The Bemidji pioneer., 1900-09-13
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sition, the sight OF the lamps twinklins
| to the rear. and the smell OF damp and
mould and rotten straw which clung
about the vehicle, wrought in him
strange alterations Of lucidity and
mortal giddiness.
II have been drinking he discoY-
cred; u 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 a garden rising before
him in the dark The Lodge (as the
place was named) stood, indeed, very
solitary To the south 1t adjoined an
other house, but standing in SO large
a garden as to be well out of cry; on all
other sides open fields stretched up
ward to the woods OF Corstorphine Hill,
or backward to the dells Of Rayelston,
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 the bell.
IL Shall ring for YER said the cab
man, who had descended from his perch
and was slapping his chest, for the
night was bitter.
Il 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 and 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 i then" said the cabman, If yell
TAX, my advice of 1t, we'll just gang
back. And that's disinterested, mind
We, for my stables are in the Glesgie
road.
ss The servants must hear" said John.
Houtp said athe driver He keeps
no servants here, man. They're a. in
the town house; drive him often; tia
just kind OF hermitage, this.
Give me the BELL said John; and
he plucked at 1t like a man desperate.
The clamor had not yet subsidized be-
fore they heard steps upon the gravel,
and voice Of singular nervous irrita-
5bility cried to them through the door,
Who are you, and what do you want?"
Allan. !" said John. dts NETS Fat
tyJohn, you know, I'm just come
home, and I've come to stay with YOU"
There was no reply for a 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 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 a
little in the draughts: 1t threw incon-
slant sparkles on the dumped holly,
struck the light and darkness to and
fro like a veil on Alan's 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,
What brings you here tonight" he
began. II don't want, God knows, to
seem unfriendly; but ! 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 /
daren't show my face in an inn, because
they're down on me for murder or some
thing!
For what? p cried Alan, starting.
Murder, / believe" says John.
MURDER repeated Alan, and passed
his hand over his eyes. What was
that you were saying?" he asked again.
"That they were down on me" said
John. I'm accused of murder, by what
/ can make out; and I've really had a
dreadful day Of it, Alan, and can't
sleep on the roadside on a night like
thisat least, not with portman-
teau,' he pleaded.
Hush" said Alan, with his head on
one side; and then. Did you hear moth
ing?" he asked.
NO. said John, thrilling. he knew
not why, with communicated terror.
mo, heard nothing; why?" And then,
as there was no answer, he reverted to
his pleading:
But say, Alan, you've got to take
me in. I'll go right away to bed If YOU
have ANYTHING to do. I seem to have