Who's Who?

ivi I A copyuich -j ia?r dv the fiemo I (.(Joiitinued.) All thia wüs possible, bnt the action cf the stranger sluit out snch a comforting conclusión. He must have possessed keen eyes, foi hardly had I stoppeel in iny walk wben hr. did the same. Thus two rnen, separatcd by more than 100 yards, stood as motionless as statues, pccriiig at each other through the gloom. Suddenlj the shadowy figure begau to grow misty and uncertaiu. It flickered aud danced in au odd way and tfaen vanished altogether. Anothercloud had so veiled the moon that darkness enveloped the stranger. The obscuration was only for a few seconds, when tho ragged rif t glided off and the earth was bathcd again in silvery light. v I had net stirrcd in my position, lint was still trying to pieree the darkness, waiting for iny man to loom out to view. Bnt he did not. The place whicli had so lately known him knew him do longcr. He had taken advantage of the ternporary deepemng of gloom to slip out of sight. "Maybehe is a country man, whowas so startlcd by niy stoppage and tnrniug around that he fled homewardor climbed over the fence and hid. And yet I suspect that fellow is Covey Cone, though how he got on my track passes my comprehension. " Nothing was to bo accomplished by standing at the roadside, and I resumed my walk at a still more delibérate pace, frmently glancing over my shouldcr whenever the unoertain light offercd tho opportmuity. I had kept this up for perhaps ten minutes w.hen a curious flickcr drew my eyes to a point behind me, but on the other side of tho highway. Something moved among the shadows, and but for the peculiar direction of my gaze I would not have perceived it. Wheu we look directly at the Pleiades, we can count bat :-ix stars, but a careless glance shows the f uil seven. Had I been gazing at the point I would not have observed the odd fluttering on the other side of the road. Looking straight at the point I saw nothing. Novertheless I kuew that in that brief iüterval when my man slipped from sight he had darted aeross the. road and liad been following me ever siuee from the other side. One of the most uncomfortablc sensations imaginable is that of knowing that some one is stealthily following us at night. The temptation to break into a run or to dart te one side and hiüe bcconies almost irresistible. I have said that I carried 110 deadly weapon with me - nothing excc.pt my resistless strength - but in these modern days there are innumerable situations in which even so rniraculous a gift is worthless. A tiuy pistol bullet would be as fatal in my case as it would have been to the ancient Sarnson. Still it was not to be supposed that the individual at my heels was seeking my life, and, while kecping an eye to his actions, I continued moving toward the Hudson. Suddenly I becaine aware that strangers were in front. Not one man, but three. , Instead of following the path, as I was doing, they were in the middle of the highway. They were big, strapping fellows, frouzy and ill clothed and members of the pestilent class of vagrants known as tramps. I increased my pace, iutending to hurry past them, bnt the burliest rogne, who was a pace or two in front of his companions, turned to one side so as to place himself directly in front of me. I moved to the right, but he intrudcd himself again. Evidently ho meant to hold me in check. "Good evening, boss!" he said in a husky voice, at which his two companions paused in the middlo of the road and watched him from under their sloucbed hats. They were ready to give help, but could not believe it necessary, for tlie .scamp confronting me was a third greater in sizo and weight. "Good ovening. What do yon wish?" "Which way might you be goin?" "Can't you see for yourself?" "Don't be imperlite, bcss. We:re workin the growler and are in hard luck. Can't you give us a lift?" "I might, for I have a good pile of money with me, but I don't like to use it for bnying drink for other folks. It wonldn't bs right." "Bless your innercent heart, we don't ax you to use it. It's us! Como, shell ont!" And he advanced threateningly toward me. "No; I shall not let you have a dollar, though I have plenty with me. ' ' "Youwon't, ch? Waal, that'a good." Ho made a plunge like a buil, half owering his hea'X, as if ho meant to tratt me. As he -jame within reach I grasped eacli of hw upper arms and lifted him so quickly from his feet that thr-y flew straight tip, so that I held him head downward. Then