El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-01-04
The Herald's
Daily Short Story

I of bicycle. but never trace OF {
motor tire.
All imagination" I decided. as a
lastiI resumed my way, picking up the
suitcase when I regained the point
where the car had passed ne. THE
car was real enough, anyhow, and the
reSt-a backfire or burst tire dis
turbing a couple of night owls"
Still at the back Of my mind I was
certain that no screech owl ever hatch
ed could have uttered those screams
ard no car ever built backfired or even
burst a tire with the sound of a collis-
ion; besides a tire-burst would have
meant a temporary halt, anyhow,
whereas the car had evidently contin-
ued its wild career unchecked.
was real glad when at last struck
into the side road leading to Challoners
and saw the lighted windows of the old
house, while the warmth of the well
come accorded me .banished all remem-
brance of my queer experience for the
time being.
After dinner we all adjourned to the
hall, where a glorious wood fire crack
led on the open hearth
Switch off the lights, Tom" COM
manded Maimee. We're going to sit
round and tell ghost stories'
Matinee certainly has an eye for ar
tSstic effect; there never was a pref
tier picture than that old hall, with
the rudy glow of the freight reflect
ed from the thousand facets of the
leaves and berries Of the holly gar
lands told her so; even brothers are
complimentary on occasions.
Just you wait till Christmas day
I've the loveliest yule log you ever
saw" she declared And we're going
TO bring it in with all the proper cere-
monies But now. for the ghost stories.
Wen have yours first, Johnny boy. And
it's to be true one. mind"
Don't be hard on him. Maimee," sug-
geSfed Tom Fire away with the sto-
~. old man, never mind the TRUTH
I don't believe in ghosts" 1 respond
ed, but If you're determined to make
me open the ball I'll tell you one of
the queerest things I've ever expert
enced. 1t happened this evening while
L was walking here from Eastdean."
This EVENING""
1t was an ejaculatory chorus, and
Maimee added reproachfully:
Why, you never told me you had
any adventures on the way"
I'm going to tell you now" 1 said
and forthwith related the incident ex-
actly as I have related it now. includ-
ing my theoretical and, as far as my
own CONVICTIONS went, unsatisfactory
explanation Of the phenomena-burstl
tires, owls. and so on
I don't quite know what sort of a re-
,eption I anticipated for my recital, but
felt considerably disconnected when.
after an uncomfortable interval OF
dead silence, Tom said stifflys
That's a good story, I suppose, bat
aren't you playing it a bit down?"
81 don't grasp ybur meaning" re-
-orted. You wanted true story. and !
I've told you this exactly as it oc-
surred. though I'm quite ready to &C
knowledge it's a poor enough story"
do yoR< mean to say you did not
1noW>0f the accident last Christmas
~? By jove 1t was just year ago /
tonight by the day of the week." cried
rom Morlaod. n
I incredulously learnt later that all !
he others had been cognizant of the |
tragedy of the white motor car that |
lad occurred exactly a year ago
The car belonged to millionaire,
whose name is equally we'll known liz
10Th hemispheres, On that evening the
Italian, who had but
ately come to England-took advan-
age of his masters absence to appro-
'riate the car, and. accompanied by a
his sweetheart
ct out for Brighton.
Whether the man was drunk or So
er will never be known. Tt is Ger
ain that he drove recklessly. for at the
inquest several witnesses