Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-06

pause. and then a dim figure rose ghost
| like beside the chair which l had quilted.
I saw a raised arm a flash of metal in
the moonlight and the bed groaned be-
! meath the heavy impact Of the blow.
| Tingling with horror l slipped from my
hiding place and stole a few yards to-
ward the doorway. In the mOmentarE
confusion the movement was unnoticed.
| but, az silence descended again. my foot
scraped against the flooring, and the
others low grunt of comprehension
warned me that my presence was known.
/ crept on a little further and waited.
Once more the Stcalthy footsteps quiy-
cred in the air.
But now the panic of fear had left me.
and as the man advanced. ! realized that
the strategic position was mine. Draw
ing the revolver from my pocket,
pressed back the hammer with an os
| tentatious click. AS I had expected. the
footballs halted | stole noiSelesSly from
my place. still holding to the protection
of the wall.
For long moment the stiffness of
death possessed us. 1t seemed as though
neither Of us dared even 80 breathe. Then
with infinite pains he recommended his
onward journey. and. matching him,
continued my cautious progress toward
the door. | timed my movements with
his. So that the faint sounds of the one
would cover those of the other. and. as
gained the threshold. ! had the salts
faction Of hearing him pause near the
spot which I had indicated by the click
of the revolver l rose quietly to my
feet and waited. with my hand clutched
about the fastening of the door.
1T was long in coming-that cruel knife
thrust which was meant for me. but
which bit instead into the soft wood of
leys pistol shot from it's catches. the door
flew open and l fled for my life into the
moonlit reaches of the night.
Concealment was imperative, and, after
running a few rods down the exposed
trail. / struck across the moorland toward
a little declivity. which gave a Swallowed
promise of foliage in its depths As l
descended a thin film of mist floating
over it. enveloped me completely-so com
pletely, in fact. that / had stumbled into
none too soon. for, as l dropped to the
ground. a sharp patter of feet rang out
along the path l had left
] listened to it until it halted at some
point near the main buildings. Then.
scrambling through the underbrush, l
scudded off in the opposite direction. The
moon. shaded by a passing cloud, had
yelled my route IN sudden obscurity. and
for an iEdeterminate time 1 struggled on
blindly over the rough turf.
] had topped little hill. and. hearing
the soft murmur of the sea before me-
was speeding down gentle slope to-
ward it. when a low mound of earth
seemed to rise al my very feet. | swerved
dsNe III d WIG EFFORT TO dVoiu IL, nut my
heel slipped and my legs flew from under
me- l plunged headlong into shallow
trench.
Though dazed by the fall l was con-
scious OF vague something dimly out
lined in the earth beneath me. l reached
out q cautious hand. and at its touch the
thin layer of mold broke away. The
clammy chill of damp hair brushed my
fingers. l started back with Shrek of
terror. And in the growing moonlight
Simpsons dead face stared up at me
Simpsons dead face. with the telltale bull
let wound, an ugly smudge, on the placid
brow.
For space I stared back at it in stupe-
fled horror Then shadow fell across
it and looked up. Blakeley was smiling
down at me triumphantly over the edge
of the grave.