Fiction > Book editions > New York, 1885 - Dynamiter

THE SQUIRE OF DAMES. IS
as from a kettle of the bigness of St. Paul' s ;
and at the same time from every chink of door
and window si)irted an ill-smelling vapor.
The cat disappeared with a cry. Within the
lodging house feet pounded on the stairs ; the
door flew back emitting clouds of smoke ; and
two men and an elegantly dressed young lady
tumbled forth into the street and fled without
a word. The hissing had already ceased, the
smoke was melting in the air, the whole event
had come and gone as in a dream, and still
Challoner was rooted to the spot. At last his
reason and his fear awoke together, and with
the most unwonted energy he fell to running.
Little by little this first dash relaxed, and
presently he had resumed his sober gait and
begun to piece together, out of the confused
rei3ort of his senses, some theory of the occur-
rence. But the occasion of the sounds and
stench that had so suddenly assailed him, and
the strange conjunction of fugitives Avliom he
had seen to issue from the house, were myster-
ies beyond his plummet. With an obscure awe
he considered them in his mind, continuing,
meanwhile, to thread the web of streets, and
once more alone in morning sunshine.
In his first retreat he had entirely wandered;
and now, steering vaguely west, it was his luck
to light uiDon an unpretending street, which
presently widened so as to admit a strip of gar-