Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER I. SUSPICIOUS CHAKACTERS. In chronicling my story, I would begin with the time of one of my visits to the borough of Holmesburg. Having been to call upon Miss Emily Tracy, I was returning towards the railroad station about eleven o'clock in the evening. It was very dark, and when I stepped from the country road on to the main thoroughfare I sought the light of a street lamp to consult my watch. Whence I had just come there emerged two muffled figures. They paused, looking cautiously about, and then passed over the street and continued down the cross-road I was about to take myself. Verily suspicion seeks the mind at darktime as readily as the bat flies into a lighted room through open windows.--I imagined that these receding figures slunk away with the air of having been guilty of some misdeed. "And," thought I, "they have come from the direction of the Tracy's." I found myself picking my way quietly after the two receding figures. It was still a good five minutes' walk to the depot. A vacant lot stood by the roadside: I was prompted to turn off and run swiftly through it. I came out at the farther end upon the road again, and ahead of the two men. They were not long in coming up, and, having hidden myself behind some bushes, I waited for them to pass. As they came abreast of my hiding place I peered cautiously out. I started as I looked. Dark though it was, I could see that one of the men had a very horrible face: it seemed out of all natural proportion. Just then the two halted; one struck a match and lit a pipe, and, by the momentary light thus afforded, I plainly distinguished the other's countenance. But was it a countenance? I shall never forget my sensation at that moment. The man had an oblong head on which rested a red...
