The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1903-06-05
Stairs of
Sand
By ERNEST DE LANCY PERSON.
Copyright, 1901, by Street & Smith.
CHAPTER VIII.-CoNTINUED.

CHAPTER VIII.-CONTINUED.
Job was instinctively drawn near
to watch what happened. Presently
the door was opened cautiously, and
an elderly man with white beard,
shading a lamp with one hand, APP
peared in the doorway. He ap-
peared to be surprised to see his
visitor, for he uttered an eXclama-
ton that was hardly expressive of
slipped into the hall, and the door
closed noiselessly behind him.
$50 Henslow is up to his old tricks
again." muttered Job Hendricks.
HE still receives people by night on
the sly. 1 wonder who that fellow
was? 1t seems to me that his figure
was familiar. Bah! What difference
does it make. I have something
more important on hand than the
lawyers visitors. 1t will keep him
occupied for a while, so matters
could not have arranged themselves
better for me-"
On the side of the house was a
small gate, which evidently commu-
nicated with the rest of the building,
and Job, after moments thought,
pushed this open and entered a mar
row path that led along the walls
of the house.
AS he made his way slowly and
cautiously along, he became aware of
a strange humming sound, as if some
one was grooming a lullaby. The
moon had now risen, and, as he
reached the back of the house, he
saw slender, womanish figure seat
ed under a tree in the garden. He
passed her unobserved, his feet MAX
ing no noise on the grass. Then he
stood for moment contempla ting
the girlish figure. 1t was her sing
ing that he had heard as he came
along. She sat there, her face rest
ing on one arm, which was flung
about lower branch of the tree,
looking very sad in her black dress,
which accentuated the pallor of her
face.
Job did not move, his eyes fixed
yearningly on the white features,
while his lips moved, though not a
sound came from them. Many min
utes he stood there motionless, as
if he could not look enough at the
girl before him.
Though he made no sound or be-
,trayed any more life than the trees
in the garden, she seemed to learn in
,stinctively that she was not alone,
and, turning, rose with an eXclama-
ton.
"Who are you-what do you
want?"
. AS she spoke she advanced few
She did not betray any fear at see
ing a strange man in the garden at
night.
Job sighed, as if he had really ex-
pected different greeting.
"Don't be alarmed, young lady,"
he replied hoarsely. 81 am only de-
sirous of being of service to you.''
"Who are you?" moved in spite of
herself by the deep feeling he put in
his simple speech.
"A friend-that is all. bring you
a message"
From Dick?" eagerly.
Il Inc same.
LET me have it," holding out her
hand.
Job, fumbling in his coat for the
note, she stamped her foot like a
spoiled child, and exclaimed:
''How clumsy you are-can't you
see, you stupid man, that am burn
ing with impatience?"
He finally drew forth the letter
and handed it to her with trembling
fingers.
Having seized it, she paid no fur
Their attention to him, but ran over
to the porch of the house, where
lantern, burning dimly, hung from
one of the pillars.
Job watched her while she read
the lines, her pale face TRANSPORTED
.'How she does seem to love the
poor fellow" he murmured, with a
certain longing in his voice, as il
speaking of one of whom he was en-
yious. 'It must be satisfaction to
be loved like that"
It did not take her long to read
the message, and then, thrusting il
in the bosom of her dress, she re
turned to the man who stood wait
ing. eying her with an air of uneasy
interest