The Montgomery tribune., 1910-11-11

ing anu ue1ecJeu. Inen we went
toward the house.
1t was a long walk. The path bent
and twisted, and now and then we lost
It. We were climbing as we went
Oddly there were no lights ahead, al
though It was only ten o'cloch-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 tree in the
blackness, I 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 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' shoul-
| der and 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 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!" took his elbow and
steered him in what I made out to be
the direction Of the steps Of the Ital-
ian garden. IT saw 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 in the park
gradually left us. Stumbling over
flower beds, running afoul of sun
dial, cropping our way savagely along
hedges and thorny banks, we reached
the steps finally and climbed the ter
race.
1t was then 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 puddle on the brick floor
of the terrace and clutched his leg
and swore softly in government Eng
]ish.
The occasional relief of the light
ming was gone. I could not see an
outline of the house before me. We
had no matches and an instant's in
vestigation showed that the windows
were boarded and the house closed
Hotchkiss, still recumbent, was ascer.
taining 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"
suggested. as it sticky? See if you
can move your toes"
There was 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
sponse save the wind that blew sod
den leaves derisively in our faces
Once Hotchkiss declared he heard 6
window sash lifted, but renewed VIC
lence with the knocker produced ne
effect.
There's only one thing to do"
said, finally. "I'll go back and try tt
bring the buggy up for you. You cam
walk, can you?"
Hotchkiss sat back in his puddl,
and said he didn't think he could stir
but for me to go back to town ant
leave him, that he didn't have an!
family dependent on him and that i
he was going to have pneumonia HI
had probably got it already. I lef
him there and started back to get
horse.
If possible, 1t was worse than be
: fore. There was no lightning ant
only by miracle did I find the littl,
gate again. I drew long breath O
relief, followed by another, equal.
? long, of dismay. For had found thu
!, hitching strap and there was nothing
: at the end of it! In lull of the wine
! / seemed to hear, far off, the cage
thud of stable-bound feet. So for tn,
second time / climbed the slope Il
the Laurels and on the way / though
:. of many things to say.
struck the house at new angle
for / found veranda, destitute o
!, chairs and furnishings, but dry an,
4 evidently rooted. 1t was better thai
the terrace, and so, by cropping alon
the wall, tried to make my way t
Hotchkiss. That was how found tn
u !, open window. had passed perhap
u six, all closed, and to have my han
+ grope for the next one and to find ir
9 stead the soft drapery OF an inne