The Altar (Unabridged‪)‬

The Altar by Robert Shackley, a short story that first appeared in "Fantastic" July - August 1953, on on which the copyright was not renewed, putting the story into the public domain. It becomes apparent that strange things are happening in the small New Jersey town, and Mr. Slater is determined to solve the mystery of the dark stranger in the blue topcoat who appears before him on his way to his commute.