The St. Louis Republic., 1905-11-12

cheerfully. and guess climb that tree !
will tell you fairy tale about what afterward.
Things ought to he reasonably quiet AT the Hall
about eleven: and If We reach there halt an hour
later. that will do. Smoke handing him another
Of those heavenly cigars from his wais.coat pocket
and don't talk to mel want to figure out some
things"
And SO they sat again in silence. until presently
Bradshaw looked at his watch and closed it with
snap
Ten past eleven" he said Twenty minutes
walk to the Hail. Come along. partner; We had
better make a move.
They went downstairs softly. Jolly Jim
Tones just clearing away the empty tankards OF
his village customers.
Going out to breathe for awhile. boss said
Bradshaw. Don't worry about me; have my
key
''An right. sir. You won't take drop of my
special to keep the cold out before you go:"
NO. thank you. have people dependent upon
in the United States. Goodnight.
They walked out and away. and in a few minutes
had left the village behind them.
Better keep to the main road until the last.
said Brading. ''or we may drop in with one of the
keepers. 1t will bc better if We are not seen by
anybody
The country lane utterly deserted. 1t was
silent enough to ears which were not awake to the
myriad voices of the night the chirp of the cricket,
the ristling of dry leaf errant breeze kissed
it. the trembling of branch touched by a weasel
gliding forth foray. the sudden soft whr OF wings
owl swept down prey. the stirring of the
underground 10y unseen animals. and above all
the serenity of the heavens
And 50 they advanced as noiselesSly as possible.
until there came itful CLEAN between the trees.
1t was the light for which they had come to look;
the light which had shone night after night-tcling
what story? Perhaps only the story of a mothers
angush-thc anguish Of a mother whose son was
coming home with dimmcd eyes and faltering
steps. All this Bradshaw thought Of. but he thought
Of Edith Holt too. and went
short cut through the woods and they found
themselves beneath the lighted window There
was an oak which spread its branches close to the
room. thirty feet above Without wasting time
in needless explanations. Bradshaw drew his
panion close to the trunk and climbed upon his
shoulders to reach the first stout limb of the
tree.
Once within the boughs the American climbed up
like any sChool-boy. and settled himself the
branch nearest to the window, perching himself
precariously at the extreme limit of safety. He
found that the window closed, therefore moth
ing could he heard. vet the scene within the room
offered ample material for speculation when he
to ponder events.
Harry Warren, looking utterly cowcd was sitting
in armchair. while his mother stormed up and
down the room like very fury. There through
all her anger the repression characteristic of the
IL eNaggcration to say that she
stormcd. vet her voice never raised. and. strain
his ears as he might, Bradshaw could hear no
syllable Of the conversation. lie waited
until he grew crampcd and until Brading
beneath was hoarsely impatient. and
still Mrs. Warren talked with fiery ami Z
nation, but always il seemed. tcmpcring
her excitement with her marked natural
restraint.
Then at las, she quilted the room. Her al