I whirled him about several times, as if he were a flail, and leaping toward the gaping misereants in the road whipped them with the lega of my man so violently that both were swept off their feet and sent sprawling in tho middle of the highway. They were partly stunned, but began climbing up again. Bafore they wcro erect I resumed thrashing them with ray human flail, driving one far to the right and (he other to the left. Then wii'i tsrrifled exclaiüationsthr fled h i "_ I long i)!j i in the QÏrecfion of ugiewood. Meumvhilo t!ic big fellow in rny grasp was wrigglij'g'and makiüg ble threats. Híiving no furthcr uso for him, I flung him a dozen yards aruong the trees, and, with iny hands on niy hips, waited. I beard him crashing througb tho limbs and leavea and finally fall to the groundwith a resounding thnmp. Thcn all was Btd.ll. "I hope I haven't killed him, bnt ho ïunst have been jarrecl pretty badly" - Ko, he wasn't dead, for I heard him moving among tlie undergrowth. He came cautiousiy forward untillsaw his dim outlines at he edge of tbe wood. There he paused and stared af me for a f uil minute before speaking. Thcn his toces were not ouly husky, but treinulons. "I say, boss, is that you?" "Yes." " Kin - kin you teil me whether this is ICO?" "It's the tramp that tricd to rob nie of iny money. ' ' "I say, boss!" "Well?" He seemed to rouse liimsclf for tbe final effort and exelakned: "Holy gee!" At whicb he whirled about and dashed among the trees, as if fcarful of more punishment for liia offense. Meanwbile tho others had disappeared, and I saw nothing more of any of theni. The stone ho.?e which was my dest in at ion was somewhrre in the viciuity, and I began a search for it. I reealled that the path was well maiked from the highway, Imt tho position of the moon in tlie sky threw that sideof tberoadin shadow, and I conld seo nothing in the nature, of a elew. Not forgetting that shadowy pursuer I scanned the road to the westward, but ho was not in Bight. Finally I strnck a match and held it close to the ground. Thcre the path was exactly in front of me. By the tiny fíame I was able to follow it with my eye for a rod or more. The house was barely 50 feet distant. Neitber eye nor car could detect anything unusual; and I pickcd my way along the path, with jnat a trifle of misgiving, for be it known that that región is afflicted with venomous copperheads and the warm spring weather must have brought many of tlieni from their winter quarters. Ouly a part of tlic distance was passed, when a light twinkled among the tree;;. Some one was at tbe stoue honse. "Disooe and Hnke have beeome impatient, though I cannot be mnch bchind time. ' ' Someliov.' tbc knowledge that human beings were near at hand drove away all fear of the deadly reptiles. I moved inore resolntely, and a minute later paused in front of the old stone structure, which stood in the middle of a small clearing. titill it was prudent to make a reconnoissance before entering the building, which wi'.s to bc the scène of an eventful meeting. The thought had never come to me that the house was oe.eupied. When observed on the previous Sunday, there were no signs of iife about it, and Toni DiBcoe'srefereaces had not removed that hupn ssion. But it was an error. Some one lived there, though the lower story consisted of but a single room, while' a sloping ladder led to the rooms above. 1 saw through the open door the seanty furniNvirh a largo table in the middle of the apartinent, and uponit stoodagoodly sized lamp, whieh shed a bright illumination chrough the interior. But none of tlie three or four chaira was occupied. It looked as if the owner, after lighting the lamp, had departid and given over the place to the parties that had engaged it for the eveuing. Perhaps I had mistaken tbc building. and yet that could hardlj Wliile I stood in doubt and perplexity, hesitating whether toadvance ortowait for further developments, I caught the odor of tobáceo smoke. It was not a cigar that some. one was smoking, but the weed was cheap, strong and rank. Theii a tiiiv eloiv.