The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-05-21

soft-spoken old gentlemen should come
TO know what manner OF man | was.
He may have judged me OF timid
nature. / had travelled from office 10
office so long. and had so long rather
shrunk from any searching scrutiny
by my fellows. But, as | have said.
ar not by nature timid, and he should
come 10 know this clearly IL, indeed,
/ he had had any hand in the terrors OF
his niece. My infirmity should trouble
me not at all where the affairs OF my
| love were concerned, where any
sought 10 do evil TO her happiness.
The moon had risen and was cast
ing the long shadows of the trees in
| dainty lacery.7 Our house was set at
some distance from the main road, at
the end OF a winding lane IL was
! pleasant to be so out OF the hum or
anairs, so thrown by the nature or
our very surroundings into one anoth-
er's society. II ever q man was given
chance TO show himself plainly TO
the eyes OF his love | babe fair TO be
that man. | smiled as | looked out
upon the silver, moonlit ribbon OF our
lane Then every muscle in my body
grew tense, tor the dark shadow of
man had moved from the shade of one
great tree TO another.
| tiptoed quickly TO Nancy's door
and listened. There was no sound,
and was glad that she was tired
enough TO sleep in the face OF all that
she had gone through. Then | stole as
softly as | could down the creaking
stairs. and let myself out at the front
door, creeping from the porch in the
fortunate shelter of the vines. Almost
on hands and knees | worked myself
down the winding lane. taking little
shortcuts when | could with safety.
| When | had got some distance from
the house | stopped and waited behind
a great clump of hydrangeas.
The man, | considered with myself
in my hiding place, was in all prob
ability intruding innocently enough.
He might be a tramp looking for some
hay-stack or outbuilding. where he
could rest for the night, or he might
be some native of the place spying curl
ously upon the new arrivals: for our
looming must have smacked somewhat
OF mystery. But his approach had
seemed to me unnecessarily stealthy
had too much to guard TO be sloth
full guardian. | would at least give
this intruder a healthy shock of sur
prise. OF sudden the man himself
stole into the shadow of my bush,
bending nearly double. as | had bent.
He meant no honest thing certainly.
1 rose and softly took him by the
throat, and, with tightening fingers,
choked the scream that struggled
there.
What are you doing here?" | asked
in whisper.
The shadow was so intense that |
could not see his face, but his arms
waved convulsiyely in the darkness;
had not used my strength in so long
a time that | had forgotten its power
and how to temper it. | loosened my
fingers a little, and he drew a whist
ling breath, then. with his right fist he
stuck me with all his strength be-
tween the eyes, so that | reeled back
from him, tearing his collar and tie
away in my slipping clutch.
BY the time that | was on my feet
again he was already some distance
down the lane. started 10 run silent
ly after him; shout, feared, might
awaken Nancy from the sleep she so
needed. He turned his head a little
! and saw that | was gaining on him.
For q second his pace slackened.
, | hCu lG lulHtu HIMSELF
. about, and fired twice at me with
leveled revolver.
r The shots rang out in the stiffness.
like the thunder of a cannon. I
: turned and ran at the top of my speed
back to the house. for | was very
; much afraid the shots might have
awakened Nancy.
+ had left the front door unattached
so that let myself in without a sound,
! and, remembering the stairs that had
, creaked in my descent, | was able TO
/ gain the second floor almost noiseless.
!, ly. | listened again at Nancy's door.
, She was moving softly about the room.
. and | thought that | could hear the
! rustic of clothes, as If she were dress.
! ing.
r Did you call me?" asked in a low
voice.
/ No" she answered. speaking as
r softly as | had but thought that |
: heard you go out, and then some one
, fired revolver. Was II your"
NO" l said sit was probably some
village roisterer, who found the night
too quiet for him. Go back and get ALI
, the sleep you can; We have ali our
I domain to explore in the morning"
.