Evening journal., 1905-04-17
lconflnaea LON satardayl
cHAPTER ~
By IRVING BACHELLER
! cougrsht IsoO. By LoTHRoP PURLIsHINe coMPANY


S4Se the Fuller house and looked
no at its windows. Standing under a.
tree on the opposite side Of the ave
nue., saw a man come out OF the door
and walk away hurriedly with long
strides. met him at the next corner
"Good evening" he said.
I recognized then the voice and fig
ure Of John Trumbull.
"Been to Fuller's." said he.
"How is Hope71 ] asked.
Better" said he. walk with me?"
"With pleasure" said /. And then
he quickened HIS pace.
we walked awhile in silence. going
20 fast 1 had hardly time to speak, and
the darkness deepened into night We
hurried along through streets and al
leys that were but dimly lighted, CON-
ing out >at length on a wide avenue
passing through open fields in the up
per part Of the city. Lights in cabin
windows glowed on the hills around
us. I made some remark about them,
but he did not hear me. He slackened
pace in a moment and began whisper
ing TO himself / could not hear what
he said. thought Of bidding him
good night and returning. but where
were we, and how could / find my
way?
We heard a horse coming presently
at a gallop. At the first loud whack
of the hoofs he turned suddenly and,
laying hold Of my arm. began TO run.
] followed him into the darkness Of the
open field II gave me a spell OF rare
excitement. for thought at once OF
highwaymen, having read so much OF
them In the Tribune. He stopped sud
denly and stopped low. his hands
touching the grass, and neither spoke
until the horse had gone we'll beyond
us. Then he rose stealthily and looked
about him IN silence, even turning his
cface to the dark sky, where only a few
stars were visible.
"wells' said he, with a grunt, beats
the devil! thought il vas
a wonderful thing was happening IN
the sky. A great double moon seemed
to be dying over the city hooded in
purple haze A little spray Of silver
rrht bFose out OF It as we looked. and
N10c BACKWARD ana then noated arter
Fec two shining disks that were falling
tward In a,long curve. They seemed
10 be so near | thought they were com
ug down upon the city. II occurred to
enc they must have some connection
with the odd experience l had gone
Through In a moment they had passed
aoCt Of sight. We were not aware that
we had Witnessed spectacle the lik,
Of which had not been seen In centu
ries, II ever since God made the heav
ens-the great meteor OF 1850.
Lets go back" said Trumbull. eve
came TOO far. I forgot myself"
Dangerous hereT ] inquired.
"Not at all" said he but a long
way out OF town 1iredw
Rather" I said. grateful for his evi.
dent desire TO quiet my alarm.
"Come," said he as we came back to
the pavement, his hand upon my shoul
der "Talk TO me. Tell me-what are
you going TO dof"
We walked slowly down the deserted
avenue, l meanwhile talking OF my
plans
"You love Hope" he said presently
Aou VIII marry herf
III she will have me-" said I.
"You must wait" he said. "Timt
enough"
He quickened his pace again as We
came In sight OF the scattering shops
and houses Of the upper city, and nC
other word was spoken. On the cor
ners we saw men looking into the sky
and talking Of the fallen moon. Il
was late bedtime when we turned in
to Gramercy park
Come in,n said he as he opened al
iron gate.
followed him up a marble stair
way. and a doddering old English but
Ter opened the door for us. We en-
tered a flne hail. its floor Of beautifu
parQuetry muffied with silken rugs
High and spacious rooms were al
aglow with light.
He conducted me 70 a large smokinr
room, its floor and walls covered witt
trophies OF the hunt--antlers and tn
skins OF carnivora. Here he threw
Off his coat and babe me be at hom
as he lay down upon a wicker diva
covered with the tawny skin OF som
wild animal He stroked the fur fond
ly with his hand
"Hello. Jackw he said, a greetin
that mystifed me.
Tried to eat me- he added, turnin
70 me. e-l
Then he barred his great hairy arr
and showed me lot OF ugly scars.
I bes0ught him 20 tell the story.
"KiIled him. he answered.
"With a gunTi
"No. with my hands" And tina
was all he would say Of IL.
He lay facing a black curtain tina
covered a corner. Now aud then
heard a singular sound in the room
Ike some faint, far night cry such a
I have heard often IN the deep woods
II was so weird felt some wonder G
g. Presently 1 could tell il came froI
behind the-curtain. where also hear
an odd rrztle like that OF wings.
! sat IN a reverie. looking at the S
lent man before me. and in the mid,
OF It he pulled cord that hung mes
him. and a bell rang
"Luncbeon," be said 70 the old butls
who entered Immediately.
Then he rose aud showed me Cd
things carved out OF Wood by his ow
hand. as he told me. and with del
cate art. Els looked at one tiny thin