The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-05-28
BY
Louis Joseph Vance
Llthor OF The Black Book and
The Brass Bowl"

I much, although ] admit that 1 wasn't
very keen 70 follow a lone trail
Danger lurked in the precincts OF that
| mysterious mansion. was convinced
| and since the matter must be probed, II
was plain enough 10 me that 1 was the
man who must probe IL Faraday was
| impossible: I couldn't abide the thought
! Of harm coming 10 him, or of the re-
sultant sorrow that would come 10 Es-
Their.
SO I struggled the dark lantern into
my room very neatly. I prided myself.
and annexed one Of F'araday's revolvers
10 take the place Of those which by
now We're ruSIlng TO ruin on the desc
late little sand key out in the sound.
There was no trouble about doing
that, either; Faraday and old DR.. Spots
wood had kept quite an interesting lit
tie arsenal, i found.
one other little thing ! did, and that
was 10 SScrete In my room a pair Of
Z tennis shoes which l had seen in Fara-
days clothes closet. L had a notion
mat LhlS Mr.. Ghost was unCOmmOnly
Keen OF hearing. and I didn't propose
JhdI ne should have any warning Of my
coming that / could provide against.
10 Fardday merely said that I had
I been unable TO find Deal-that he was
away from homeland we let the matter
drop for the time being
That evening we spent as usual sit
IlnB out upon the lawn with the fire.
HES and the scent OF the magnolias for
company.
About 9 O'Clock. as was her custom
Esther announced her intention Of go
ing 70 bed, and /, 10 avoid any further
questioning by Faraday, complained OF
a slight headache, brought on BY the
heat Of the afternoons drive. and also
But not TO bed I lay down for a
while until j heard Faraday go to his
room and the house grow quiet, and
then arose and put on an old sweater
or my friend S. stuffed his tennis shoes
IN one coat pocket and the revolver In
the other. lit my dark lantern TO make
sure mat II was In good working order
ana II was even 70 the smell which
was quite pungent OF bNstering varnish
and thereupOn climbed out upOn the
veranda In my stocking feet and slid
softly down a pillar 20 the ground.
r LAJJerlng myself that had accom-
pllsneu this evasion very cunningly,
lit out OF the grounds and down the
shell road pausing at the gate 10 put
on the SHOES.
The night, star lit and brilliant until
about O'Clock. had now fallen dark
and sullen. pail OF cloud hid the
heavens, and a soft, bland breeze bore
10 my ears rumbles OF distant thunder
l figured that an electric storm was
holding forth somewhere out on the
gulf. but concluded that. with the very
aA-AA4L Hi A4-hL 1L4A4E4r II Wgu4Q ether
be dissipated or hours would pass ere
ii struck Us.
The Shell road. as usual around this
hour, was deserted and I trotted on
swiftly toward my destination without
meeting q single wagon or pedestrian.
was not alone, however. and was not
sorry.
In the absence OF human company. a
cog is the next best thing TO a horse,
and this night I was complimented by
ar Hr-aaI sHEa -
hounds-a huge. tawny Cv17tUre which
had for some occult reason attached its
affections 10 my person ever since our
advent In Culpeper.
It rose up silently from under my
very nose as I slid down the pillar OF
the veranda-glVinE me a start, I as
sure you-and pOked a cold, friendly
muzZle into the palm Of my hand. 7
knew that this was a request 20 be al
lowed 20 accompany me, and readily
gave II.
knowing the negroes superstftions
as l did, I smiled 10 myself 20 think
how distracted Zeb would have been al
this animals actions
Half dozen times at least during
that short three mile walk, II would
run on ahead OF me and lose Itself in
come upon Il stretched out IN my path.
rolling on its back in the white. powder
ed shells.
According to darby lore. this action
on the part OF dog Is a sure enough
sign that somebody is going 10 die
shortly. They call II measuring q live
mans grave'-and I'll own that once
or twice the thing caused me- 20 shDd-
der myself. who was rushing in rashIv
where humans feared TO tread-and
where angels didn't, so far as could
judge OF their tastes and habits.
The Continuation OF This Story VIII
BE Found in Tomorrow
Issue OF The Times.