The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-09-13
INTERNATIONAL PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Il
of Houston came into his head. He
| turned, not merely to the man as a
/ friend, but to his house a place of ref
uge. The danger that threatened him
was still so vague that he knew neither
| what to fear nor where he might ex-
| pect it; but this much at least seemed
| undeniable, that private house was
| safer than public inn. Moved by
these counsels, he turned at once to the
| CALIFORNIAN Station, passed mot with
out aiarm) into the bright lights of the
approach, redeemed his portmanteau
from the cloak-room, and was soon
whirling in cab along the Glasgow
road. The change OF movement and po-
sition, the sight of the lamps twinkling
to the rear, and the smell of damp and
| mould and rotten straw which chung
about the vehicle, wrought in him
strange alterations of lucidity and
mortal giddiness.
II have been drinking" he discoy
cred; II must go straight to bed and
Sleep" And he thanked Heaven for
the drowsiness that came upon his
mind in waves.
From one of these spells he was wax
ened by the stoppage of the cab; and,
getting down, found himself in quite
a country road, the last lamp of the
suburb shining some way below, and
the high walls of garden rising before
him in the dark. The Lodge Gas the
place was named) stood, indeed, very
solitary. To the south it adjoined an
other house. but standing in so large
a garden as to be we'll out of cry; on all
other sides open fields stretched up
ward to the woods of Corstorphine Hill,
or backward to the dells of Ravelston,
or downward toward the valley Of the
Leith. The effect of seclusion was aid
ed by the great height of the garden
walls, which were, indeed, convention
al, and, as John had tested in former
days, defied the climbing school-boy.
The lamp of the cab threw a CLEAN
upon the door and the not brilliant
handle of tie bell.
Shall ring for ye?" said the cab
man, who had descended from his perch
and was slapping his chest, for the
night was bitter.
II wish you would" said John, put
ting his hand to his brow in one Of his
accesses Of giddiness.
The man pulled at the handle, and
the clanking of the bell replied from
further in the garden; twice and thrice
he did 1t, with sufficient intervals; in
the great, frosty silence of the night,
the sounds fell sharp end SMALL
Does he expect ye?" asked the dri-
yer, with that manner of familiar in
terest that we'll became his port-wine
face; and when John had told him no,
well, them" said the cabman, IF yell
TAX my advice of it, we'll just gang
back. And that's disinterested, mind
We, for my stables are in the Glesgie
road"
"The servants must hear" said John.
"Hout1 said the driver. "He keeps
no servants here. man. They're a. in
the town house; I drive him often; tia
just a kind of hermitage, this"
Give me the bell,' said John; and
he plucked at it like man desperate.
The clamor had not yet subsidized be-
fore they heard steps upon the gravel,
and voice Of singular nervous irrita-
bility cried to them through the door,
who are you, and what do you want 2"
Alan" said John, "it's me-its Fat
ty-John, you know, I'm just come
home, and rye come to stay with you"
There was no reply for moment,
and then the door was opened.
Get the portmanteau down." said
John to the driver.
do nothing of the kind" said Alan,
and then to John, Come in here a mo-
ment. want to speak to you"
John entered the garden, and the
door was closed behind him. A candle
stood on the gravel walk, winking
little in the draughts; it threw incon-
slant sparkles on the dumped holly.
struck the light and darkness to and
fro like veil on Alans features, and
sent his shadow lowering behind him.
All beyond was inscrutable; and Johns
dizzy brain rocked with the shadow.
Yet even so, 1t struck him that Alan
was pale. and his voice. when he spoke,
unnatural.
What brings you here tonight" he
began. II don't want. God knows, to
seem unfriendly; but I can not take
you in, Nicholson; can not do it."
ALAN" said John, you've just got
to! You don't know the mess I'm in;
the governors turned me out, and l
daren't show my face in an inn, because
they're down on me for murder or some
thingv
For what?" cried Alan. starting.