"
Then she went back to her work leaving the young man to fight out his
grief as best he could alone.
That evening, while the young engineer sat meditating over the events of
the past few days, a sharp ring at the door-bell roused him from his
somewhat bitter thoughts.
He went into the hall, opened the door, and peered out into the
dimly-lighted street.
No one was to be seen, but a small bit of folded paper fell at his feet,
evidently having been but slightly attached to the edge of the casing.
Seizing the paper, the young man closed the door and went back to the
cozy cottage parlor.
"Who was it, August?"
But just then the young man was too busy imbibing the contents of the bit
of paper to heed the words of his mother.
"MR. BORDINE--Be ever on the alert. A conspiracy has been formed for
your destruction. It is time you were up and doing. Silas Keene has
already fallen, and you have been marked. I implore you, be on your
guard.
"A. FRIEND."
After a moment given to thought, August handed the note over to his
mother.
"What does it mean?"
This was her comment after she had possessed herself of the contents of
the mysterious note.
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