The Washington times., 1911-03-19

HaiGh had whiled away MANY an hour
az quiet speculation in the grim shadow
or Its walls. or peering through the
rusted gates to catch a glimpse Of the
broad. weed-grown driveway leading up
to a moss-covered porte cochere and
the blank. boarded, shuttered house
front.
The runabout slipped through the
gathering gloom Of the Valley Road
with scarcely a sound. In the west
the sun had sunk behind the Fairfield
hi4s, sending aloft broad shafts Of
boldly tinted light to glortfy the clouds.
The quiet was almost oppressive; il was
as II the earth waited in silent rever-
ence upon the passing OF the day. A
gentle melancholy subdued the spirits
mechanically, scarcely comprehending
what he did. Then, abruptly. he was
brought back TO earth and the material
things of life.
From chimney of Brookside a thin
trickte Of smoke ascended. and was
din1ly outlined again a rosy cloud.
Haigh gasped in wonder: his hand
closed upon the lever, and the runabout
slowed to a standstill. He squinted and
stared yet more closely: Individually 1t
was smoke-a mere thread, but smoke;
conclusive proof that life was in the
deserted building.
This was news. indeed! At A reduced
speed Haigh travelled onward to the
point where the wall broke off from the
roadway and borderad the fields. Here
ne stopped again, listening. The wind
sOughed through the ancient trees; in
the distance tsrobbed a whipporwill' $
note. Haigh smiled TO himself and
shook his head: he had thought that a
voice had fallen upon his ear.
As he started up once more, ne was
sure he heard rustling in the under
growth on the farther side of the wall;
but that Re might have imagined. or 1t
might well have been caused by some
small animal. And then, again, the ST.
lenCe was broken. this time with d
suddenness which shook him. wom-
ans laugh, deep-toned, clear, distinct,
instinct with real mirth. trembled and
died away upon the evening air with
uncanny effect.
A chill wandered upon Daniels spine
The old women's tales concerning the
evil reputa ton Of Brookside REQUIRED to
him with force which was intensified
bv the attendant circumstances. In ac-
tualitY that laugh had been essentially
human and natural: in retrospect II was
eorie, mysterious, portentOus. He sat
wide-eyed and wondering, straining his
ears.
He was not unrewarded. 4 dismal
cackIe seemed 10 break almost at his
Shoulder. to he followed by long. sibi-
LIANT hiss: and Daniels runahout took
unto itself wings and fed. bearing the
young man swiftly down the long
stretch of wall. BY the gateway he
laughed at himself. and was Gained
sufficiently to stop the machine for the
third time He turned on the carriage
lamps. and. with their light thrown
upon the gate. endeavored to discover
some signs Of life or human occupancy
about the place.
70 all appearances il was as II had
been since last closed, many wears ago
Upon the drive were no marks Of hoofs
nor wheels; the rank vegetation luxuri-
ated unbruised. untramrled. A rabbit
darted across the circle of radiance,
scuttling OF through the underhrush.
Bv this time the assembled Shadows
were too thick and deep to permit Of
much investigation. Haigh turned
about, and, marvcliug. made for his
home. The tenor of his thoughts was
curious. For the nonce he was lifted
ont of himself: his brain. over-weary
with self-Dity and repining. turned ca
gorlY toward an attempt at solving the
puzzle. 1t proved. however, useless
for the present, at least.
The adventure, no less than the
change Of air and scene, had sharpened
Daniels appetite. This to the intense
satisfaction of Mrs. Mitchell, his house
keeper. and wife to the man who acted
as tenant and manager of the farm. As
he plaintively put II. Haigh, during the
past three weeks, had eaten little more
than enough to keep a small bird alive:
but tonight he did full justice to his
meal. This, with a cigar. composed
him to attention to Mrs. Mitchell's store
of gossip. He was, indeed. in no way