The Washington herald., 1912-04-07
CHAPTER I.
ny CHARLES II. L. JOHNSTON.
4 wayfarer In Devon.

Jury that was awe-inspiring The spume
and froth from their foamy tops blew
across the mainland in sheets Of drench-
ing mist. Sea birds, blinded by the up
roar, flew piteously about with shrill
cries of fear and seemed to be dazed
by the tempestuous elements. Even the
proud lighthouse, riven fast to the solid
foundation OF ,jutting promontory,
shook and trembled in the embrace OF
the wind, while the keeper industriously
filled the great burner with oil and
spoke softly to himself. "Ye gods, what
gale he murmured 1T is well that
Harry, my boy, has returned from the
fishing grounds in his smack. Indeed,
1t IS well, and woe betide the luggers
and the sailing craft out in the Channel
on such a night as this. Yea, woe be-
tide them
Directly in the rear of'the flashing
light, about mile inland, and facing
upon a winding road, was a little inn.
Low, narrow, cozy, il had long been
the rendezvous for travellers upon the
coast, for seafaring men, and OCCASION
ally for some gentleman in distress,
either upon his way to FTance-in dis
guiSe-or upon his return to home and
kindred The landlord-a red-faced
portly man Of fifty years-was a person
OF discretion, and little cared for knowl-
edge OF those who came and went, should
they but pay their just and proper toll.
Upon the sign above the doorway was
a stormy petrel-that sea bird which
loves the most tempestuous weather.
and often was the warm-hearted host
heard to say, with chuckle, "Yea,
friends, oft have | sheltered human
stormy petrels in my cozy inn. and oft
have | sheltered other birds of passage.
1t is all the same to me- Let them
come and go, | care not il they molest
rle not"
Attracted on this wild and awful night
to the window, he was gazing intently
without at the binding storm, when
suddenly his eye was arrested by the
appearance Of dark shadow in the
beam of light which shot clear into
the blackness from the cheerful room.
The shadow moved in staggering mo-
ton. 1t came nearer, nearer, and, as
he gazed with interest upon il, the
figure Of man came plainly into his
vision. The shape was tall and thin
wrapped in great, black cloak-which
fiuttered wildly in the bowling wind and
seemed like two great wings of some
cormorant or albatross. In a moment
more the knocker upon the door was
beat with a heavy thud and a voice
cried out above the shrieking of the
gale, Open, open In the Kings name
open for me, for | am too weak to lift
the latch"
With bound the landlord was out in
the hallway and hastily had withdrawn
the solid oaken bar which held the door
from being blown violently back by
the fury of the ocean blasts. As he did
so a man, thin, pale and emaciated,
staggered into the house and leaned
heavily against the wall.
Something hot, landlord he whis-
pered. Something hot, or / faint"
Used to every sort of adventure upon
this wild and inhospitable coast, the
landlord was not the one TO stop and
question. In flash he had fastened to
the kitchen, had seized a pot OF boiling
coffee simmering upon the stove, had
poured out steaming cupful, and was
back again in the hallway. Here, take
it," he said, thrusting the handle of the
china mug into the strangers out
stretched hand, "and drink it slowly,
for it is very hot"
The man in the black cloak raised 1t
to his lips, drank Justify of the contents
and then drew himself together with a
show of renewed vitality that was most
gratifying to the good landlord For
his heart was touched with compassion
for this sorry looking traveller, whose
black hair was matted to his thin and
peaked face, and whose clothes dripped
with water, SO that a small pool of
liquid gathered upon the polished floor.
"Egad, but that has refreshed ME,
good landlord" he said, when there was
no coffee left. 81 would have tainted
surely had it not been for this quick re-
lief, but now feel as strong as ever,
and quite prepared to dry my clothes
before your roaring FIRE, which l see in
the next room, and to eat one of your far
famed dinners of pan fish, for have
tasted since daybreak, and the day has
been one of sore trial"
"Pray, enter and seat yourself, good
stranger" replied the innkeeper, "and
/ will soon have food and drink for
you. Zounds But by the looks of your
rIptbae I N,n,,id that yntt had haan