Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-09-20
The Gate Leading
Into the Lane
BIZ JOHN N. rArHAEh.

-SsS.sA AsAA % ShlAAoUlOOhCy lOl lAS AlAO-
teenth time since luncheon.
II you would let me light the
lamps and draw the curtains, Miss
Aggte," said Ferguson, who, having
been nurse to Margaret Carris-
brooke's mother before her, could not
get used to the fact that her mistress
had for several years now had right
to more matronly title, "if you
would let me draw down the blinds,
pull the curtains well across anu
hight the lamps. you wouldn't feel
% nervous. Sitting here in the dusk
like that is enough to make any one
feel spidery, I'm sure
ferguson. I've got no patience
With you!" cried Aggie Carris-
brooke. You think nobody can think
but yourself, and you can't think a
bit. You know perfectly we'll that
lamps can't be lit without oil, and
that there's no gas and no electricity
IN this horrid old ramshackle cot
tage. How selfish men are! hate
men!"
And little Mrs. Carrisbrooke look
Cd more like Miss Aggie" than ever,
as she shook the curls out of her
eyes, in which two angry teardrops
were pearling. and rubbed her flushed
cheeks into flame with square inch
8 OF Valanciennes-border handker.
chief.
1t had seemed to the Carrisbrookes
the iolliest and most unconventional
thing In the world to take Hambledon
Cottage, instead of making the round
OF autumn visits which they usually
made before settling down In their
cosy little fiat In Curzon street. The
cottage was small one. comfort.
ably furnished, and had been built.
Mrs. Carrisbrooke declared, when she
drst saw It, In the later days of Noah.
tor It combined much of the architec-
tura OF the Ark with several small
7conveniences which long confinement
In that structure must have taught
aim to be useful.
Both Aggie and her husband had
the same tastes: both were fond of
shooting. and the cottage carried
come good shooting with 1t. Be-
sides both wife and husband were
motor.car enthusiasts and for the
0rst few weeks ut Hambledon time
new by very swiftly.
Then one day--the day of this story
III occurred to Mrs. Carrisbrooke
that they had seen enough of one
another: that they were "a guestless
and forlorn old couple" and she dis
patched her husband ''out into the
highways and hedges" to bring
guests. In other words, she sent him
with the car to Bennington to bring
back Florence and Jack Fotheringay.
who had been married on the same
day as the Carrisbrookes and were
their closest friends.
Florence can bring her maid,"
said Mrs. Carrisbrooke to her hus.
band as he left, and she and Fergus
son are all the servants that we
want: besides which, Dickson
Dickson was the Charlottesville al
ways lend hand, II necessary. And
mind that you are back for tea at 5
o'clock"
1t was past 5, and had been grow
Ing dusk since 4, and not until too
late did Aggie Carrlsbrooke remem-
Dor that she had forgotten to order
In more petrol from the village for
the lamps that morning. The lamps
In the cottage were Of the old fash
Toned. petrol burning kind, and in the
morning when her husband started
Of upon his guest hunt, as he called
Il, he had Bespoken their contents to
oil his tanks, and promised that he
would order a fresh supply for her
In Hambledon as he passed through.
Manlike, he had forgotten all about
1t: unfortunately, his wife had not
thought of 1t, either; Ferguson did
not know that there was no lamp oil,
and. in consequence, the house was
lightless.
Where ale you going, Fergusson!"
Down to the village, mum, for oil
to Hi the lamps. You can't sit here
In the dark, with nothing but the,
dicker of the fire to see by, and
ferguson, absolutely forbid you
TO go out! Do you think am going
to sit here all alone, with not liv-
Ing soul in the house except Jasper"
Jasper was the cat" while you
30 down to Hambledon and back
again? Why, should die of fright!
I'm frightened as it is. This house
10 horribly Lonely. and there have
been all sorts OF awful stories in the
papers lately about attacks on lonely
women and What's that?"
That" was a branch of the chest
nut tree out in the lane which gust
of wind had blown against the iron
gate, rafting 1t across the bars with
rather an uncanny sound. I'm get
ting horribly frightened. Fergy," said
her mistress. But Ferguson, a
stout old lady OF the motfier-of-the-
British yeoman type, laughed at her,
sat down in the armchair by the fire,
and drew Miss Aggie's" head onto
her shoulder
II do wish join would come back"
remarked Mrs. Carrisbrooke again.
'Fergy, there's somebody down at the
gate leading into the lane-a man!
l saw him, and he's trying to climb
over oh, Fergv. Fergy, we shall all
be murdered in our beds!"
Now, don't be Foolish, Miss Aggie
don't you now!" said Ferguson.
I'VE can't be murdered in our beds
while we're sitting by the drawing
room fire. And there isn't anybody at
the back gardcn gate. Why should
there be?"
The gate leading into the lane be-
hind HambTedon Cottage was never
used, and had not been opened since
the Cartlsbrookes had bern there. 1t
ERy Of the back Of the house. and
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