The Springdale news., 1912-11-08
tContinued from last week. )
 CHAPTER XII.
The Ride in the Dark.


 Not since my early boyhood has the terrible fear of darkness come over me as 1t did that night at eight as the three of us set out from Ardway The mystery of the journey, too, added to Its terrors. l had not seen Davis after his startling announcement of his nocturnal mission until he cane into the hotel dining-room for supper. All through the meal he had laughed and ehatted on all sorts of immaterial sub jeets, influenced undoubtedly by the fact that there were several others seated al the table with us There had been no opportunity for private conversation between us before we left the .hotel togethe a little before eight for q side street where Dodds, the constable. was waiting for Us with q vehicle
 We had fingered al the table until all the others had left. Just as We got up, Davis turned 10 me and in hardly pereeptible tone asked
 Have you got that revolver I gave you?a
 It's upstairs I answered. in the same uaderstone Do you want it?" No. he said significantly, touching his hip pocket, but you may
 hastened upstairs to get the weapon and when I returned he was waiting for me al the door and hurried me around the corner and into the blackboard. With Dodds crowded in between us We drove along the street leading away from the station and soon struck what Is locally known as the Plank Road. skirting chain of hills which the residents dignify by the name Of mountains. So preeipit ous and rocky are these that little ef fort had been made 10 cultivate them and the habitations are few and far between. There seemed 10 be prac- tieally no travel at night We eneoun- tered only one vehicle of any sort. and that was about two niles out from Ardway, when we heard an automobile in the distance behind us
 Turn out, whispered Davis to Dodds. and stop until 1t has passed us"
 The constable drew in under the StfdQt LII SOlIE titt5- IL NdS DIlCA dark. the only light coming from an ancient lantern hung over the dash board. As the automobile came near CT Davis unlocked the lantern and holding 1t down between his legs shielded 1t with the folds of long raincoat he was wearing The auto mobile dashed by us, apparently un- aware of our presence
 All right" said Davis. as soon as II had vanished in the distance. go on"
 Dodds drove on ia silence for per haps two miles farther. We passed little stone cottage nestling In a clear ing under the hill
 It's just beyond hereo" said Davis. note of inquiry in his voice
 Yep" said the constable. "Miller's Lane, they call it."
 Though in my city eyes there was no sign of road. Dedds, about three hundred yards beyond the cottage. pulled the horse sharply 10 the right and We began ascending a rocky lane that led almost straight up the hill
 Wait a minute" said Davis. and the constable checked the horse
 Jumping out quickly fhe inspector seized he lantern and dropping back q few paees began making what ap- feared 10 be minute examination of the road
 e'Tant much of a road" the con stable whispered 10 me while we wait ed eIts only used for logging. though when We come up here this afternoon ere was automobile tracks both go- ing and coming
 Any idea who made them ?" asked
 Nope but guess he knows" with a gesture iH the direction Of the lan- tern light.
 Just then Davis rejoined us, hang ing the lantern over the dashboard again Instead of resumine Lis seat, he knelt on the floor of the blackboard, peeriAg down at the road as it vas dmy revealed by the lantern.
 @Go ahead slowly, he ordered.
 As Dodds clucked to the horse leaned down beside Davis and asked
 What did you find?"
 Just what | expected The auto mobile is somewhere ahead of us"
 Whose is 1t e''
 T don't know yet,
 My curiosity would be denied no longer Hitherto had kept silent.