dowp, painting and blowing like a
whirlwind. AT every leap the pain in
the riders side seemed to increase.
AT first it was little point like the
prick of needle, then it spread to
the size of half-dollar, then it COW
cred a place as large as the palm Of
your hand. 1t gained upon him fast
The poor man groaned aloud in agony,
Faster and faster sped the horse over
the frozen ground; farther and farther
spread the pain over his side. To
complete the dismal picture, the storm
commenced-snow mingled with rain
But snow and rain and cold were
naught to him. for his frozen arms
and legs were frozen to icicles he felt
it not. The fatal symptom was upon
him. He was doomed to die, not of
cold, but of scarlet fever.
AT length, he knew not how, more
dead than alive, he reached the gate
of the city. A band of ill-bred dogs
that were serenading at corner Of
of the night?" cried the sharp voice
Of his wife from above. "Begone
about your business and let quiet
people sleep"
Come down and let me in! I am
your husband. Don't you know my
voice? Quick, / beseech you. for 1
am dying here in the street!' cried
her husband in a loud voice.
After a few moments of delay and
few more words of parley, the door
was finally opened and the notary
stalked into his domicile, pale and
haggard in aspect and as still and
straight as ghost. Cased from head
to heel in an armor Of ice, as the
glare of the lamp fell on him, he
looked like knight errant mailed in
steel. But in one place his armor was
broken. On his right side was a cir
cular spot as large as the crown of
your hat and about as black.
My dear wifer' he exclaimed, with
more tenderness than he had exhibited
FOR many years. Reach me a chair.
My hours are numbered. I am q dead
man.
And, exhausted, the notary sank
INTO the chair his wife offered.
Alarmed at such exclamations. his
wife stripped off his overcoat. Some
thing fell from beneath it and was
dashed to pieces on the hearth. 1t was
the notary's short.stemmed pipe. He
placed his hand upon his side, and To-
IT was bare to the skin. Coat, vest
ana linen were burned through and
through, and there was a blister on
ms side as large as your hand.
The mystery was soon explained
symptoms and all. The notary had
put his pipe into his pocket without
knocking out the ashes. And so my
| story ends.
Oh, you wonder whether the poor
| notary died? Yes, he died. Of what?
Why, of-of a sudden.