Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-12

Cheerfully, and | guess | climb that tree.
will tell you a fairy tale about what see afterward
Things ought to be reasonably quiet at the Hall
about eleven; and if reach there half hour
later that will do. Smoke" handing him another
of those heavenly cigars from his waistcoat pocket
land don't talk to me! l 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.
walk to the Hall Come along, partner; we had
better make a move"
They went downstairs softly. Jolly Jim"
Jones was just clearing away the empty tankards of
his village customers.
Going out to breathe for awhile, boss said
Bradshaw. Don't worry about me; l have my
key
IAN right, sir. You won't take drop of my
special to keep the cold out before you go?"
No. thank you, l have people dependent upon
me 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 of the
keepers. 1t will be better if not seen by
anybody
The country lane was utterly deserted. 1t
silent enough to ears which were not awake to the
myriad voices of the night the chirp of the cricket,
the rustling of dry leaf Grant breeze kissed
it, the trembling of branch touched by weasel
gliding forth foray the sudden soft whr of wings
owl swept down on its prey, the stirring OF the
underground by unseen animals, and above all
the serenity of the heavens
And so they advanced noise1ess1y possible
until there came fitful CLEAN between the trees.
1t was the light for which they had come to look;
the light which had shone night after night-tellng
what story? Perhaps only the story of a mothers
anguish-the anguish of a mother whose son
coming home with dimmed eyes and faltering
steps All this Bradshaw thought of, but he thought
of Edith Holt too, and went on.
short cut through the woods and they found
themselves beneath the lighted window There
oak which spread its branches close to the
room, thirty feet above Without wasting time
in needless explanations, Bradshaw drew his COM
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
precariousy at the extreme limit of safety. He
found that the window was closed, therefore moth
ing could be heard, yet the scene within the room
offered ample material for speculation when he came
to ponder events.
Harry Warren, looking utterly cowed was sitting
in an armchair, while his mother stormed up and
down the room like very fury. There was through
all her anger the repression characteristic of the
woman. 1t no eXaggeration to say that she
stormed yet her voice was never raised and, strain
his ears as he might, Bradshaw could hear no
syllable of the conversation. He waited
until he grew Cramped and until Brading
beneath was hOarsely impatient, and
still Mrs. Warren talked with fiery ami Z
nation, but always it seemed, tempering
her excitement with her marked natural
restraint.