Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-02-07
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A weird Story Of One Wrapped
In n Black CIoak.

were returning from the great tow
IN the valley 10 their homes In IN,
hamlet hanging high above then
against the mountain.
A they walked they chatted OF th'
sights In the town. VI the good wives
and little ones TO whom they wer,
coming after three days absence. Jok
ing. Joyous. happy In remembrance OF
their town jolllty aud In the anticipa
ton u their welcome home. Occasion
ally they stopped under the overhang
Ing branches u an orchard and ate ap
| pies, or they kneeled 10y spring. max
Ing a cup ~ their hands 10 drink from,
then passed on again.
The sun struck down fcrccly upon
their backs and shimmercd ON the dust
OF the road.
"Ah. the heatl Let us go more slow.
| ly. John
mo" replied the other; ct will be-
cooler higher up Let us make haste
and reach the shade Of the woods. and
beyond there win be n breeze blow.
Ing"
Suddenly as they walked David felt
that they were not alone and. turning
his head. saw third person following
n few PAGES behind them. an extremely
tall man. wrapped In a black cloak As
David turned the mans eyes looked
into his with a steady. unhlnchlng
gaze. The black ROBBED figure was only
n short distance behind him. walking
with a long. even stride. without
sound. his cloak drawn up 10 his ears.
covering his mouth and chin.
As David looked he shlycred: then.
turning his head quickly. he walked
rapidly on. urging his companion TO
hasten.
But Just now you were calling to me
10 90 slower. and now you want to
hurry"
''Yes; let us hurry-the heat" And
they passed on. the ardent sun beating
on their backs.
As they went forward David turned
over IN his thoughts the strange sight
he had seen behind him. that was be-
hind them now. he felt certain. though
not daring 90 look again. SILVER cours-
Ing the length of his spine at the
thought Of the muilled figure In that
fierce heat. And John-had he also
seen Il? Did he know what came
swiftly. without sound. at their hecls2
He looked cautiously from the corner
OF his eye nj his friend without turn
Ing his head even slightly. John plod-
ded on. his eyes on the ground and his
big shoes white with the dust. grum-
bling nj the heat. his face duh and ex-
pressIonless.
AT length they reached the cooler air
where the road climbed between the
archlng trees OF the forest. and John
halted 10 rest In the shadow. He was
Older than his friend and tired more
easily.
"Now." thought David, che viii look
back and see" And he watched the |
others face narrowly.
They sat on the edge Of the road. !
their legs hanging down the bank. |
Johns gaze wandered back down the /
long stretch over which they had come,
and David waited.
But the old man only looked out from
tho shadow with n half smile OF salts
faction that so much Of the long jour
ney was over, his simple countennnce
placid with the thought. "How white
the road u.s." he said.
"And not many travellers on H." said
David In half question. stlll looking
earnestly az his comrades face.
mot n creature In sight" answered
John quietly. 1--WE have the road TO
ourselves. Others are not such fools 20
come out In this sum-
David. treasured by this. turned
slowly and looked back Just below,
by the FIRST tree. IN fun view. silent,
stood the tall figure. lit
lie nearer than before.
David leaped to his feet and ran
along the steep road. stumbling, terri
fed. John saw nothing. and this crea-
iure so close, In plain view. Hurry,
hurry" be called back and ran on.
what has come 10 you? Are you
crazy" cried tie old man. zone can't
pause TO rest but sou jump and runT
IL am not-weil want TO get
home" painted David. I'VE have yet
Par TO 20. We must not waste time
'Hou are sick. Yes, you are pale.
Your teeth chatter. We will stop nj
Did Andrews and get you something.
u IS this scorchng day"
ayes, yes, we will stop NJ old An.
irew's. lie win cure me. II IS not
iar; only beyond the next turn where
the trees end"
"And we can take the short way
home from there, the path from the
back OF his house up The Rocks"
Again they walked rapidly onward.
the old man full OF concern FOR his
friend, the young man looking straight
ahead
At the border Of the forest the small
brown house stood on the edge OF old
Andrews scanty farmland, the poor.
half barren land OF these mountain
farms. Beyond the few fields that
stretched up gradually from the back
n the house rose abruptly "The
Rocks" n high cliff, reaching far along