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Stephens, Robert Neilson, 1867-1906

"Tales from Bohemia"

But if he means to die he certainly has a sufficient
share of good manners to induce him to die quietly in his own home. So
he'll eventually go home. When his door is locked, how are you going to
keep your eye on him, and how can you rush to him at the proper moment?"
"I never thought of that."
"No, you're a woman."
She proceeded to do some thinking there upon the stairs.
"Oh," she said, finally, "I know what to do. I'll follow him until he does
go home, to make sure he doesn't attempt anything before that time, and
then I'll tell the police. They'll watch him."
"You'll probably get Mr. Tom Appleton into some very embarrassing
complications by so doing."
"What if I do," she said, heroically, "if I save his life? Now, will you
assist me to watch him? I'll need an escort in the street, of course."
"I put myself at your command from now henceforth, if only for the joy of
the time that I am thus privileged to pass with you."
She smiled pleasantly, and with pleasure, trusting to her veil to hide the
facial indication of her feelings. But Haslam's trained gray eye noted the
smile, and also what kind of smile it was, and the discovery had a potent
effect upon him.


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