Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-01-27
CHAPTER II.
Christmas Day.

Christmas Day.
Christmas morning dawned bright
znd clear. had had but little sleep, the
excitement, consequent on my noctur-
nal adventure, had kept me awake I'M
al two or three; and even then 1 had
only fallen asleep to dream of a super
Setively beautiful woman with lustrous
eyes and pale golden hair, who led me
among mountain SHOWS in vain search
'es after hidden treasure I could never
ind.
dipped my face into a bowl of Ice
cold water; then, feeling refreshed and
thoroughly wide-awake, drank a cup OF
cocoa, and sailed out, intending to
snake q more substantial breakfast on
my return.
The moment I opened the door, Nero
who had spent the night in an out
Aouse-came up and fawned upon me.
wagging his tail and looking wistfuliy
snto my face, as IL doubtful Of his well
come.
was angry with him, and vet in
my heart could not altogether blame
shim; for, in thinking the whole case
over during the night. L had come to
The conclusion that the mysterious
oiack mask had been the cause of his
attack on a defenseless woman,
Doubtless in his eyes, that bit Of vel
vet had had suspicious and an uncan-
ny look.
was very fond of Nero. He was a
magnificent brute, an Irish hound
faithful and affectionate; and, more
over, he had on one occasion saved my
s1ffe.
IL was not likely should keep NV
anger against him iong-especially on
Christmas Day when we ought surely
- show our good will to animals as
well as to man.
He was transported with delight at
3elng taken back into favor.
'Come on old fellowl" I called to
him. as I bent my steps towards that
corner OF the road at which had part
ed from the mysterious woman.
No snow had fallen in the night, so
mat our footprints-mine and hers
were still plainly visible. At the cor
ner paused. half doubling whether I
should SO any further. To track those
footprints would be to track the wom
an to her home. Was I not In honor
bound not to do this?
But. even as I paced backwards and
forwards In indecision. made a start
ling discovery.
n dozen yards away from the cor
r1er the footprints ended, and. In place
zHnd OF horses hoofs. Doubtless q
carriage had stood near the corner
SWEATING my mysterious visitor last
Eright.
The wheels had made deep intentions
IN the snow; the marks OF the horses
1noofs were distinctly seen After O
short struggle with what conceive to
nave been very natural curiosity, my
sense or honor triumphed, and reso-
1utesy turned my back upon those
tempting tracks, and prepared to take
my morning walk in quite an oppo-
=s5te direction.
Ny cottage stood as think have
said. at the foot OF the mountain-I
might almost say 1t was at the foot OF
several mountains as It was IN a mar
row pass encompassed by craggy
heights on every side. The pass was a
lonely one. In the winter months, no
~Sone would enter for days or even weeks
Eogether.
When turned back from the corner
sOf the road, 1 walked almost mechan-
Acally to the spot where had rescued
ahe woman from Nero's fangs last
might; and, having reached it, I found,
NO my surprise, that the footsteps did
mot end there, but that they stretched
out far as my eye could zach. right
up the pass.
/ walked on a few PAGES nd soon I
made another discovery vo people
mad gone up that pass L.. night-a
man as we'll as the woman This did
not surprise me so much as the fact
~that the man had not come back.
The female footprints were plainly
enough discernible coming down as
Neh as going up the pass; but the
mans only went one way. The woman
n II
uncomfortable. 1t was not that at that
moment, 1 actually suspected foul
play; but still, was anxious to know
where the woman's companion had
gone
The other end OF the pass led no.
where, or. rather, 1t led only to q road
across the mountain, which it would
have been madness to attempt by
might.
resolved to push my discoveries a
little further, and 1 was confirmed In
This determination by the strange con-
DUCT OF Nero, who was running excit-
~ediy backwards and forwards, SMELL
ing at the footprints. and every now
and then emitting an angry growl.
There is some mystery here I must
solve it," 1 said, and, making sure Of
my whiskey flask, I hurried up the
pass in the wake Of those mysterious
footprints.
j half expected 10 find some poor
vEretch dying OF exhaustion among the
Enountain SHOWS.
Nero went on before me, growing
xnore and more excited every minute;
and I must own that was beginning
90 share In his excitement
Well. the footprints led up up the
Soass for about three-Quarters OF a mile;
then, TO my amazemenf after unfn1lino
~curiously, they disappeared altogether,
CLOSE to cavity in the mountain side
Beyond this cavity the snow lay, all
white and untrodden. without spot or
sStain.
An eerie feeling came over me-a
Feeling which was evidently shared by
Nero, for he was tearing about like a
mad thing, seemingly wild with fear,
'sSnd yet In fury of rage as we'll.
was certain he smelt blood.
The cavity in the rock was just big