Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-22


house, not nearly so dilapidated as they
had imagined and looking so little
ghostlike that the spirits of the party
fell.
The two younger officers voted it
bore and proposed going back to their
quarters and enjoying a comfortable
nights rest. The others, however, would
not hear of such thing and proceeded
to make as merry as a hamper with a
good supper and several bottles of
wine would permit They sang and
told stories until 1 o'clock, and then
| the hour being past when church.
yards yaWn and graves give up their
dead" Ford and Anstruther again sug-
gested leaving the rugs there and going
down to camp, getting at least part or
the night in comfort, for, as there was
only one lounge in the house, 1t was
clear that one person only could in
dulge in sleep with any degree of ease.
Brereton and his friend refused to
leave, and said that if the others
wished to return to camp they might
as we'll go on, but he and his friend
would remain and see 1t out.
Thus it was arranged; so when 2
o'clock struck the chums were alone In
| the haunted house.
Now, old man." said Brereton, "you
| turn in for a couple of hours and Will
remain on guard. for some of those
chaps may try to play tricks on us.
At 4 o'clock l will wake you up and
then have nap myself.
This seemed a reasonable suggestion
and soon Lloyd was sleeping peace
fully. while Brereton kept up the fire
on the hearth and, to keep himself
awake, took down from the wall an
old machete, incased in a leather scab-
bard, left there probably by former
tenant of the house, and proceeded to
examine 1t. He at last succeeded III
getting the scabbard off and found the
blade in rather good condition.
He remembered seeing a small grind
stone in one of the outrooms as they
came to the house. He went outside
and. bringing it in, proceeded to
sharpen the blade of the queer looking
weapon.
This occupied him for some time. He
smiled to himself occasionally and
looked now and again at his sleeping
friend He clinched his lips as he did
so. Night and isolation bring weird
imaginings. Whatever they were
that came to Brereton, he gave them
no word. He had loved the sleeping
man as a brother-and now? Well,
the game of man was on and he would
play ii. That was settled once and for
all. A strange chance meeting in a
small English town, harvest moon
and the glamour of campaign about
young soldier; a husband three thous-
and miles away, and-Well, some things
happen. Madcap, sure enough, but
how blind Lloyd had been not to guess
at the busy, planning, Tending, wary
brain that would fight for her pleasures
like catamount and laugh her blue
eyed laugh in the face of it all.
The old machete in his hand, he
went to a window and looked out on
the night. The moon was gone, and
under the stars the far line of the sea
could not be discerned. He had hoped
to see it. for he was to that extent
sentimental. Marjorie, for good or
ill, was on the sea. That he could
not look on the rim of the ocean
brought Marjorie more distinctly be-
fore him. A long vine hanging down
before the easement stirred in the
breeze. Something of her sinuous
charm was in it, and he felt an impulse
to take out the letter that lay against
his heart and read it again and again.
He laid his hand upon it, but as he did
so the name of Marjorie seemed float
ing in the air like breath. and the
vine rusted at the easement as If set
in motion by the word. Brereton, ner-
Vous for a moment withdrew his hand
from his bosom quickly and looked
toward the couch. Lloyd was Still
sleeping.
Brereton turned from the window and
went over to the candle. He glanced
at his watch and saw it was o'clock,
A grim sudden thought came to his
mind as he laid the machete beside the
light. No; he was not that sort of
fighter, at any rate. He would let fate
oVertake him. he would not force his
destiny. whatever 1t was to be. There
should be some fair play in the game.
He turned with decision, at least
that mechanical decision which comes
to the soldier, and awakened the
sleeper Lloyd sprang quickly to his
feet, and Brereton, with a conscious
forcing of the note of jollity, said,
pointing to the machete
Here, old chap, is something with
which to keep away the ghosts. Now,
for heavens sake, don't let them come
in and carry me off in my sleep" And
so, laughing, he rolled himself up in,
the rug and took possession of the,
couch.
Lloyd, scarcely awake and a bit
dazed, started to replenish the fire. but
he found that all the wood had been
used 1t was so near morning he de-
cided not to bother to get more, and,
taking up the machete, seated himself
beside the sofa on which Brereton lay
sleeping.