It was midnight-a black, wet, midnight-in a great city by the sea. The church clocks werebooming the hour, in tones half-smothered by the marching rain, when an officer of the watch saw afemale figure glide past him like a ghost in the gloom, and make directly toward a wharf. The officerfelt that some dreadful tragedy was about to be enacted, and started in pursuit. Through the sleepingcity sped those two dark figures like shadows athwart a tomb. Out along the deserted wharf to itsfarther end fled the mysterious fugitive, ...
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It was midnight-a black, wet, midnight-in a great city by the sea. The church clocks werebooming the hour, in tones half-smothered by the marching rain, when an officer of the watch saw afemale figure glide past him like a ghost in the gloom, and make directly toward a wharf. The officerfelt that some dreadful tragedy was about to be enacted, and started in pursuit. Through the sleepingcity sped those two dark figures like shadows athwart a tomb. Out along the deserted wharf to itsfarther end fled the mysterious fugitive, the guardian of the night vainly endeavouring to overtake, and calling to her to stay. Soon she stood upon the extreme end of the pier, in the scourging rainwhich lashed her fragile figure and blinded her eyes with other tears than those of grief. The nightwind tossed her tresses wildly in air, and beneath her bare feet the writhing billows struggled blacklyupward for their prey. At this fearful moment the panting officer stumbled and fell! He was badlybruised; he felt angry and misanthropic. Instead of rising to his feet, he sat doggedly up and beganchafing his abraded shin. The desperate woman raised her white arms heavenward for the finalplunge, and the voice of the gale seemed like the dread roaring of the waters in her ears, as down, down, she went-in imagination-to a black death among the spectral piles. She backed a few pacesto secure an impetus, cast a last look upon the stony officer, with a wild shriek sprang to the awfulverge and came near losing her balance. Recovering herself with an effort, she turned her face againto the officer, who was clawing about for his missing club. Having secured it, he started to leave.In a cosy, vine-embowered cottage near the sounding sea, lives and suffers a blighted female.Nothing being known of her past history, she is treated by her neighbours with marked respect. Shenever speaks of the past, but it has been remarked that whenever the stalwart form of a certainpoliceman passes her door, her clean, delicate face assumes an expression which can only bedescribed as frozen profanity.The Strong Young Man of Colusa.Professor Dramer conducted a side-show in the wake of a horse-opera, and the same sojourned atColusa. Enters unto the side show a powerful young man of the Colusa sort, and would see hismoney's worth. Blandly and with conscious pride the Professor directs the young man's attention tohis fine collection of living snakes. Lithely the blacksnake uncoils in his sight. Voluminously thebloated boa convolves before him. All horrent the cobra exalts his hooded head, and the spanningjaws fly open. Quivers and chitters the tail of the cheerful rattlesnake; silently slips out the forkedtongue, and is as silently absorbed. The fangless adder warps up the leg of the Professor, laysclammy coils about his neck, and pokes a flattened head curiously into his open mouth. The youngman of Colusa is interested; his feelings transcend expression. Not a syllable breathes he, but with adeep-drawn sigh he turns his broad back upon the astonishing display, and goes thoughtfully forthinto his native wild. Half an hour later might have been seen that brawny Colusan, emerging from anadjacent forest with a strong faggot.Then this Colusa young man unto the appalled Professor thus: "Ther ain't no good place yer inKerloosy fur fittin' out serpence to be subtler than all the beasts o' the field. Ther's enmity atweenour seed and ther seed, an' it shell brooze ther head." And with a singleness of purpose and a raptattention to detail that would have done credit to a lean porker garnering the strewn kernels behinda deaf old man who plants his field with corn, he started in upon that reptilian host, andexterminated it with a careful thoroughness of extermination.
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New. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 76 p. In Stock. 100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition, allow 4-14 business days for standard shipping. To Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. protectorate, P.O. box, and APO/FPO addresses allow 4-28 business days for Standard shipping. No expedited shipping. All orders placed with expedited shipping will be cancelled. Over 3, 000, 000 happy customers.
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PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
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PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
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PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
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Seller's Description:
PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.