Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-03

buggy. I pulled the horse into as much
shelter possible under the trees and
we got out. HOtchkisS tied the beast and
| we left him there, head down against the
driving rain. dropping and detected. Then
we went toward the house.
1t was long walk. The path bent and
twisted. and now and then we lost 1t. We
were climbing as we went Oddly there
| We're no lights ahead. although. 1t was
only 10 o'clock-not later. Hotchkiss kept
a little ahead of me. knocking into trees
now and then, but finding the path in
| half the time L should have taken. Once.
| as l felt my way around a tree in the
blackness. | put my hand unexpectedly
| on his shoulder and felt a shudder go
down my back.
| "What do you expect me to dor he
| protested. when l 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 shoulder, and we listened to-
gether.- warily. The steps We're close by,
unmistakabe The next flash of light
ming showed nothing moving: the house
was In full view now, dark and uninvit-
ing. looming huge above a terrace with
an Italian garden at the side. Then the
blackneSs again. Somebody's teeth We're
chatterinS; | accused Hotchkiss. but he
denied it.
Although I'm not very comfortable,
III admit he confessed; there was
something breathing right at my elbow
here A moment ago.
NONSENSE" | took his elbow and
steered him in what made out to be the
direction of the steps of the Italian gar
den. 4 saw a deer just ahead by the
last flash: 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 had in the park
gradually left US Stumbling over flower
beds. running afou of a Sun-dial, cropping
our way savagely along hedges and
thorny banks. we reached the steps final
ly and climbed the terrace.
1t was then that Iiotchkiss fell over
one of the two stone urns which. wit II
, tall lockwood trees In them, mounted
guard at each side of the door. He didn' I
make any attempt to get mp. He sat
III puddle on the brick floor of the ter
race and clutched his leg and swore soft
~ in government English.
, The occa SiUnal relief of the lightning
the house before me. We had no matches,
and an instant's investigation showed
that the windows were boarded and the
house closed. Hotchkiss, still recumbent,
was ascertaining the damage, tenderly
peeling down his stocking.
Upon my SOUL he said. finally. Il
don't know whether this moisture is blood
or rain. | think I've broken a bone
Blood is thicker than water. / sug-
gested is it sticky? See if you can
move your toes.
There was a pause; liotchkiss moved
his toes. BY that time | had found a
knocker and was making the night hid
eous. But there was no response save
the wind that blew sodden leaves ders-
lively In our faces. Once Hotchkiss de-
clared he heard window sash lifted,
but renewed violence with the knocker
produced no effect.
finally. III go back and try to bring
the buggy up for you. You can't walk.
can you?
Hotchkiss sat back in his puddle and
said he didn't think he could stir, but
for me 10 go back to town and leave him.
that he didn't have any family dependent
on him, and that if he was going to have
pneumonia he had probably got it al
ready. / left him there and started back
to get the horse
If possible it was worse than before.
There was no lightning. and only by a
miracle did 1 find the little gate again.
I drew long breath of relief. followed
by another, equally long, of dismay. For
l had found the hitching strap and there
was nothing at the end Of it! In lull
of the wind I seemed to hear. far off. the
eager thud of stable-bound feet. So for
the second time l climbed the slope to the
LaurelS, and on the way l thought OF
many things to say.
/ struck the house at a new angle. for
I found a veranda, destitute of chairs
and furnishings. but dry and evidently
rooted. 1t was better than the terrace.
and SO. by cropping along the wall. tried
to make my way to Hotchkiss. That
was how l found the open window. l
had passed perhaps six. all closed and
to have my hand grope for the next one.
and to find instead the soft drapery of
an inner curtain, was startling, to say
the least.
ITO be continued tnmorroX.l