The Cairo bulletin., 1909-12-18


same noises. the same smells, the
same wines, almost the same women
and no song at all worth hearing.
have mind TO chuck ii all and go out
into Gods country, out into the sub
urbs"
With Hickson to think was to act
and this is how it happened that the
good people of Horton Hollow were
curious almost to crucial point of the
he antecedents and personality of the
lapper young society man who came
mong them so reservedly to superiu
tend the construction of pretty
Queen Anne cottage on Lake Shadows
That he was a veritable catch was
Don agreed upon by the spisters, but
low to break his reserve and teach
i'm to worship at the feet of Aphro
lite was a difficult problem. For be.
ides admitting to Amos Squircs, the
busman, that he was not married.
dickson had met the perseveriEg ad,
vances of the natives with q stern
rigidity.
There amt blessed woman that
in git within gun shot o him." com
lained Mirandy Hodges, "exceptin'
Marty Brown--an she amt interested
n nothn' but raisin money fer a new
parsonage fer that new preacher an
his stuck-up wife"
At last the cottage was finished and
Hickson selected his furniture and
fittings. On the goth of December II
was ready. With a glad heart he rode
gayly homeward from the city and
slipping the key into the lock- stepped
into the nest that was to be the heart
of his simple life. The evening was
spent in gloating over his new toy
and even though 1t did seem strange
ly quiet and lonely, Hicksons spirits
ware so light the JOY bulb stood high
in the glass tube of pleasure.
But solitude wears on the best Of
us after a time, and to Harrison
Honeywell Hickson, Injured to clattel
and bang and the busy whirl of socie-
ty, the continued silence fell like q
pail.
"Of course, could get married,
sighed Hickson, as he sat on the edg=
of his bed and pondered THAT would
help some and-no" shaking his head
determinedly, mo laces and tantrums
for mine"
Satisfied in his decision, he lay
down to sleep.
Then, all at once there entered that
vacuum of stiffness, strange and sin
ster, the cracking of veneered
Joint. the settling Of beam AS Hick
son sat bolt upright in bed, he dis
'inctly heard a sound as of running
water Dashing madly down the
tairs he found a leaking water pipe
md what was worse, he discovered
hat the hotwater plant was simply
boiling its head off, The servants had
rot yet arrived, but Hickson managed
0 check the furnace and turn off the
water Then he returned to bed
Suddenly hoot-owl set up his weirc
Hall, the soughing wind whistled with
epulchral meaning, misguided cock
1istaking the bright moonlight for
morning awoke and set up an unearth
" din. while a pair Of stray cats
Meeting in sanguinary combat under
he west window, added to the hor
'ible intensity of the night
When he bounded out Of bed, Hick
,on was a determined man. He looked
t his watch and then at his time
able. Thirty minutes later a dark
orm scurried through the shadows OF
he shaded street and dashed madly
10 to the three o'clock train as Il
,uffed and snorted at Horton Hollow
The next day, Martha Brown, sweet
vhite-haired. mothcrly Martha Brown,
nccived a letter. 1t said.
Afy dear Miss Brown: | have decided tc
urprs 80 YOU by making your church a
hristmas present of my Queen Anne
ottage My man viii deliver the keys
o-morrow 1t is furnished complete and
hope that sweet-faced little wife Of the
reacher win not find an old haChelors
lsies too broad for her sanction have
lways wanted to do some good in the
yorid-and by presenting the cottage
n meremly gratifying myself Please
cept the Gift without demonstration
beg tn remain humbly yoLrs,
.ARRISON HONEYWELL H1CKSON.
That night on State street Hickson
bowling swell, walked gaily in the
fare of the lights in the heart of tho