Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-20
CHAPTER w.
Who Horsford Was.

The village of Wlnton lies on a neck OF
land that curves around like a bent fore.
finger pointing oceanward. On one side
the surf pounds upon a stony beach al
the foot Of a stretch of marsh; on the
other side. across the tiny bay. lies the
county seat Of Beverly. The main stree,
follows the curve Of the land from the
lighthouse on the point well back on the
neck; and there. in neighborly proxim-
| ity. one finds church and post office
shops and homes.
Where the buildings begin to straggle
away from one another at the north end
of the street, the road makes a sudden
turn to the left to within hundred yards
of the bay. then northward again for half
a mile. until it appears to he stopped by
the grilled iron gates at the main en-
trance to Overlook. AS a matter of fact,
the last two hundred feet Of this road is
simply an approach TO the main drive to
the villa. which stands upon q bluff look
ing toward Beverly, while the high road
continues with a flourish to the right, on
the other side OF a small triangle of
woods.
The sun. red and uncompromisingly hot.
was sinking into a line OF sullen gray
clouds at the horizon when / stepped
from the train that August evening and
looked about me.
An uncommonly attractive girl. who
had attracted and held my covert in
| terest during the trip and who left the
car while 1 was struggling with a strap
on my suit case, had vanished, and she
and l appeared to have been the only
passengers deposited at the little station.
| On the farther side of the tracks the
marsh stretched in uninterrupted desola-
ton to the very sun itself Ii seemed. The
| rails gistened in long. curving line to
the left, and the train that had brought
me became diminishing object soon lost
to sight. From the marsh came the
monotonous croak OF frogs and the cry
A chill Of loneliness swept over me.
and I turned with an involuntary shud-
der to find myself face to face with an
odd-looking old man. who stood in the
face was as innocent Of hair as q new
born babes. but brown and scanned with
countless lines. He wore a wig OF pale
brown hair score OF years too young
for him, and his eyes. small and shrewd
and blue, met mine with an amused
twinkle.
Purity scen'ry." he volunteered, cheer
fully, with a wave of his hand toward
the desolate marshland.
ITO be sure. Can you tell me how far
Overlook is from here?'
The old man looked me over curiously
Overlook" he repeated. Wall, L
guess I can, but p'raps you don't know
there amt nobody Twin at Overlook now
but the farmer
Eyes: / do know. 1t is the farmer I
want to see.''
"Ho. Wall, it's consid able WAYS
out there"
.Ts there any one about here who will
drive me OUT?
Wall, my boy Hankll have to take
We il 1 say so, an IL We dom mind waitin
round till We can hitch up
Thank you. l will wait. l dare say
il will not take long?'
min 60 Try,,
ton agent here. an I'm going TO shet up
fer the night. That was the last train
till tomorrer mornin'. DON mind COM
in. cross the road to my house. d We
while we fix We out with a rig?''
mo; I will 60.
We took a few steps In silence. Then
the old man looked up at me, curiosity
oyerrunning every feature.
my names John Hutton he said.
mine is Bliss l responded.
cQood. Ye're from " Yo'k. s'ppose
"Yes."
Hum, Wall. there's my house." He