Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-04

old men. only the shay was a bright rus
set instead of white. The ground under
the oaks was like cloth-of-gold under the
sun, the fallen leaves yet retained so much
crow few with wide flaps of dark wings
across the. road and. perched on oak
bough. 1t cooked its head and watched him
wisely. James whistled at 1t, but it did
not stir. It remained with it's head cock
ed In that attitude of uncanny wisdom.
Suddenly James saw before him the figure
OF girl moving swiftly. She must have
come out of the wood She went as freely
as woodland thing. although she was con-
yentionally dressed in tailor suit of
brown. Her hat too, was brown, and
brown feather curled over the brtIn. She
walked fast. with evidently as much enjoy
ment of the motion as James himself. They
both walked like winged things
suddenly James had a queer experience.
One sense became transposed into another,
as one changes the key In music. He heard
absolutely nothing. but it was as If he saw
noise. He saw man standing on the
right between him and the girl. The man
had not made the slightest sound, he was
sure. James had good ears but sound and
not sight was what betrayed him, or, rather,
sound transposed into sight He stood as
motionless as a tree himself. James knew
that he had been looking at the girl. Now
she was looking at him. James felt long
shudder creep over him. He had never
been afraid of anything except fear. Now
he was afraid of fear. and there was some
terror, yet 1t WAS inexphcable. He was a
middle-aged man and distinctly handsome,
He was something above the medium height
and very well dressed. He wore a fur-lined
coat which looked opulent He had gray
hair and black mustache. There was
nothing menacing in his face. He was in
deed, smiling-a curious, retrospective smile,
as If at his own thoughts Although his
eyes regarded James attentfvely, this. snnil-
ing mouth seemed entirely oblivious of him.
The man gave an odd impression, as of two
persona itieS-the one obseryant, with an
animal-like observance of his own veal or
woe the other observant with intelligence.
1t was possibly this impression of dual
personality which gave James his quick
sense of horror. He walked on, feeling his
very muscles shrink. just before James
reached the man he emerged easily, with
not the slightest appearance OF stealth.
from the wood. and walked on before him
with a. rapid, swinging stride. There were
then three persons upon the road-the girl
in brown, the strange man In the fur-lined
coat and James Elliot. James quickened
his pace. but the other man kept ahead of
him and reached the girl. He stopped. and
James broke into a run. He saw the man
place hand upon the girls shoulder, and
make motion as If to turn her face to-
ward his. James came up with a shout,
and the man disappeared abruptly, with
quick backward glance at James, into the
wood.
The girl looked at James. and her little
face under her brown plumed hat was very
"i.teCs Oii sic sdSpcd. dS II SH0 lldQ Ill
ways known him. II SO glad you are
here. He frightened me terribly"
She tried to smile at James, although her
poor little mouth was quivering. who was
hep she asked.
II don't know"
A sudden suspicion flashed into her eyes.
| He wasn't with your
No; saw him on the edge OF the woods
back there, and / didn't like mis- looks.
When he started to follow you hurried to
catch up
ooh, thank you," said the girl feryently.
DO forgive me for asking IL you were
with him. knew you were not the minute
l saw You. ] did not turn my face, al
though he tried to make me. don't know
why, but do know he was something ter
rfbIc and wicked" The girl said this last
with shudder She caught hold of James
arm innocently. as frightened child might
| have done. You don't think he win come
back
mo. and IL he does 1 will take care of
you.''
He may be-armed."
Suddenly the girl reeled. Don't let me
faint away. won't faint away" she said
In an angry voice James saw that she was
actually biting her lips to overcome the
faintness.
"Tf you will sit down on that rock for a
moment" said James, have something
In my medicine case which will revive you.
am doctor"
Il shall faint away If sit down and give
up TO 1t. IL l swallow your whole case,
said the girl weakly. 7 know myself Let
me hold your arm and walk, and don't
make me talk, then can get over II" She
was biting her lips almost to bleeding.
James walked on as he WAS hidden. with
the slender little brosyn-clad figure clinging
to him. He realized that he had fallen In
with a girl who had will which was pos
sihly superior to anything in his medicine
| case when it came to overcoming fright.
They walked on until they came In sight
of a farm house. when the girl spoke again,
and James saw that the color was returning
| to her face. T am all right now" said she.