Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-24

naturally by persons passing, and yet not wide
enough for my car, nor even for narrow wagon.
Here that road map was at fault again. l remem
bered that grimly even as the automobile went
splashng along through growing pools of water and
invisible ruts in the wagonway. l chung grimly
to the steering wheel with only one idea in mind:
to get to Millen. Already was wet through from
the terrific downpour, and chilling numbness was
Selling upon my limbs.
it seemed to But that too might have been the
effect of an overweight brain. The road did not
look so much travelled now, despite the deceptive
into which my wheels sank with maddening
frequency. Yet beneath its sheet of water the
steadily cleaning lights showed that there a
road, plainly marked For a minute or more, sup
pose, | went straight on, desperately, reckessly;
then illuminating flash across the sky showed me
that was plunging into open country, and that the
forest was gradually recedng.
Finally, through the swlrlng, drenchlng rain,
saw faint rosy point in the distance. Whatever it
was, lantern supposed it at least indicated the
presence of some fellow fell human being l drove
straight toward it. The CLEAN did not fater or fade
Another dazzling burst of lightning answered my
question to the nature of the light. 1t was in
farm house,--a farm house out here where there
weren't any farm houses, squatting in open field,
a ramshackle two-storied affair. But at least it
would serve to shelter from the fury of the storm
l took in all of it at glance, even to small shed
in the rear where | might store my machine
Il didn't pause to call as drew near, but drove to
the shed and ran my car IN. Then, guided by the
constant lightning flashes, l walked round to the
front of the farm house passing through the stream
of light from the window as l went 1t cheered me,
that light 1t offered unexpected haven, that
physical refreshment of which was much in need,
possible companionship and above all a refuge.
Il knocked on the front door loudly, the thunder
rolling necessarily now, then shook the water
from my dripping. garments. l walted-waited
patiently enough for half minute, l suppose.
There answering sound of any sort, and again
l knocked, this time insistently even DANGEROUSLY.
Still no 1t not difficult to imagine that
the continuous roar of the elements had drowned
the feeble knock, and l repeated the performance
with several humping, banging variations. Still
answer.
Even in this desperate strait l did not care
to enter the house thief might, by forcing
my way and run the risk too of being received
~ as a thief, possibly with bullet. So |
stepped down from the veranda, and went
to the lighted window, intending to attract
attention by rapping the glass. My
first glimpse told me no one was there:
but the gave every evidence of
occupancy. big cheerful log fire
burning and its Pickering light showed
books strewn about here and there, in
E& viting chairs, table, and all the little
3 W3 knckknacks that make comfortable
k sitting room. There beside that brightly
q y blazing fire comfort, and here the
III penetrating chill of the storm.
81 | had no further SCrupleS about it. L
& going into that room! | ran up the
y steps, and was just reaching out my hand
& to try the knob, when the latch clicked,
~ and slowly, silently, the door swung open.
Naturally expected to meet some one
some one who had anticipated me in lifting
the latch,-but | saw The door had
merely opened revealing a rather long, broad
~ hallway, with stair in the distance, and un-
lighted save for the reflection from the sit
I ting room. | took just two steps the
threshold, enough to get out of the swirlng RAIN
then stopped and called No answered. l
called a second time. For wonder the thunders
we're silent just then and there sound save
that of my voice. l ventured along the hall
to the sitting room door and looked in. 1t was
cozy, warm, comfortable, even than had
imagined when looked in through the window.
All at once was overcome by guilty sense of
.r1,% LoI I