Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1909-05-22

TOunQ curve clOakeQ Dy Dolt OF
somber pines. left him quite alone in
the world, cast ruthlessly upon his
own resources.
An hour had elapsed; it was now
midnight; the moon rode high, a cold
white disk against a background of
sapphire velvet, its pelIucid rays re-
vealing with disheartening distinct
ness the inanimate and 1ightless road
side hamlet called Greenfields; its gen.
eral store and postoffice, its soi-disant
hotel, its struggling line of dilapidated
habitations, all wrapped in silence pro
found and fmpenetrable. Not even q
dog howled; not a belated villager was
in sight; and it was a moral certainty
that the local livery service had closed
down for the night.
Nevertheless, Maitland, with q
desperation bred of the prospective
hve-mile tramp, spent some ten val
liable minutes hammering upon the
door of the house infested by the pro-
prietor of the livery stable. He sue
ceeded only in waking the dog, and
inasmuch as he was not on friendly
terms with that animal, presently
withdrew at discretion and set his face
northwards upon the open road.
1t stretched before him inviting1y
enough, a ribbon winding silver-white
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 to circulate more briskly in his
veins, Maitland became aware that he
was actually enjoying the enforced ex-
ercise. 1t could have been hardly
otherwise, with night SO sweet, with
airs so bland and fragrant of the woods
and fresh-turned earth, with so clear
a light to show him his way.
He stepped out briskly at first,
swinging his stick and watching his
shadow, a squat, incredibly agitated
silhouette in the golden dust. But
gradually and insensibly the peaceful
influence of that still and lovely hour
tempered his hearts impatience; and
he found himself walking at pace
more leisurely. After all, there was
no hurry; he was unwearied, and Matt
land Manor lay less than five miles
distant.
Thirty minutes passed; he had not
covered third of the way, yet re-
NAMED content. By well-remembered
landmarks, he knew he must be near
ing the little stream called, by courtesy,
Mayannis river; and, in due course, he
SIOpD0Q OUT upon the long WOOQ0n SCIuC-
ture that spans that water. He was
close upon the farther end when
upon hapchance 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-deep in the shallow wa
tiers, was motor car; and it, beyond
dispute, was identical with that which
had occupied his thoughts on the ferry
boat. Less wonderful, perhaps, but to
him amazing enough, it was to dis
cover upon the drivers seat the girl
in gray.
His brain benumbed beyond further
capacity for establishment, he accepted
without demur this latest and most as
founding of the chain of amazing CO
incidences which had thus far enliv-
ened the nights earlier hours; and
stood rapt in silent contemplation,
sensible that the girl had been I'M
aware of his approach, deadened as
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, evil
IDENTIFY lost in reverie, and momen-
tarily, at least, unconscious of the en-
UdTTdSSlHS WHICH was
hers. So complete, indeed, seemed her
abstraction that Maitland caught him.
self questioning the reality of her.
And we'll might she have
seemed to him pale little wrath of
the night, the simmer of gray that
she made against the simmer of light
on the water-a shape almost trans
parent, slight, and unSubstantial-
seeming to contemplate, and as still
as any mouse.
Looking more attentively, it became
evident that her veil was now raised.
This was the first time that he had
seen her so. But her countenance re-
manned so deeply Swallowed by the
visor of mannish motoring cap that
the most searching scrutiny gained no
more than dim and scantily satisfac-
tory impression of alluring loneliness.
Maitland turned noiseless1y, rested
elbows on the rail, and, staring,
framed a theory to account for her
position, if not for her patience.
On either hand the road, dividing,
struck off at tangent, down the
banks and into the river bed. 1t was
credible to presume that the girl had
lost control of the machine temporari-
ly and that it, taking the bit between
it's teeth, had swung gayly down the
incline to its bath.
Why she fingered there, however,
was less patent. The water, as has
been indicated, was some inches below
the tonneau; it did not seem reason
able to assume that it should have in