The San Francisco call., 1907-03-10

I was tired, yet I found the change
from the close railway carriage, and
the tension OF the last few hours, de-
lightful. The road along which I
trudged ran straight TO the sea, the
distant roar of which was already in
my ears, and the wet wind which blew
in my face was salt and refreshing. 1t
was a little after two in the morning,
and the darkness would have been alb
solute, but for watery moon, which
every how and then gave a fitful light
For mile or more I walked with
steady, unfiagging footsteps. Then sud-
denly l found myself slackening my
pace. / walked slower and slower. At
last I stopped.
About fifty yards farther on my LEFT
was Braster Grange. 1t stood a little
way back from the road It's gardens
were enclosed by a thin storm bent
hedge. just thick enough TO be a screen
from the road. The entrance was along
q lane which branched Off here from
the main road. and led on to the higher
marshes, and thence on to the road
from Braster village to Rowchester
and my cottage. Straight on, the road
which / was following led into Braster.
but the lane to the left round past the
Grange saved me fully half mile. In
an ordinary way I should never have
hesitated for moment as 70 my route.
though 1t was rough walking, there
were no creeks or obstacles OF anv
sort 20 be reckoned with. And vet. az
neared the corner, / came to full
stop. As ] stood there in the road I
Ielt my heart beating. seemed pos
sesseo by curious nerve failure. NV
breath came quickly. I felt nv heart
humping against my side. I stood still
ana listened. Down on the shingles
could hear the sea come thunderine
r IN with a loud increasing roar. diving
monotonously away at regular inter-
vals. ! could hear the harsh grinding
OF the pebbles, the backward swirl OF
long waves thrown back from the land.
heard the wind come booming across
lhe waste lands, rushing and creakin~
amongst the few stunted trees in fhe
grounds OF Braster Grange or slighter
sounds there seemed to be none. The
village ahead was dark and silent. fhe
side OF the house fronting the road was
olack and desolate. 1t was a lonely
spot lonely hour. Yet as I stood
there shivering with nameless annre-
hensions felt absolutely certain that
was confronted by some hidden dan
ger.
IN moment or two, am thankful
10 say, my courage returned. 7 strncE
match and lit a cigar, one of hand
lui which Ray had forced upon me
Then ] crossed stealthily to the other
sloe OF the road and felt for the hedge.
prioked my hands badly. but after
feeling about for some moments I was
apie 10 cut for myself a reasonably
tnieK stick With this in my right
hano and the dispatch under my
left arm I proceeded on my way.
walked wariIy, and when I had
tuned into the lane which passed the
entrance to Braster Grange / walked
IN the middle oft instead of skirtinr
the wall which inclosed the grounds. I
passed the entrance gates. and had
only about twenty yards farther to go
Detore,l emerged upon the open marsh
land Here the darkness was almost
impenetrable, for the line narrowed.
The hedge on the left was ten or twelve
feet high. and on the right were two
long barns. ] clasped my stick tightly
and walked almost stealtliIy. L felt
that if could come safely To the end
OF these barn buildings could afford
TO laugh at my fears.
Suddenly my strained hearing detect
ed what had been listening for all
the time. There was q faint but audi
bic rustling in the shrubs overgrowinp
the wall on my left. uladc a quick
dash forward. tripped against some in
visible obstacle stretched across the
lane. and went staggering Sideways,
struggling to preserve my balance. Al
most AT the same moment two dark
forms dropped frcm tho shelter of the
shrubs on to the lane by nay side l
felt the soft splash I a wet cloth upon
my checks. an arm around my neck.
and the sickcning odor OF chioroform in
my nostrils. But already had rcgained
my balance l wrenched myself free
from the arm. and was suddenly blind
ed by the glare Of a small electric
handljght within a foot of my face l
struck sweeping blow at il with my
stick. and fIom the soff impact it
seemed 10 me that the blow must have
descended upon the head OF ono of my
assailsnts. I heard groan. and / saw
the Sliadowy form OF the second man
spring at me. What followed was not,
believe, cowardiee on my part, for my
blood was up and my sense of fear
gone. / dashed my stick straight at
the approaching figure, and / leaped
forward and ram j had won the hum
dred yards and the quarter of a mile at
Oxford. and / was in fair training. /