Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-02-19
Stairs of Sand
ERNEST DE LANCY PERSON.
Copyright, 1901, by Street s. Smith.
CHAPTER VIII.

'STONE WALLIS DO NOI MAhh "A
PRISON."
Job had no trouble in finding his
way to the lawyers house, despite
the gathering night. He walked like
a man who is sure of his way. AS
he came nearer the humble-looking
cottage he paused for a moment in
hesitation.
Clocks like the abode of innocence
and peace" he muttered. Foxes are
careful not to betray the character
of their holes from the outside.
wonder how the years have dealt with
the worthy Henslow? I hardly
thought a man Of his ambitions
would be satisfied to rust in q coun
try town all his life"
He approached nearer the house,
and stood for a moment looking up
at the windows.
Not light in sight. [ wonder
if the family are all away. At least
she is here, and that is all care for.
I should not like greatly to come
in contact with the lawyer"
He moved around to the side of
the building, and stood for a mo-
ment debating what to do under the
circumstances. The place wore such
deserted look that he was unde-
cided.
AS he stood there in the shadow Of
a tree he was aware of a step in
the road, and drew back closer into
the shadows. A man came into
view whose features he could not
make out, but who seemed to be
dressed in well-ftting clothes, and
carried himself with certain jaunty
air.
The newcomer, as he approached
the house, seemed to be looking from
right to left, as if he feared to be
seen. He walked past the building,
peering into the shadows. Job Hen
bricks crowded back against the
fence among the bushes, and won
dered why he was not discovered.
The stranger, having satisfied him
self that there was no one in the
neighborhood, went up to the front
door of the cottage and raped on it
softly in peculiar way.
Job was instinctively drawn near
to watch what happened. Presently
the door was opened cautiously, and
an elderly man with a white beard,
shading a lamp with one hand, APP
peared in the doorway. He ap-
paared to be surprised to see his
visitor, for he uttered an exclama-
ton that was hardly expressive of
welcome. The other, without word,
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. I wonder who that fellow
was? 1t seems to me that his figure
was familiar. Bah! What difference
does it make / have something
more important on hand than the
LAWYERS visitors 1t will keep him
occupied for 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 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 a 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 a moment contemplating
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 a lower branch of the tree,
looking very sad in her black dress,
which accumulated the pallor of her
face.
Job did not move, his eyes fixed
yearningly on the white features,
while his lips moved, though not q
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-
ten.
"Who are you-what do you
want?"
AS she spoke she advanced few
PAGES toward him in the moonlight.
She did not betray any fear at see
ing a TRANCE man in the garden at
night.
Job sighed, as if he had really ex-
pected a different greeting.
Don't be alarmed, young lady"
he replied hoarsely. Il am only de-
sirous of being of service to YOU"