The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-10-25
THE ALTENbURG CASE
Bv GEORGE DIRE ELDR1DGE
COPYRIGHT. 1sos BY GEORGE DYRE ELDRIDGE

station. This struck Grimbleshaw as fortunate, and he began to credit Mrs. Calden with planning the time shrewd- ly.
 In a few minutes they were in the
 open country. passing the last houses
 on the river road. Then Grimbleshaw, watching the horse get down to work | with an air of endurance, asked: How far?''
 Ten miles, she whispered. as if fearful of her own ears. Turn into the lane at the old Thurlow place. this side the Brentwood road
 At the top of the long hill she laid her hand on his arm. warmingly. Give me the lines,'' she whispered. then. when I drive fast, raise the lantern and look behind quick, He tried to obey exactly, but as he held up the light he was not quick enough in turning. A weight seemed | to drop in turning. A weight seemed to drop from the back of the sleigh.
 and he distinctly heard thud as something struck the ground. He | sprang up, at the risk of pitching headlong, since she did not slacken
 pace. but. if anything. increased it. Dark as it was the lantern threw a half light far enough so that he saw what appeared the shadow of a man pick himself up from the road. Then
 it disappeared in the darkness and
 distance.
 ''He was waiting when we turned
 into the river road,'' she explained "He came up the lower hill on foot | hut H.
 as we reached the level at the top.'' l .'Who knew that you were coming for me?" Grimbleshaw asked.
 "Oh. Trafford. probably. At least. l that's the way it looks
 | The sense that it did look that way
 hung heavy over Grimbleshaw. Here's the Thurlow place where we turn,' he admonished.
 Oh she explained. t'that was For
 his benefit. We don't turn till mile
 this side of Brentwood. unless you go
 through the woods''
 ''He isn't at the camp at Mystic
 Pond. is he?" he exclaimed. That's
 where Miss Judith must have come
 from when I saw her in Braxton's
 woods" T suppose it's been folly thinking
 we could keep the secret. He'd have
 been safer at the house. only he 1 wouldn't hear to it, not for a single hour'
 Its a fearfully lonesome place at
 this time of year. Mrs. Calden.''
 "He isn't counting publicity just
 now" she replied. curtly.
 "No, but while certain men are ex-s pecting him to be in hiding I don't think this loneliness adds to his se- eurity. I'm sure. as you say. he'd be
 safer with you"
 T wish you'd tell him so.s she said. eagerly.
 "It's scarcely my place as a physi- elan to suggest he's not safe any
 where.'' replied Grimbleshaw.
 "But as physician you can say
 he's better off with us than in this
 deary camp. and then. if he raises the
 question of danger
 "Oh, yes,'' cried Grimbleshaw. eager ly,, '1 could, do that very properly.'' When they turned from the dense
 woods into the little clearing on the lake shore the moon had risen, and beyond the rim of blackness the sur
 rounding treas made. the open space was bright with moonlight or black | with clear-cut shadows. A half dozen
 rude log shacks. stretching along the
 carved line of the lake. composed the camp. As Grimb1eshaw's eyes glanced from hut to hut he gave slight start, un- i distinguishable by his companion from the jolting of the rough track as he caught what impressed him at first as moving shadow. At a second glance a head seemed to be thrust for ward. as if turned toyard them. When | it fell again he strained his eyes. half inclined to believe himself deceived. During the time required for the horse and sleigh to go a half dozen times their own length there was no move l ment. Then something like a fox or dog darted across the moonlit space into the circling shadow of the trees. It all happened so quickly and was, withal. so uncertain. that Grimbleshaw almost persuaded himself it was a mere figment of the brain or trick of the eyesight: but somewhere in his | consciousness was doubt. and out of doubt was evolved the idea that just as the creature reached the shadow it assumed an upright position. and for the fraction of a second had the ap- pearance of man. Involuntarily his l mind turned to the mental picture that stories of were-wolves had produced | Still the whole thing was so without substance as to produce the feeling | that he must either abandon it alto
 gether or find evidence to it's con- | firmation. Tentatively he sought this | in the suggestion that if the cabin where he had located the phantasy proved to be the one where Calden was hidden then he would accept it that he had seen a watching man: otherwise. not. For the moment he overlooked the chances that if an
 animal was hunting about the clearing for food he would more probably find | it near an inhabited cabin than other | wise. He had barely determined his | test when Mrs. Calden. who was still ! driving. stopped the horse before the very cabin he was watching. He noted at the same time that in spite of care a slightest pencil of light showed about