The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-05-26
CHAPTER XVI (Continued) .

~ rs going 60 storm. Wen need
mackintoshes: they're in the
hall closet. And Wen walk The
Beau Gallant would be unsafe If
this storm should hit us while we are
out on the water, you know"
But what's the matter with horse
and Buggy
Wed have 10 wake the servants to
get One-and a niger sleeps like dead
man; WC have no end of trouble.
Then they might tell Esther, and L
don't want to bother he--
Come along. Luke he concluded
persuasiveiy and cOrsolinsly. II 5
only a trifie over three miles: the walk
Will do you good. Wen go armed and
raise all manner Of Cain with that spec
ter II he tries TO interfere, and-and 1 m
going alone If you won't come with me-
That settled it. 50 far as / was con-
cerned. The man was blind as bat,
no more 1T To be trusted alone at night
than d child If he would go, then
must ]. But III admit that 1 would
rather have taken a bright sunshiny
morning for the Job.
A three-mile tramp on a stormy
night, with a blOOd-CUrdliug. hair-raiS-
ing family ghost exhibition at the other
end OF the journey did not strongly ap-
peal to my sense of enjoyment
But l said no more, and busted NY
self with a brace Of reyOlvers, which
oiled and carefully loaded, while Fara-
day got out couple of raincoats and
old hats.
The wind is freshening,' he said
coolly enough, and II I'm a weather
prophet. well have a first rate gale on
our hands by morning. Itu stir up
these shallow waters in great shape,
and the view from the shell road viii
be inspiring and grand, Luke. You il
I'D take greater pleasure in watch
ing II from the window here. or the
lawn l grunted. But IL you're dead
set on man and ghost nunt, come
along with yOu-insane person."
He eXtingUished the lamp, and we
IlpJoed out OF the house, making as
little EoiSe as possible, the better not
10 awaken Esther.
And once embarked on this mad 1aunt.
l actually found myself taking con-
SIDERABLE pleasure in It. Perhaps I was
infeCyed by Faraday's own wild humor
to- apparently the prospect of action
had made him drunk as with wine-but
1 believe that II was the spirit Of the
night. mbued as # was with the tenn
per o. the coming storm
Coming Say, rather, that storm whose
vende,tss We're already upon US
As We passed down the lawn OF the
SDotSWOOd place and swung on TO the
Shell road the breeze rose RAPIDLY.
swinging the trees to strange music and
running the Sound waters into an &C.
stasy OF Whltecaps. The cloud-band in
the west was now reaching well-nigh
to the zenith, and as We faced the wind
TIE. moonlight was finally extinguished
and we were left in a darkness so absO-
lutte as 10 be appalling.
Rut he next moment the sky was
rent with a streak Of lightning so vivid
tor the Dilef space as 10 show US
clearly the heavy drops OF rain squirt
ing up he dust along the roadside.
Then came blackness complete once
more, and the grinding roar Of thunder.
Thus We plOWed along faces resp
lutely set in the winds teeth and both
hands employed with the task Of re-
tanning out hats in their proper places,
now walking into darkness. now advanc.
ing IN the super-brilliant glare from
the skies.
Believe me. we took more than pleas
IRE In the unequal contest with the ris-
Inc gale. Even when the heavens
retcl ed thUnderously, and the drench-
ing rain began 10 fall in steamins
clouds there was a certain unearthly
1cv in keeping on ones way and feet
against such overwhelming odds.
Faraday turned 70 me and shouted