The Jackson herald., 1910-11-24

| tne DeaSt ana we le1t MIN tnere, neao
down against the driving rain, droop-
ing and detected. Then we went
toward the house.
| II was long walk. The path bent
and twisted. and now and then we lost
1t. We were climbing as we went.
Oddly there were no lights ahead, al.
though It was only ten o'clock-not
later. Hotchkiss kept little ahead
OF me. knocking into trees nov and
then. but finding the path in half the
time I should have taken. Once, as
| felt my way around a tree in the
blackness, I put my hand unexpected.
| ly on his shoulder and felt shudder
go do~n my back.
| What do you expect me 10 do?" he
protested, when I demonstrated. Hang
out red lantern? What was that?
| Listen"
We both stood peering into the
gloom. The sharp patter Of the rain
on leaves had ceased and from just
ahead there came back to us the
stealthy padding OF feet in wet soil.
My hand closed on Hotchkiss' shoul.
der and we listened together, warily.
The steps were close by, unmistak.
able. The next fash OF lightning
showed nothing moving: the house
was In full view now, dark and unin.
viting, looming huge above terrace,
with an Italian garden at the side.
Then the blackness again. Some
body's teeth were chattering: I ac.
cused Hotchkiss but he denied II.
Although I'm not very comfortable.
I'll admit" he confessed; there was
something breathing right at my ell.
bow here moment ago"
'Nonsense!" I took his elbow and
steered him in what made out to be
the direction Of the steps of the Ital.
ian garden. 81 saw a deer Just ahead
by the last fash; that's what you
heard. By Jove. hear wheels"
We paused to listen and Hotchkiss
put his hand on something close to
us. Here's your deer" he said.
Bronze"
As we neared the house the sense
Of surveillance we had in the park
gradually left us. Stumbling over
flower beds, running a6rel OF a sun.
dial, cropping our way savagely along
hedges and thorny banks, we reached
the steps finally and climbed the ter.
race.
II was then that Hotchkiss fell over
one Of the two stone urns which, with
tall lockwood trees in them, mounted
guard at each side Of the door. He
didn't make any attempt to get up.
He sat in puddle on the brick floor
OF the terrace and clutched his leg
and swore softly in government Eng.
lish
The occasional relief OF the light.
ming was gone. could not see an
outline Of the house before me. We
had no matches and an instant's in
vestigation showed that the windows
were boarded and the house closed.
Hotchkiss, still recumbent, was ascer-
tanning the damage, tenderly peeling
down his stocking.
Upon my soul" he said finally, 81
don't know whether this moisture is
blood or rain. / think I've broken a
bone"
blood is thicker than water" !
| buSbeSt'u. 10 IL SUNNY Scc IL yOu
can move your toes"
There was a pause: Hotchklss
moved his toes. BY that time l had
found knocker and was making the
night hileous. But there was no re-
sponse save the wind that blew sod
den leaves derisiyely in our faces
Once Hotchkiss declared he heard a
window sash lifted, but renewed VIC
lence with the knocker produced nc
effect.
There's only one thing to do"
said, finally. "Fll go back and try tC
bring the buggy up for you. You cam
walk, can your"
Hotchliss sat back in his puddle
and said he didn't think he could stir
but for me to go back to town ant
leave him, that he didn't have any
family dependent on him and that 4
he was going to have pneumonia HI
had probably got it already. ! lef
him there and started back to get ;
horse.
II possible, Il was worse than be
: fore. There was no lightning ant
= only by a miracle did I find the littl,
gate again. drew long breath o
: relief, followed by another, equal!
: long, of dismay. For / had found tn,
:, hitching strap and there was nothing
!, at the end of 1t! In lull OF the wine
l seemed to hear, far off, the eagel
thud of stable-bound feet. So for the
second time / climbed the slope t.
: the Laurels and on the way thought
L of many things to say.
struck the house at a new angle
for l found a veranda, destitute o.
! = chairs and furnishings, but dry ant
4 evidently rooted. 1t was better thar
the terrace, and so, by cropping alont
the wall, / tried to make my way Il
Hotchkiss. That was how ! found the
|, open window. ! had passed perhaps
i six, all closed, and to have my hanC
: grope for the next one and to find in