The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-17

turned for fatal instant Is one of the
mysteries Of bovine Psychology which
nobody can ngure out
In something like a panic she lum-
bered along through the trees until
she saw light "Aha!" said the COW.
home at last"
The light shone from the cottage oc-
eupied by Miss Atkinson. a maiden of
. considerable number OF years. who
was entertaining at the moment three
other staid and elderly women at
bridge.
Just a. one Of the three had said
disgustedly that she made II spades
Miss Atkinson. who was facing the
porch. gave bloodcurdling shrek
and her cards few all over. the room
"A mani" she Missed. There was
man peering In through the porch
screen doorl He disappeared when I
jumped"
One Of the bravest of the four vsn-
'tured out to the porch and In a quav-
srfng voice demanded to know VINO
was there. while the others supported
her with the carving knife and the
broom.
Nothing answered from the silence.
which made II all the worse.
The guests put Miss Atkinson to
~ with the hot water bag and the
smelling salts and locked every win
Aow In the cottage. Then. shivering
with fright the three held hands and
bolted for the hotel !.
II was q little later that the Bundy
euttage was upset Mrs. Bundy had
Dut the children to bed and was GRO
ehsting while her guest. Mrs. Hutton,
va reading aloud particularly grew
some detective story Suddenly Mrs.
Bundy made . startled clutch at Mrs.
Hnton's wrist and said: "I.is-s-ten!"
Mrs. Hutton heard II. too. "Th-th-
tAere must be tt-two OF 'em!" STAN
nsrcc Airs. Hutton. II can hear four
s-s-ssst Just - piaini-
There certainly were several diiier-
snt footsteps outside the cottage
slow. careful footsteps. There was
also deep breathing. Then something
blurred against tho low diamond
paned window over the corner win
1ov seat Thereupon Mrs. Bundy
save cheep like strangled chicken
And nearly went over backward In her
rocker.
Holding the family revolver at arms
length and with her head turned the
other way. Mrs. Bundy sat down again
sad they listened. There was moth.
fng to be heard. They passed the rest
ef the night on guard.
Farther down the lake shore, on
the rustic seat facing the moon, Laura
Dpilger and her young man sat talk
fng. Their absorption In each other
vas 20 great that they heard nothing
unui something strange was thrust
over Lauras left shoulder. Young
Burmaster made wild but futile grab
sf Laura a. she leaped In the air.
Landing on the extreme edge of the
suppery terrace. she tumbled down
into the lapring waters with a CUR
Cling splash.
Then as young Burmaster. too.
sensed the presence Of something
weird and inexp.icable he felt his
scalp twitch In freezing horror. and
ieaped after Laura. Hand In hand they
arose. dripping. and stood afYrighted
In the two feet OF water at the shore 3
edy>
From the Spilger's cottage came
questioning rumblings. Laura's IA.
ther was demanding 10 know the rea.
son for all THAI uproar. Getting no
answer. because the two In the lake
were still paralyzed vocally. he came
forth to investigate.
What do you want?" he roared AT
something creeping by. TTi teach you
TO prowl around Ly house. consarn
you'" Presently there was the spite.
full pop Of the little spilger boys air.
gun.
Nothing happened. The Spilgers
and young Burmaster nat up very late
discussing the mystery. II war dis.
couraging TO the Spilgsrs TO nnd that
their peaceful summer home was get.
ting just like every other place. and
one had TO lock and bar doors and
windows and take In rhe washing az
night
Tue Doggetts were reused from
slumber by some one fumbling at the
kitchen window. At the Plunketts'
some one was distinctly heard at the
chicken house. Mrs. Piikins said she
heard footsteps on the Pilkins' front
porch that night and the Pixies report
Cd that their mignonette bed had been
trampled.
At an impromptu mass meeting a
tbe next morning the cottagera vo,ea