The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-10-26
Copyright. 1910. By Leuis Joseph Vanee0

NSopyE1eQt, Ia1C. OF LOUIS joseph vance,
Coast had not taken two-soore PAGES
along the path to the shore before the
day was again darkened By a sudden
and heavy thickening OF the nists
That Frightening glow, which a little
time back he had hailed with hope as
promise Of early clearing, was in an
instant wiped away. So deep became
the gloom Ito his fancy. as II the fog
had been sprayed to saturation with
q myriad tnf1nitesttmal atoms of 1nk)
that though 1t was now high morning
he found It hard to sec the ground be-
meath his feet
The came the deiuge. The heavens
opened and drenched the earth with q
flush of rain literally torrential In
a twinkling soaked to the skin, Coast
gasped for breath and bent his head
to a downpour which whipped him
with million cruel singing lashes.
Perforoe at pause for fear Of losing
his way, almost beaten thoughtless.
lacking any shelter to fly to. he DO
rived forlorn comfort of a sort from
supplied its own assurance that 1t
could not endure long And briefly
this proved itself: heralded by gradu.
al tightening, the heavier clouds
passed OF; the initial fury exhausted
itself.
For some distance the path led him
q wandering way; but this he did not
resent, any more than he really re-
ssnted his soaking, which seemed but
an inoonsiderable annoyance to mind
preocoupied. His being was altogether
obsessed and the process Of his
thoughts clouded by intense solicitude
and pity for Katheripe-ooupled with
doubts as to the wisdom of his course.
Was he justified IN leaving her,
though she begged and commanded
him? He felt hts understanding har-
ried by the pro and con Of the Ques-
ton Like a ball In volley between two
rackets. How could he leave her SOP
What else could he dot She rejected.
discredited, dismissed him definitely,
without appeal. She needed him-or
somebody to whom she might turn for
comfort and protection. Blaokstook
was not to be trusted: yet she loved
him. If, as she protested, she were
happy In some strange fashion pass
ing Coasts comprehension, had he
any right to step between her and her
happiness. whatever the circum-
stances? II. as was the case, Black
stock had murdered a man in a mo-
ment Of uncomfortable rage, had
Coast any right to leave the woman at
the mercy Of temper which might
at any moment resume the complex
lon Of homicidal maniaY Yet would
not his presence there. upon the is
land, work her more harm than good,
were he to be discovered?
He was, In the summing up. con-
soious Of no choice OF action: he could
but 60 his ways. She desired it. and
though his duty Che saw clearly was
to denounce Blackstock to the nearest
authority. secure his arrest and i'm
prisonment he could not.
Thus In wretched communion with
his heart, he came almost unawares a
second time to the deserted fishing
village, was abruptly conscious of
shapes Of buildings looming through
the mists and driving rain on either
hand And with this recognition re-
Cured the memory of the blind dog
and the murdered man.
It was scant consolation that he
no longer heard the bowling Of the
dog Perhaps 1t had abandoned its
dead, perhaps he need no longer fear
to meet the blank misery of those un.
canny. sightless eyes, perhaps. .
Even as he warmed that hope. with
out warning something more cold and
moist than his own flesh touched bis
hand. He jerked away with an uncon-
trollable shudder and q smothered ex-
clamation Of horror, only to realize
that the animal had stolen up behind
him and thrust its muzzle into his
palm. He bent over and petted the
muttered words for a moment or two.
It Struggled close to him, whining.
shivering.
Poor boyl" he said gently, so
now, SO, old fellow. :" Then, sur
prised: "Hellol" he exclaimed.
What's this?"
Beneath his hand the dog had stiff
fened suddenly. and now stood tense
ard bristling. deep and angry growl
rumbling In its throat
simultaneously. from some indie
terminate point, he heard the sound
Of q mans voice, the words indistin
guishabls, accompanied by a grating
noise like that made by metal en-
counter1ng stone.
Hello, helIo!" he said softly, knit
ting his brows. as he stared down the
roadway, in the direction that he must
90, the direction from which the
sounds seemed to come.
He could see nothing save vague