The San Francisco call., 1910-03-13

By LUKE THRICE
q FIGURE stole from the shadow of the hedge,
4 advanced two rapid and stealthy steps and
4 y flung itself upon the lodge keeper without
sound. The man fell from his chair and Crap
pied desperately with his assaiant Robert Carter,
held rnotionless by the suddenness of the attack,
stared the grotesque, heaving mass in the moon
light. He was about to rush in with cry when
two more figures darted from the hedge and threw
themselves upon the two.
The struggle was short. Silently, as men who act
rpon careful plan the three subdued the one, held
his arms behind his back and bound them. When
they had him safe the first released his hold of the
lodge keepers throat There choking gasping
breath, stihed the next instant by blow. "A hand
kerchie was stuffed in the victims throat and he lay
quietly enough The three stood looking down at
him Carter drew back swiftly behind the massive
granite gatepost
The note of violence thrust thus sharply athwart
the peaceful pastoral with its jangling discord left
him confused and unnerved. He had learned at the
town, where he spending week in retreat, of
the arrest in New York of Paley Benhan, president
of the Matrix national bank Moved partly by lack
vague thought that he might learn further details he
had walked the two miles to Benham's magnificent
country home above the Hudson.
He had been one of house party Benham's
place year before. He had remembered that the
long, white stone building the of its soping
lawn was thing of marvellous beauty nights of
clear moonlight like this. While almost certain that
Benham's family was abroad and that there would
be no one the property but the taker he had
allowed his impulse carry him the lonely road to
the gates He had noticed the lodge keeper sitting
over evening pipe at the door of the lodge He
had even started forward with pleasant greeting
his lips when the rush of the dark figure checked him.
The voices OF the three came to him, but even in
the isolation of the they spoke in low
and he could not distinguish words. He glanced up
at the house with first, instructive thought raise
the alarm, but the pale, ghostly white of the facade
was blank He sank to his heels, crouching in the
blackest of the shadow.
He could after minutes that two of the
assaiants had lifted the lodge keeper who lay on his
face and were carrying him toward the lodge He
could make out their faces They were dressed in
black with wide soft hats pulled low. They disap-
peared with their burden into the little dwelling.
Presently came futter and then steady glow of
yellow light from within 1t showed him small win
dow the side facing the road where he was hidden
The third and smallest of the remained outside
the lodge in the shadow leaning against the door and
looking in
NONE OF HIS AFFAIR
Robert Carter debated his own part in all this 1t
was strictly none of his affair His oocv was meyer
to engage in adventures not clearly dictated by his
interest. He had little for risks as risks Who
were these three? Burglars or tramps? Scholl, the
lodge keeper would suffer nothing more than night
of confinement at their hands No, he was certainly
not concerned
All this he argued when he had recovered from the
shock of surprise The fact that he was without a
revolver completed the case, and the clear conclusion
was that he had best betake himself quietly to the
town and notify the constable But thought held
him 1t a strange trick of fate that on the very
day that brought Benhams his home should be
entered. Dwelling upon this for a moment, he forgot
the part of discretion and moved cautiously toward
the window The third mans back was turned and a
few steps placed the corner of the lodge between
them The sill was well above his head when he
stood upright and he did dare to raise himself
so all you've got to do, my friend is to accept the
matter in philosophical spirit and wait patiently
until some wandering rustic comes to your ad1 said
voice Carter felt thrill of quickening curiosity.
This was no burglar else he represented the very
pink of the profession Schol made no answer prob