êhowed in the way, ana it was explamed. Ihe mvnor or occnpant of the house was scated there smoking bis clay pipo. "Good ebenin, boss." The uegro luid heard me as I shifted my positiou and spoke without any tnisgiviug. I walked forward, and as the short, heavily built African rose to his feet to roceive me I wondered liow I had I failcd tn sec him f rom the first. "Goed evening," I called in rotnrn, going forward to where ihe lampligbt feil iullonme. Be serntinized me, closely as I approached and was disappointed. "Yo' ain't de geminan dat I was lookin fur, hut I guess yo's de geminan what was disumspectedby deoderfolks. Walk in, boss, and makca yo'self af; home." CHAPTBR XIV. A SURPRISE. "Whcni are you. expecting?" I esked, valking forward. "Boss Jones and Brown. " These were not the individuáis for uhera I was looking, but the negro made it clear witfa bis next words. "Mr. Jones was out heah dis morniu and said as bow him aud Mr. Brown w;:s to meet a young gemman dat was comin out heah dis cbeniu; rcckoiis yo' am dat gemman." "1 f hink I am. Did thcy mention ïuy name?" "Doaa' disremember. Wc.n'tyo' walk insider" He made a movement, but I checked him. "The night is not tooCcol to stay outdoors. " "Den I'll brung yo' a cheer, " which he proceeded to do. x "Thanks. " And I seatcd myself near him, wbile he resumed bis place in the doorway. I lit a cigar, crossed iny legs and leaned back at ease, intendïng to question him as to the past, for there was more than one curious phase about this business. "What is vour name?" "Steph." "PIow long have you lived here?" " 'Bout ten years. " "Havo you no family?" "Kot much; only Dine, my wife, and :leben chillen." "Eleven children! Where are they all, and where is your wife?1 ' "She and de chillen wout to de sareus dis ebenin. " "Where is the circus?" "Ober at Hackumsack, fivo or six miles off. " "Wheu do you espect them home?'' "Waal, de sarcos orter be ober 'bout 10 o'clocl:, and dey'll be so hungry dat dey'll hurvy home, and erter got here in f ree or iour hours. " "Did Mr. Jones, when he called, arrango that yoar family wcre to be away?" "Whcnebcr he comes heah, dem am bis 'rangements. Ho tole me today dat it war to bo de same. I related to him 'bout de sareus. Dat war i special provendence. I allers blebes in such t'ings - Sh!" He straightencd up with the quickness of an Indian scout. I had heard nothing, but the next moment the soft sound of approaching footsteps feil on my ear. "Dat yo', Mr. Jones?" asked Steph, rising to bis fcet and peering into the gloom. There was no answer, but the man walked forward tintil tho lamplight through tho ojieu door rovealcd bis identity. "Gcod eveuiug. lamberé ahead of you. ' ' It was I who made ibis salutation, though I did not rise to my fect. Torn Discce was looking for me, and, recognizing my voice, replied: "I didn't believe you would come. " ' ' Vv hy not?' ' " 'Cause I didn't think yon had the sand. You're a big coward. " "You inay find bef ore this business is finished that I have as much courage as you. ' ' "We'll sec. Steph, I want to sec you a minute." "Yas, sir. " Without apolcgizing to me, he led the negro off in the darkness bevond carshot. I could hear the mumble of their voices, but was unable to catch a word of what passed between them. Sinco Diseco carne back alone, the cxplanation of the incident was simple. Steph laad been placed on guard to give warning of the approach of strangers. Evidently Mr. Discce did not rncan to neglcct any prccauticii. He specdily returned to where I sat in the cbair smoking. He remained standing, halting directly in front of me. "Did you bring tlio money with you?" "Didn't I say I would? Isn'ttbat answer enough?" "I won't believe it till I sëe it. " Itwas clear that Diseoe was in one of bis ugliest moeds. He bad not forgiveu i me for deferring tiiis payment until the present. I had bluffed him at Englewood, and it rankled in bis memory. It was natural that be should notexpect to meet me here at night; that I had dono so was proof I was scared into the step. It would be strange if I carne that far with $10,000, but still strai:gor that, koowing his desperate oharacter.I should have ventured to make tbc journey without the money. He was not the man to stand trifling. I studied the scoundrel. His face had a look so malevolent that I w.as eonvinced he nieant to assault nao after I should turn over the money. He seemed to hold au inextinguishable hatred of me. "Come into the house." The command could not have been gruffer had it been addressed to Steph. It angered ; but, secure in my position, I rose, and, carrying the chair in ono hand, went inside and sat dovu by the table. He took his position on the other side, with the bright lamp between us. "Now let me see that money. " Iwithdrcw the largo pocketbook from under my arm, opened and held it up so (To be continuefl).