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

back. l stepped back to avoid collision
al beg your pardon began again; but
stalked away noiselessly without even glance
in my direction, leaving me dripping chilly
and overcome by that indefnable sense of
impending danger.
the situation. Surely the old man had seen
me. But had spoken! Of course, it was pos
sible that he had neither seen nor heard me;
yettMiyet- ., .
stay until the storm moderatesP 1 told myself.
Perhaps it is just peculiar old mans way.
Il removed my automobile coat, hung it
upon peg walked along the hallway with a
firm tread, and stepped into the sitting room.
1t was deserted!
There are moments in every mans life
when the weight of revolver in his hand is
tremendously reassuring This was mine.
drew the weapon from my hip pocket, exam
ined it, and thrust it into my coat within easy
reach of my right hand Then l stood by the
table, drumming my fingers upon it idly, and
debating with myself as to what should do.
was looking toward the door by which l had
entered. No one came in, and yet Suddenly
the gray bearded old man was throwing log
on the fire The flames shot up and the sparks
flew; but there was not the crackle of fresh
burning wood as there should have been just
this silent old man. My heart was in my
throat, and l laughed sheepishly.
You startled me- explained foolishly in
| apology.
He did not look at me; but busted himself
about the room for a moment, and laid his
hat upon a couch Then he went out by the
door INTO the hallway
Well, upon my soulp / calculated.
81 sat down and deliberately waited for the
old man to return. The uncanniness of it all
was growing upon me, the silence of his great
boots as he walked, the fire which didn't
cracke as it burned, the lack of any sign or
movement to indicate that he had recognized
NV rreSence Was the old man rea11 | came
to my feet with an exclamation. Or was it
was it some weird continuation of that horrible
| thing in the forest?
81 put out cold, clammy hand to the fire.
That seemed real-at least warmth came to
me, and gradually my fingers lost their numb
ness and looking upon my own hand fell to
| remembering the hands of my strange host.
They were knotted, toll worn, and the left
forefnger was missing. That fact struck
sharply upon my memory, and l remembered
too a scar over one eye when he removed his
hat. That all seemed real too, as did these
things upon the mantel here in front of me:
an empty spool, alabaster cat, glaringly
red and white, a piece of crystal of peculiar
shape upon the farthermost corner. And
near it, SO close that at first it seemed part of
it, was queer little ivory god sitting upon his
launches, grinning hideously.
% lifted the ivory image and examined it
curiousy. 1t was real enough. l had stepped
back from the mantel pace to let the fire.
light fall upon it, when suddenly knew that
the old man had returned. l didn't hear him,
hadn't seen him. merely knew he was
there. felt it. l slipped the little image into
my pocket involuntarily as l turned; for all
my interest was instantly transferred to tray
of food which the old man carried. l remem-
bered l was hungry.
He placed the things upon the table in the
same ghostly silence. There was a jug of
milk, some jelly, little pat of butter, and sew
eral biscuits. went forward and thanked him.
He was absolutely impassive, seeing nothing,
hearing nothing, and seeming to have no con-
nection with the things around him. He didn't
invite me to eat,-1 assumed that privilege
and gingerly poked a finger into biscuit 1t
felt like a biscuit 1 bit it; it tasted like a
biscuit. In fact, am convinced to this day
that it was biscuit. And against the reality
of that biscuit was the silent old man and his
ghostly tread.
Real, or unreal the food was refreshing
and good, and l fell to with a will. The old
man sat down in a rocker by the fire and folded
his hands in his lap. l ventured remark
about the storm. He didn't answer. l really
had not expected that he would. The modest
supper brought tingle to my blood again.
My rioting nerves were Gained, the room cozy,
the fire comfortable. l was beginning to en-
joy this singular experience; but an occasional
glance at the swaying rocker where the old
man sat by the fire kept expectation on the
qui vive. The rocker swayed dismally, but
without the slightest sound.
THE warmth the food and nv utter ex-