The Huttig news., 1908-10-17

set off again for Maitland Manor. trudging heavily but at a round pace through the dust that soon settled upon the damp cloth of his trousers legs and completed their ruination But Maitland was beyond being dis turhed by such trihes. A wounded vanity engaged his sol'citude to the exclusion of all other interests.
 A the end of 45 minutes he had covered the remaining distance be. tween Greenfield station and Maitland Manor For five minutes more he strode wearilv over the side path by he box hedge which set aside his ances- tral acres from the public highway At length. with an exclamation he paused at the first opening in the living bar rier: wide entrance from which a blue stene carriage drive wound away to the house. invisible in the waning licht, situate in the shelter Of the rove of trees that studded the lawn
 Gasoline, Brrri" said Maitland. shuddering and shivering with the combination of nause2us ndor and the nights cooluess--the latter by now making itself as unpleasantly promj nent as tho former
 Though he hated the smell with all his heart. maufully inconsistent he raised his head. snifIing the air for further evidence: and got his reward in siekening gust
 Tank leaked" he commented with brevity Quart of the stuff must have triekled out right here. Ugh! If it goes on at this rate. therell be another breakdown before she gets home" And. Serve her right, tool" he growled, vindictive
 But for all his indignation he ac knowledged sneaking wish that he might he at hand again, in such event. second time to give gratuitous serv- ice to his gray lady.
 Analyzing this frame of mind (not without surprise and some disdain of him who weekly entertained iD he crossed the drive and struck in over the lawn, shaping his course direct for the front entrance of the house.
 Ky dead reckoning the hour was two. or something later; and chill was stealing in upon the land. waited gently southward from Long Island sound All the world beside himself seemed to slumber. breathless. in sensate. Wraithlike, gray shreds of mist drifted between the serred boles of trees, or, rising, yelled the moons wan and palid face, that now was low upon the horizon. In silent rivalry long and velyet-black shadows skulked across the ample breadths of dew. drenched grass. Somewhere a bird stirred on it's unseen perch chirping sleepily; and in the rapt silence the inconsiderable interruption broke with startling stress
 In time-not long-the house lifted into view; a squat rambling block of homegrown architecture with little 10 tions and it's comfort. At the edge of the woods the lord and master paused indefinitely, with little purpose, sur. veying idly the pale. celumned facade. quo wondering whether or not his en- trance at that ungodly hour would rouse the staff of house ser-aats If it did not--he contemplated with mild amusement the prospect of their sur prise when, morning come. they should find the owner in occupation
 Zimmerman was right" he con ceded; any
 The syllables died upon his lips; his gaze became fixed; his heart thumrel wildly for an instant. then rested still and instinctively he held his breath, tip-toeing to the edge of the veranda the better to command a view of the library windows.
 These opened from ceiling to floor and should hy right have presented to his vision a blank expanse of dark glass. But. oddly enough, even while thinking of his lawyers warning. he had faneied An" said Maitland. softly
 l disk of white light. perhaps a foot or IS inches in diameter. had fitted swiftly across the glass and vanished
 ''Ah, ah, The devil the devil ' murmured the young man uncon- seiously.
 athwart the inner wall of the room and was lest as abruptly as before. On impulse Maitland buttoned his top coat across his chest, turning up the