The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1910-12-16

NV 0AoS II VIC Iell ILL IllCI0, ACdu
down against the driving rain, droop-
ing and detected. Then we went
toward the house.
1t was a 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 1T was only ten o'clock-not
later. Hotchkiss tA.pt a little ahead
OF me, knocking NO trees now and
then, but finding the path in half the
time should have taken. Once, as
| felt my way around a tree in the
olackness, | put my hand unexpected
ly on his shoulder and felt a shudder
go down my back.
What do you expect me to do?" he
protested, when demonstrated. Hang
out a red lantern? What was that?
Listen"
We both stood peering into the
gloom. The sharp patter OF the rain
on caves 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 n we listened together, warily.
The steps were close by, unmistak.
able. The next flash OF lightning
showed nothing moving: the house
was in full view now, dark and unin-
viting, looming huge above a terrace,
with an Italian garden at the side.
Then the blackness again. Some
body's teeth were c~hattering: l ac-
cused Hotchkiss but he denied it.
although I'm not very comfortable,
I'll admit" he confessed; there was
something breathing right at my el-
bow here a moment ago."
"Nonsense!" l took his elbow and
steered him in what l made out to be
the direction Of the steps OF the Ital.
ian garden. II saw a deer just ahead
by the last flash; that's what you
heard. BY Jove. l 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 afoul Of q sun.
dial. cropping our way savagely along
hedges and thorny banks, we reached
the steps finally and climbed the ter.
race.
1t vas hen 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 a puddle on the brick floor
of the terrace and clutcned his leg
and swore softly in government Eng
fish.
The occasional relief Of the light
ming was one. l could not see an
outline Of the house before me. We
had no matches and an instant's in.
v~estigation showed that the windows
were boarded and the house closed.
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 l
suggested. as it sticky? See If you
can move you toes"
There VAS a pause: HotchkiSS
moved his toes. BY that time I had
found a knocker and was making the
night hideous. But there was no re-
Spouse save the wind that blew sod,
den leaves derisively 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. III go back and try tt
bring the buggy up for you. You cam
walk, can your"
Hotchkiss sat back in his puddle
and said he didn't think he could stir
but for me to go back to town anG
leave him, that he didn't have any
family dependent on him and that i
he was going to have pneumonia he
had probably got it already. I lef'
him there and started back to get {
horse.
If possible, it was worse than be
fore. There was no lightning an(
only by a miracle did | find the little
gate again. | drew a long breath O
relief. followed by another. equally
long, of dismay. For | had found thu
hitching strap and there was nothing
at the end of it, In a lull of the wine
| seemed to hear. far of. the eagel
thud of stable-bound feet. So for thu
second time I climbed the slope tt
the Laurels and on the way | though
of many things to say.
struck the house at a new angle
for | found a veranda, destitute 0
chairs and furnishings, but dry ant
evidently rooted. It was better thai
the terrace, and so, by cropping alon,
the wall, | tried to make my way t
Hotchkiss. That was how l found thu
open window. l had passed perhap
six, all closed, and to have my han'
grope for the next one and to find in