The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-03-21
BY KATE CI4EvES.
Copyright, 1912, by tho Associated
Literary Press.)

Literary Press)
As the train steamed away from
the little station Darlington turned
to the group Of loungers who were
preparing to vacate the benches along
the wall OF the building.
II want to go to the old Fletcher
place" he said: Il will be obliged il
you can tell how TO reach IL.
stranger here" asked the man
addressed.
Yes"
Then somebody'll have TO show
the way. It's down Trembling road
anybody going down that way" Tho
speaker blinked near-sightedly at his
companions. but with one excuse. or
another they melted away around
corners or down the road until there
remained only Darlington and tho
man he had questioned.
Darlington smiled quixzicaliy. Not
a popular promenade, / take it," he
remarked.
The man shook his head. "Trem-
bling road has got a bad name.
don't caro- about going down there
myself-4f It was any other direction
in Swampton I'd take you along in
my sulky and welcome-but my horse
We'll. then. perhaps you can direct
me to 1t, observed Darlington impa-
tiently.
Il can set YOU down at the en-
trance; get into my rig hero and IN
take you down a piece" He arose
and walked toward the yellow "sulky"
and the sorrel horse dropping In the
heat OF the afternoon.
Darlington tossed his bag between
his feet and balanced himself care
fully as the frail vehicle creaked
down a winding road toward the VII
lage OF Swampton. His companion
said nothing during the brief time 1t
took the sorrel horse to traverse the
half mile to tho beginning OF Trem-
bling road.
Here you be-" declared the driver.
bringing the horse to a standsti,l.
Much obliged: I'll save them cigars
Tor Sunday. snrel This Is Trembling
road. and the Fletcher place Ia half :
mile down-you can't miss IL, be-
cause It's the only house on the
road"
Darlington noted that the trees
grew closely to the very borders OF
the road. and the road itself bore
little evidence OF travel; grass grew
along tho tracks Of ancient wheels.
Trembling road wound In and out
among tho closely pressing trees Of
the forest. slightly descending M II
won't somstiMes IT narrowed 10
scarcely moro than footpath and
again II broadened at some point
where the forest had retreated in 4
deep curve.
y was strangely gloomy road.
even on this bright June afternoon
and Cayrington wondered what must
DO the aspect Of the Fletcher place.
which he had come to examine In be-
haif of client who wanted to buy a
country homo for n mere song, The
Fletcher place had been advertised
Tor sale. Hence Carrington'n appear.
ance.
He was not favorabiy Impressed by
the approach 20 the place, although
MS client Was rich enough to cur now
need he.
He came Upon II suddenly ana
stopped short. Tho forest had thinned
to q plantation Of young locust. heavy.
with white bloom,
In tho midst OF a great tangled
Garden, and overshadowed by mag
nihcent locust trees. was the Fletcher
hOuse.
carringtoa CROSSED the road, let
himself into the garden. pausins to
fasten a blush rose In the lapel of
his gray coat. and pushed his way
up an Overgrown path to the broad
verandaf on the south side OF the
house.
He peered through tho paneless
windows into a rOOm--Onco hand
some parlor. Quite convinced that
the place was empty. Darlington
stepped within the room and net his
bag on the mantel before making a
survey OF the house.
From one room to another he wan
d6red. finding each ono empty and
fprlOrn, until he had covered the 4
entire lower fl0or. Then no mounted
tho broad stairway to the second
story.
Carrington stopped short at the
head OF the stair. Al right and left
OF him open doors showed vfstaS Of
empty rooms: but directly IN front
OF him was wide arched doorway