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Copyright.] 1 To-Day's Short…

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Copyright.] 1 To-Day's Short Story. THE MYSTERIOUS HAND By Frederick R. Burton Come and see me, Mr. Craft. I'm a, pecu- liar fellow, but I believe you and I would get on together first rate." "I suppose we all have our peculiaritiee, Mr. Holden," responded Craft, politely, "and I assure you that I should lika to extend our acquaintance and shall be glad to call on you at your convenience." "Oh! as to that," said Holden, "come any time. You will be welcome at any hour you see fit to call between midnight and mid- night." This short conversation at the end of a long session in Archie Taylor's room at the Adams House. Half a dozen men were pre- sent, all friends of Taylor, and the evening had passed in desultory conversation while they smoked Taylor'3 foreign tobacco and sipped his imported beer, until midnight had come and passed. A clock in a neighbouring church struck one as Craft issued from the hotel. It was about a half-hour later when he stood at the door of his lodging-house vainly search- ing through his pockets for his latchkey. The bell-pull was out of order, so that there was no arousing the people in the house without beating the door and thus stirring up the entire neighbourhood. Craft shrank from such a proceeding, and philosophically decided to put in the night at a hotel. Then it struck him that in running throug-h his DOckets for his keys he had not felt any coins; and with mild consternation he re- membered that before going to call on Tay- 7or he had changed his olothes and forgotten tJ transfer such trifles as keys and cash to the suit lie now had on. Here he was, then, at half-past one of a chilly morning, penni- less and homeless. So he retraced his steps towards the Adams House, wholly confident that his word would be good for a lodging there. On the way his eye caught the number "251" on the doorpoet of a house. "Why! that's Holden's number," Graft reflected; and then, "Ilia street, too. Then this is where he lives. Wonder I hadn't j thought of it before. I believe I'll take him at his word, for I certainly want very much to see any man just row who will give me the use ci a bed on couch for the rest of the night." Craft went up the steps and rang the bell. After a minute's waiting an elderly man, clad in a nightgown, stood before him, blink- ing sleepily and holding one hand before the ilame of a candle that he carried in the othe r. "I beg your pardon," said Craft, hastily; "I believe Mr. Holden lives y es, he lives here," interrupted the other, "but he ain't in yet. I suppose you'll wait for him." "I should like to." Without further words the elderly man stanp^d aside, and when Craft had entered closed the outsLde door and opened another leading to a large front room. There the eld fellow lit a gas jet from his candle and silently retired. It was a luxuriously-» ftiriiieh,e.d chamber, containing about every- thing required for a man's comfort, except a, cooking~-stove and kitchen, utensils. The j visitor selected the easiest chair, the moet interesting magazine, the best light, and settled himself to kill time agreeably until Holden should arrive. Before long Croft realised uiat tie d<! exceedingly drowsy. He laid down the magazine and looked longingly at the bed. It was too tempting to be resisted, and, mindful of Holden a emphatic invitation, Crait disrobed and got in. He had the rather absurd habit of carrying a revolver. This was the dne article he had transferred to his clothing, and something impelled him to o' dace it beneath his pillow. He fell asleep immediately, and when he awoke- it was daylight. After the first confused moment he remembered where he was and how he came there. The regular tenant evidently had not returned; at all events, the chamber was not graced by his presence. Craft was about to leave the bed when ho became .aware that a door was being opened very cautiously. It was one of a pair of folding doors that QlPCned probably: ursotn another chamber. Maybe, Holdfn had returned, ceen his new friend asleep, and ix)litely occupied the adjoining room. Craft was on the point of speaking out to warn his hor-t that there was no need of rpov-iqg quietly, bat his words stuck in his throat, and the creepy sensation, became highly pro- nounced; for a. hand appeared just beyond the edge of the door. A hand and a part of the wrist; the fingers seemed to be grasp- ing at an invisible object, and presently the hand moved up and down, and the palm was kept outward. What could it mean? Craft lav motionless, staring, and after a moment the hand disappeared and the door was closed noiselessly Then Craft sat up and carefully reached for his revolver. It was where he had placed it and ready for use. Was this thing, this mysterious gesturing hand, a warning. What terrible secret, what horrible machi- nations might it not reveal? Craft was not gifted with a fanciful imagination, but he was in his full senses, and tlia/t I', la,lad was as real as it was mysterious. There it came again! The door was opening softly, the hand was waving more wildly than before. Craft raised his revolver, startled to observe that, as he aimed, his own hamd trembled mightily. That other hand was flesh and blood, but it might not mean him injury, and so he hesitr.ted to fire. ,"J¡ile he hesitated the hand was again withdrawn. If this is running on, the traditional third time never faH6," thought Craft; 111 be ready for it." Accordingly he crept from bed and jressed, placing his revolver on a table where he could grasp it quickly, and moving as as pot-Eible. Just as he had finished dressing, the door through which he had entered the chamber opened. Craft seized the weapon, swung about, and found himself facing the astonished Holden. The latter took one gigantio leap directly a.t the visitor, and with a display of tremendous muscular energy wrested the revolver from Craft's hand. I'm glad to see you," said Holden, then; but, I cay, I docnt quite faacy being shot as an intruder into my own chamber." Craft was all of a tremble. I suppose it's all right," he stammered, but what the mischief was that infernal hand waving at me for?" "Hand? Hand?" queried Holden, mystified. "Prom the folding door? Oh! Wait a, minute." ,He -went into the adjoining room and returned a moment later, smiling. If I'd any idea, you were going to come j so soon," he said, I'd have postponed my nocturnal ramble along the wharves. My valet occupies the next room. He does every- thing for me, and this morning he tried to discover whet,her the temperature of this room was what it should be. Knowing a guest was here, he didn't venture to come in, but he tested the <atmosphere by thru-sting in his h?nd. He's an elderly chan and I suppose his hand looked rather ghostly. 11f the air had felt cold he would have thrown the folding doors open. It seemed all right, and so he left them closed. Hope he didn't disturb you in any other way. It reminds me of A little adventure I had in India"; and the eccentric hest proceeded to a. nta-rration in a manner that convinced Craft tnat he had done well in accepting his new friend's hospitable invita,ticn literally.

MR. MEREDITH AND WALES

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