Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08

| ton grimly.
| There was silence again as the car rushed
on. The darkness was intense, and objects
along the road could be distinguished only
as standing out more darkly against the dark
! sky. They were more than half across the
length of Long Island before first faint
grayness became distinguishable. At first
| for few moments in its strangeness like
something white seen through the blackness
| of the night, they were not certain that it
was the approach of day.
"Must be a little before six, isn't it," Dali
| ton asked
Wilmarth stood holding his watch until
| there was light enough to see.
"Ten minutes to six"
The sun had risen on the most glorious of
early spring mornings; for, late March as it
was, the beginning of the day had the soft,
fresh radiance of early May. The country
under the brilliant sunshine was manifestly
preparing to start into summer life. To the
four men the nature of their GRAND appeared
strangely homogeneous and most unreason-
able.
"What will the Landons think of us tum-
bling in on them at this hour-if-if we've
made a mistaken
Il can easily explain it, said Wilmarth
impatiently, -"only get on, get on
| A T long, straight part of the road they
saw an automobile far ahead. That it
was going at pace as great as their own
machine was clear. For minutes the distance
between the two cars remained the same.
Il believe it's he" said Southby.
mot a doubt of it," Dalton shouted, and
the wind carried his words back to them.
The sight of the other racing motor in
some way had brought at once greater con-
| firnatiOn to their minds of reality in the
purpose of their mad journey. For miles
thew continued, the distance unchanging.
AT times an intervening hill would hide the
other automobile, wood coming in the way
would shut it off, but always again they
would see it or could detect the cloud of dust
that marked its progress. Finally, after
crossing the top of slight ACTIVITY, they
came to a stretch of country through which
the road ran for a mile or more clearly in
view before them.
"He's not there!" cried Southby, gazing
eagerly ahead.
| "Can't YOU see him. demanded Wilmarth
eagerly. "Then he's taken the wrong turn.
We're nearly there now-he can't get there
before U.S. Don't slow down, though
The sun was so high that something of its
warmth could be felt; indeed, full daylight
had come. Before long they left the rougher
highroad. Turning between the stone col
urnnS OF an entrance gate, the wheels ran
evenly and rapidly over the unbroken levels of
the perfect surface of the approach, twisting
through the park landscape of the great place.
"No one will be up" said Dalton.
AS they swiftly veered about thick
bosket at bend in the avenue, the house
came in sight Enthusiastically the big,
spreading structure conveyed an impression
of repose; nothing moved and no one seemed
to be in sight.
SEE there!" exclaimed Wellesley, pointing.
~ dts a groom leading two horses"
said Dalton.
Zone of them has a woman's saddle"
added Southby quickly.
| Margaret often rides early in the morn
| ing spoke Wilmarth.
| He was interrupted or paused as he heard
the onrush of motor A car was coming
| furiously up another approach to the house
and had just sprung into sight
"He's been driving faster than before, or
he couldn't have got here cried Wilmarth
"Hes going to be there first!' muttered
Dalton.
| The fact was manifest Already Graf
tons car was nearly at the foot of flight of
steps leading up to a terrace at the side of