The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1911-03-09

| trees. and we got out HotcnR1ss died
the beast and we left him there, head
| down against the driving rain, droor
Ing and detected. Then we went
toward the house.
1t was a long walk The path bent
and twisted, and now and then we lost
1t. We were climbing as we went
Oddly there were no lights ahead, al.
| though 1t was only ten o'clock7-not
| later. Hotchkiss kept little ahead
OF me, knocking into trees now and
then, but finding the path in half the
time should haze taken. Once, as
felt my way a-cund a tree In the
blackness, put my hand unexpected
ly on his shoulder and felt shudder
go down my back.
What do you expect me to do?" he
protested, when demonstrated. Hang
out a red lantern? What was that
| Listen"
We both stood peering into the
gloom. The sharp patter Of the rain
on leaves had ceased and from just
ahead there came back to us the
stealthy padding Of feet In wet soil.
My hand closed on Hotchkiss' shout
der and we listened together, warily
The steps were close by, unmistak.
able The next flash Of lightning
showed nothing moving: the house
was in full view now, dark and unin.
viting, looming huge above terrace,
with an Italian garden at the side.
Then the blackness again. Some
body's teeth were chattering: l &C.
cused Hotchkiss but he denied 1t.
Although I'm not very comfortable.
I'll admit he confessed; there was
something breathing right at my ell.
bow here a moment ago."
"Nonsense!" I took his elbow and
steered him in what made out to be
the direction of the steps of the Ital.
ian garden. II saw deer just ahead
by the last flash; that's what you
heard. BY Jove. hear wheels"
We paused to listen and Hotchkiss
put his hand on something close to
us. Here's your deer" he said.
Bronze"
AS we neared the house the sense
of surveillance we had in the park
gradually left us. Stumbling over
flower beds, running afoul of a sun
dial, cropping our way savagely along
hedges and thorny banks, we reached
race.
1t was then that Hotchkiss fell over
one of the two stone urns which, with
tall lockwood trees in them, mounted
guard at each side of the door He
didn't make any attempt to get up.
He sat in a puddle on the brick floor
of the terrace and clutched his leg
and swore softly in government Eng.
lish
The occasional relief Of the light
ming was gone. / could not see an
outline of the house before me. We
had no matches and an instant's in
vestigation showed that the windows
were boarded and the house closed
Hotchkiss, still recumbent, was ascer
tanning the damage, tenderly peeling
down his stocking.
! Tnoa my SOUL" he said finally. Il
don't know whether this moisture Is
blood or rain. think I've broken
bone.
Blood Is thicker than water
suggested. us it sticky9 See Il you
can move your toes.
There was a pause Hotchkisa
moved his toes. BY that time ! had
found knocker and was making the
night hideous. But there was no re.
Spouse save the wind that blew sod.
den leaves derisively in our faces.
Once Hotchkiss declared he heard
window sash lifted, but renewed VIC
Elence with the knocker produced no
effect.
"There's only cne thing to do" l
said, finally. I'll DO back and try to
bring the buggy up for you. You can't
walk, can you?"
Hotchkiss sat back in his puddle
and said he didn't think he could stir,
but for me to go back to town and
leave him, that he didn't have any
family dependent on him and that II
he was going to have pneumonia hs
had probably got it already. l left
him there and started back to get
horse.
If possible. it was worse than be
fore. There was no lightning and
only by miracle did find the little
gate again. / drew a long breath CT
relief followed by another, equally
long. of dismay. For had found the
hitching strap and there was nothing
at the end of 1t! In lull of the wind
seemed to hear, far of, the eager
tb1ld of stable-bound feet. So for the
second time I climbed the slope to
the I,aurels and on the way thought
Of many things to say.
struck the house at new angle
for I found veranda, destitute OF
chairs and furnishings, but dry and
-1ofo5 MOE hntfnr than