The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-08-05

| down aisle and car stops just IN the
nick OF time. The train. whiskins
round a curve cloaked by q belt OF
somber pines. left him quite alone IN
the world. cast ruthlessly upon his
own resources.
An hour had elapsed; n was nov
midnight: the moon rode high. q cold
white disk against . background Of
sapphire velvet. lis pellucid rays 70
vealirg with disheartening distinct
ness the inanimate and llghtless road
side hamlet called Greenhelds: Its gen.
eral store and pcstoffice It's soi.dissnt
hotel. It's struggling line Of dilapidated
habit ations. all wrapped in silence pro
found and impenetrable. Not even
dos howled; not n belated villager was
In sight; and u was a moral certainty
that the local livery service had closed
down for the night.
Nevertheless, Maitland. with .
desperation bred Of the prospective
fve.mile tramp spent some ten val
liable minutes hammering upon tho
door OF the house infested by the pro
prietor Of tho livery stable. lie sue
ceeded only In waking the dog. and
inasmuch as he was not on friendly
terms with that animal. presently
withdrew az discretion and set his face
northwards upon the open road.
II stretched before him invitlnsly
enough. a ribbon winding sllver.vhite
between dark patches OF pine and
scrub.oak or fields lush with rustling
corn and wheat. And, having over
come his primary disgust. as the blood
began 10 circulate more briskiy In his
veins. Maitland became aware that he
was actually enjoying the enforced er
ercise. II could have been hardly
otherwise. with a night so sweet. with
airs 80 bland and fragrant OF the woods
and fresh.turned earth. with 80 clear
n light to show him his way.
lie stepped out briskly at first
swinging his stick and watching his
shadow. a squat. Incredibly agitated
silhouette In the golden dust but
gradually and insenslbly tho peaceful
influence OF that stiil and lovely hour
tempered his hearts impotence; and
he found himself walking at Q pace
more lelsurcly. After all. there was
no hurry. he was unwearied. and Malt.
land Manor lay less thAn ave miles
distant.
Thirty minutes passed: he hsd not
covered = third OF the way. yet 70
NAMED content by well-rcmembered
landmarks. he knew he must be near
ing the little stream called. by courtesy,
Msyannis river: and. In due course. be
stepped out upon the long wooden struo.
ture that spans that water lie was
close upon the farther end when
upon a hapehance impulse--he glanced
over the nearest guard rail down at
the bed OF the creek. And stopped In.
continently. gaping.
Stationary in the middle OF the de-
| preston, hub-dcep In the shallow VA.
tiers. was a motor car: aud II. beyond
dispute. was identical with that which
had occupied his thoughts on the ferry
boat Less wonderful. perhaps. but 10
him amazing enough. Il was TO dis
cover upon the drivers seat the girl
In gray.
Ills brain benumbed beyond further
capacity for establishment. he accepted
without demur this latest and most as
founding OF the chain Of amazing CO
medicines which had thus far emily.
sned the nights earlier hours; and
stood rapt In silent contemplation.
sensible that the girl had been un.
aware OF hts approach, deadened az
his footsteps must have been by the
blanket OF dust that carpeted both
road and bridge deep and thick.
On her part she sat motionless. evi.
IDENTIFY lost in reyerie. and momsn
tarily. at least. unconscious OF the en-.
barrassing predlcament which was
hers. so complete. indeed. seemed hei
abstraction that Maitland caught him.
self questioning the reality OF her
|. And well might she have
seemed to him a pale little wrath OF
the night. tks snlmmer OF gray that
she made against the simmer OF light
on the water--a shape almost trans
parent. slight and unsabstantial--
seeming to contemplate. and AS still
as any mouse.
Looking more attentively, II became
evident that her veil was now raised.
This was the FIRST time that he had
seen her so. But her countenancs 70
mained so deeply shadowed by the
visor OF mannish motoring cap that
the most searching scrutiny gained no
more than a dim and scantily satisfao
tory impression OF alluring loveliness.
Maitland turned nolselessly, rested
elbows on the rail. and. staring.
framed a theory TO account for her
position. II not for her patience.
On either hand the road. dividing.
struck on at tangent. down the
banks and into the river bed. II was
credible to presume that the girl had
lost control OF the machine temporarL
ly and that II, taking the bit between
It's teeth. had swung gayly down the
Incline 10 its bath.
Why she fingered there, however.
| was less patent. The water, as has