The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-02-18

{
, more respondent the water N Oui
! clothes had had time to penetrate; the
room had sprained his shoulder. and
drew Us along in a series Of coavulsive
Jerks. And then through tho rain
spattered window of the blanket,
saw light. II was small light,
rather yellow. and 1t lasted perhaps
80 seconds. Hotchkiss missed It, aAA
was inclined to doubt me. But in Z
couple Of minutes the roam Aobbled to
the side Of the road and stopped, and
l made out = break in the pines and
an arched gate. 4
1t was = small gate. too narrow for
the buggy. l pulled the horse into as
much shelter as possible under the
trees. and we got out. Hotchkiss tied
the beast and We left him there. head
down against the driving rain. droop-
ing 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 we're 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 now 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 down my back.
what do you expect me to do?" he
protested, when 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' Shout
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 &C
cused Hotchkiss but he denied it.
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 ant
steered him in what I made out to BIZ
the direction of the steps of the Ital
ian garden. 81 saw deer just aheat
by the last FASH that's what 20,
. heard. BY Jove. I hear wheels"
We paused to listen and Hotchkis
!. put his hand on something close t.
us. Here's your deer" he said
: Bronze"
AS we neared the house the sens
=. of surveillance we had in the par
;. gradually left us. Stumbling owe
: flower beds, running afoul of sur
dial, cropping our way savagely alon
hedges and thorny banks, we reache
the steps finally and climbed the tel
, race.
l. 1t was then that Hotchkiss fell owe
one of the two stone urns which, wit
tall lockwood trees in them, mounte
guard at each side of the door. H
didn't make any attempt to get VI
He sat in puddle on the brick foe
II of the terrace and clutched his lie
i and swore softly in government EN-
: lish.
The occasional relief Of the ligh
. ming was gone. / could not see a
,. outline Of the house before me w
had no matches and an instant's il
:. vestigation showed that the window
e were boarded and the house close
Hotchkiss, still recumbent, was asce
tanning the damage, tenderiy peelir
l. dewn his stocking.
9 "Upea my seul," he said finally,
n don't know whether this moisture
. bleed or rain. l think I've broken
J bone"
i Blood is thicker than water"
4 suggested. ''Is 1t sticky? Sc II ye
can nsve yeHr toos."
y. There was . pause: Hstchki!
L. Moved his tees. Dy that time I he
e found k1ocker and was making IL
S. night hideous. But there was no r