The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1908-03-24

an old friend. He was a fine. manly
young fellow, general favorite, and
just engaged to his colonels daugh-
ter. Miss Cynthia Langley.
You must be beloved of the gods.
Harold L said, laughing. as we were
sitting one morning smoking on the
Veranda. You seem to have every
'hing your own way. Fortune is
showering all her good gifts on you. "
'Unberufen." he cried, gayly.
Don't you know it is unwise to re-
mind the gods OF their favors lest
they take them away? I'm deuced
lucky chap, as you say'-by the way
his eyes softened 1 knew he was
thinking of Miss Langley-"I only
nope 1t isn't too good to last"
was surprised at the touch of
uneasiness in his tone at the last
words, but l knew enough of human
nature to understand that fear and
anxiety for the woman he loves NAV
trouble man without reason, though
ne would face real danger to himself
without Qualm.
fou are growing superstitious." I
said. You have been in India long
enough to have lost some of your
British stolidity and gained a little
imagination.
Perhaps. You know a good many
curious things. Have you ever heard
OF The Midnight Ax?'" he asked, af-
ter moment. abruptly.
No" | said in surprise; what do
you mean?"
They have a superstition in this
part that ii YOU hear the sound Of
strokes in the night, as though some
one were telling trees. it is a warm
ing OF coming evil. The natives say
that this noise cometh about the
time of the first sleep, when all men
slumber soundly, and the night is
still Well, 1 woke up suddenly last
highland heard it,"
He spoke in a half shamefaced
way, as though he expected to be
laughed at, but l could see he was
unpleasantly impressed himself.
'Nonsense!" 1 said, thinking the
sooner he sot rid of such fancy the
better. AS you know the legend.
any noise that disturbed YOU outside
In the night would be likely to take
the sound OF telling trees in your
ears"
Il have never heard it before" he
answered quietly. And then he he
gan at once to speak of other things.
He did not refer to the subject at
any future time, and as l did not see
him look troubled again, but, on the
contrary, he seemed to be enjoying
his life to the full, concluded the
uncomfortable presentiment had not
returned and was forgotten.
L was convalescent, and thinking
or starting on the first stage of my
Journey home, when a traveller set
up his camp in our neighborhood.
he appeared to be person of i'm
portance, as he had quite a large
retinue OF servants. Some of the
officers soon made his acquaintance.
and we learned that his name was
Jerome Burton, and that he had been
living up country, out of reach of
civilization, for some years.
This would explain various peculi-
arities in the appearance and mode
OF living which struck one as strange
in wealthy young Englishman trav-
cling for pleasure, as he gave himself
out to be.
There's something funny about
that chap, Harold" 1 said, when we
met Mr.. Burton riding into the
Colonels compound one evening. II
can't quite make him out"
Is there?" he answered, careless
~. I haven't noticed It, You know.
sir mischievously, you have been
Investigating so many queer things
all your life that you may be inclined
TO give little dramatic coloring to
quite ordinary people and situa-
tions."
! laughed at the gibe.
My habit of looking under the
surface has saved my life more than
once when l have had only myself
to depend on" / said "And In this
country more than in any other I
have FOUND it true that things are
very seldom what they seem. OF
| course, you will say it is my magma
ton again, but once or twice / have
faneied that this man Burton and
have met before"
Well, ] suppose that is not i'm
possible, considering how you have
roamed the world. and he also seems
bit OF a traveller"
Yes, but that is just what puzzles
me. / cannot place him; don't
know where he belongs in the past
Though his face appears familiar.
have no idea where 1 can have seen
him"
in previous existence. perhaps"
Harold said, laughing lightly.
NO" / answered. taking him seri-
ously. within the last year. and
In this country He belongs here
without a doubt. by inclination and
1abit, IL not ~ birth, though I should
be ileiined to say he had some In
dian blood i'm his veins. To IS not
only his dark complexion - that
might come from exposure to the
sun-but his manner TO women and
various other little things are dis
tinctly un-English. Haven't you no
ticod it?"
Yes" nc said more graveIy. "T
don't like tho fellow any better than
you do"
'I wonder the Colonel has him go
much at his place" ] ventured. AT
ter all, We know very little about
him. lie brought no credentials"
Except his mouey-bags," sharply.