The Washington herald., 1912-04-07


wayfarer, seating himself again with
a look Of feigned composure. Il mar
vel though at what you say, for am
certain that there was no one else who
got ashore. | waited so long, so long,
for what the waves would bring, and all
they brought was tangled cordage and
bits of the good ships hulk"
AS he ceased speaking a great gust
of wind came bowling in from the sea
and swept around the little house with
a demons fury. The shutters creaked
and groaned, the doors trembled upon
their hinges, the chimney rocked in the
onslaught of the gale, and the deep
booming Of the waves echoed from the
lonely shore There was another sound,
too, something which sounded like
far away cry, a shrill wall OF distress,
or drowning mans halo for assist
ance.
The pallid guest sprang from his seat.
as this sound came indistinctly to his
ears above the roaring of the tempest
"Ye gods good landlord did you
hear that cry1 1t sounded clear above
the rattling of the SASH" he uttered
The busy innkeeper stopped and put
Thus he stood in the middle of the
satisfied that there were no sounds save
those generated by the wind, he again
began his assiduous attentions to the
setting forth of supper for his strange
guest.
Il hear nothing" he answered with
a smile, save the noises from the creak
OF shutters, blinds and windows Egad,
but you must be person of un-
settled nerves il you mistakes the cry
of bleating gull for that of human
being. 'Tis wild night for the birds,
indeed, and we will find many OF them
beneath the glass of the lighthouse in
the morning, for, frightened at the glare,
they beat themselves to death against
the panes on such night as this"
The stranger had continued with his
meal, but still looked furtively toword
the window, and seemed to be in state
OF high nervous excitability. His brow
was knit into curious frown, while
his lips twitched in strange fashion
whenever he closed his mouth in re-
pose. Finally, after. eating silently for
while, he drew himself back and
said, Truth, it is a wild night, and it
is truth that | have had an awful day,
but now that my inner man has been
replenished feel like storming breast
work or leading charge OF cavalry
against the enemies to the crown. Pray,
give me the morning paper, good land
lord, that may read of what is occur
ring here in Merric England, for it has
been months since last | set foot upon
this coast, and | am sore in need of
gossip"
THAT | will do right readily" replied
the innkeeper, passing him two-sheeted
paper, and, as the stranger soon seemed
to be absorbed in the reading of this
bit Of printing, the good boniface applied
himself busily to removing the dishes
from the little table. His wife, mean
while, had come in, said good night"
and gone to bed. The other helpers,
too, had all retired, and, as he removed
the last platter to the kitchen sink, the
deep boom of the old clock on the stair
way told him that it was also time to
slumber. Tiptoeing into the tap-room
he there saw that the curious stranger
had also gone to the land of dreams,
for his head was heavily bowed upon
his breast, one arm fell weakly at his
side, and deep snores of contentment
showed that the exhaustion of the day
had brought much needed repose.
Il will not wake him. said the red
checked landlord to himself 81 will
let him slumber thus, for If tits true
what he has told me, the day has been
a hard done for the fellow" So saying,
he lighted taper and had soon gone
up the winding stairs to his chamber
In a few moments the glimmer from his
window had Been extingushed, and all
was peace and quiet in the little inn
When the light from the landlords
candle ceased to burn, two burly figures
from 40 ,,,s sIa
den and stood up tall and sinister in
the gloom. They leaned toward each
other, and whispered conversation took
place between the two shapes. Then,
crquching low, they both crept stealthily
toward the window in the tap-room,
from which the CLEAN of the Pickering
fire. came clearly out into the black
night, and, as they reached the window
where the blinds had swung back, both
peered into the little chamber
"Gadzooks," said one in whisper.
"There is our quarry by the fire"
Asleep, too" answered the other.
H a nd xuifn htc rIAaI, liz Il.