The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-11-27

property he was carrying, but on the
other hand night %pent at hotel
was not without its dangers in the cir
cumstances. So George, who was
young, tall, muscular, and provided
with revolver, started on his way
through the town.
He could hear the roar of the waves
as they broke upon the beach; he had
to fight against the wind when he
reached the corner of the street. But
on the whole the walk, for strong
young man, had its pleasures, for the
snow had ceased to be binding, and
battle with the wind stirs young
blood into pleasurable excitement In
very short time he had got clear of
the town, and was on the high road in
the open country.
Here the snow impeded his progress
more than he had expected; for there
was nothing in this high bleak spot to
check the caprices Of the wind, which
swept almost bare great patches of the
open land, and swirled the snow into
heaps in unexpected places. 1t was q
lonely walk enough, and George began
to be puzzled as to whether he was
keeping the right way. There were
so few hedges or trees, and the feature
less character of the country made it
easy for the snow to blurr it's outlines
until they were quite undistinguish-
able.
He felt rather relieved when he
caught the sound of human voices. He
waited, as they seemed to be behind
him. He heard them again in the roar Of
the wind. He hailed the unseen persons,
but then the voices ceased. He pres
emily went on again until he was
startled to see in the darkness
between him and the sea the dim out
lines of two figures keeping pace with
him at a little distance. He hailed
them again, and the figures promptly
vanished.
Without giving way to any cowardly
fears George began to wish that he had
been more discreet and that he had
stayed at hotel. There was nothing
to do now, however, but to go forward
as quickly and carefully as he could,
for more than two-thirds of the dis
tance must have been traversed by this
time.
Unfortunately, however, soon after
this incident he lost his way, hopelessly
undeniably. He found himself fioun.
dering, knee-deep, in snow, over some,
thing which might be a freshly-plowed
field or which might be the ruins Of q
house, but which was certainly not the
open road.
After a few fruitless struggles to
get on firmer ground George
again caught sight, little way
to the left this time, of two figures,
which he perceived to be those
Of man and woman. Just at the mo-
ment of his discerning them the figures
parted, that of the man disappearing
from view, while the woman held on
her way.
AS she was evidently on firm ground,
George made towards her at once, not
calling out, lest he should frighten her.
Before he came up with her, he saw,
by her walk and by her figure, that she
was young; and when he addressed
her, saying that he had lost his way,
she turned her head quickly, and
showed him. that she was adorably
pretty. So entirely was he thrown off
his balance by the unexpected sight OF
such lovely face, chat he stopped
short in the middle of his speech, and
left her to answer question which he
had not finished asking.
"You are on the high road-to st.
Placid's," she said, quickly. "Keep
straight on"
And then she glanced, with sudden
,hange of expression, at the bag he
was carrying. Before he could dc
more than raise his hat and thank her
she had hurried past him like hare
with just one more look, penetrating
intelligent, from his face to the bag il
his hand.
George remained for moment stupe
led; he stared at the retreating figure
before him, and fancied he saw hel
turn, with gesture of invitation tc
aim tc follow and catch her up. Act
ng on the impression, he started for
ward, and then there flashed into hi
mind the words used by the detective
1t the station: "Two well-knowr
thieves, man and acoman," had trav
lied down by the same train as him
ielf! He was at once ashamed of hi
nomentary suspicion that the beauti
Jul girl he had just spoken to could bt
,nything but the angel she looked; bu
aer furtive and eager glances at hi
bag required again and again to hi
mind.
The wind was still blowing very
hard, and the snow, which had fol
lone time almost ceased, began to fal
lgain in great flakes, so that the land
icape was soon entirely blotted ou
rom view, and George found more diff
iculty than ever in keeping the road
, Atlast he saw large, dark object IL
front of him, which he recognized q
he clump of trees which marked tn
spot where there were crossroads, al
where he should have to take the ros
on his right to get down into the VI
lage, where DR.. loves house stoo
The crossroads were at the highe
, point of the neighborhood, and Geort
could scarcely keep his feet, much lie
) choose his way as he approached it.
Just before he reached the turnir
Q he came TO fair-sized house of on
I two stories, shut in by garden /
. closed by high wall. Just us Georl
h got under shelter of the wall, door
the middle opened, and out OF 4
:. darkness the voice of the girl he hi
y just met spoke to him:
n "You win never find your way in
h the village through this snow. Woi
= you come inside the house until 1t h