New-York tribune., 1907-11-24

might have been that as the car swept on | heard
some calling me, III never know which. But
the lowering clouds and quIckcned rush Of wind
did not make stop inviting; 50 the ear sped on.
Il knew capital little all night restaurant in
Mlen, and was speculatmg pleasantly AS to whether
1t should hc chop and mug Of ale. or g more sub
Stantial steak and potatoes. | was aroused from
this anticipatorv mood 10y the fact that the glitter
ing lamps Of my car showed me straight ahead TWO
roads instead OF one. Two roads Here was another
unexpected annoyance. | brought the automobile
to a stop. doubt and perplcXitv.
To the right the road ran of INTO the thickcumg
forest. far as the steady light CLEANS showed. 10
the left IT seemed "a llttlc more marked # more
travelled and where the light melted into the en-
vclopng blackness II appeared 10 widen. ! leaped
out of the car and went forward. seeking guide
post or something {" show my way. Ihere was
nothing
Then remembered that had a road map in my
pocket OF course that would tell me \ grumble
of thunder came from far of as | drew the car
to examine the map IN the light Here was Pelham,
and here was Mlcn here even the httlc store where
| stopped, marked with a star. which meant that
gasolcne was to hc procured there Now | was
somewhere between that store and Miilen The map
was a large one. II should show not only the main
road, but every little bypath that cut athwart 1t.
Yet from the little store 10 MIllen the road
unbroken line There was no branch road on the
map. and vet here was one
Il was pcrpeXcd. inpatient and Incidentally
starving, SO hastily made mp my mind which road
to take: the left and more beaten one. HcaPng
maledictions upon the head of the who drew
that particular map. | started to climb INTO the car
again when the veil of night was cleft by vivid
zigzag flash of lightning 1t startled me, blinded me
almost, and followed instantly 10y the crash
and Of thunder
Then came another sound ourdling, nerve
raCkng scream, scream OF agony, OF pam, of fear,
"a hidcous, awful thing which seemed to stop my
heart for one fearful instant. then lost the
thunder of the approaching storm. Suddenly all
was silent again, save for the wind II whipped its
way through the forest
Il was not a nervous man; after the first shock
The blood rushed back 70 my heart my head cleared
and was perfectly calm But | stood waiting with
my foot on the step-waitng and listening |
argued calmly Some one evidently IN distress.
But where In what direction, The singing wind
the Whrlmg dust, left me no guess. And then again
came that scream tins time a series
of quick sharp shrlcks ending in -
wall which made me clcnch my hands 81
until the nails bit INTO the flesh, and Z
left me weak and trembling absurdlv. e
But now had the direction. The "a
cries had come apparently from the w n
road, somewhere behind
walked to the Of the where VE&6N
the tall light shot out a feeble ray, fAA
and stood pcering off INTO the black ~A
in the direction whence | had ~AsxsR
come. At first | could distinguish moth NY
ing, then white intangible something slowly NM
grew out of the night .-something haZV. float ~
ing, ndIStmCt yet unmStakablV something. q
Fascinated stood still and continued to stare y
The floating white figure seemed TO grow SenSl-
bly, larger and clearer 1t coming toward
me; 1t would cross the path of the light in another
moment | caught my breath and WaItcd.
Suddenly again came the reVerberatmg crash of
thunder, nearer and louder, but unaCCompanicd by
lightning Instantly, if IN echo, came that scream
again. Obviously it was distress "a