The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1913-05-15
OyN FLETCHER RODlNSON

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may be TO owning had never been
there. But remembered that l was
Abel Kingsley. Of Memphis. just in
time.
NO." | said. Its something quite
unique"
IT'S a Wild place. sir" he went on.
Very Wild and desolate. You should
take walk one night when the moon
Is full. as It is now. Then you would
understand how the stories Of ghost
hounds aud headless riders and devils
In the mires first started. Mr.. Hearne
here is going to take my advice"
"Tonight?" asked. : turning to the
old fellow.
mo. Mr.. Kingsley. am too tired
to think of 1t tonight" he said. ITO
morrow or the next day, perhaps"
l wished them good evening and
tramped up the stairs to my sitting
room. which looked over the moors
at the back OF the inn. 1t was GER
tainly a splendid night. with a great
searchlight OF moon drawing the
strange tors-as they call the granite
caps OF the hills-in black silhouette
upon the luminous skyline. l lit a
pipe and sat there In the shadows,
thinking. thinking. 1t was pleasant
to be decent man again, to wear
clean linen and boots with real soles
to wash and shave and brush myself
daily / was back In my Eden days
before the fall, when six hunters were
In my stable, and men and women
were glad to know Jack Henderson
OF Lowood Hall In the best OF coun-
ties; yes, I was away from Prince
town village In the midst Of happy
memories when | came to my senses
with the sound of soft tap-tappfng
under the window. There were tip-
toe skulking footsteps on the gravel
OF the yard; Heaven knows but my
ear had been well trained to such
steps as those.
I crept softly to my window and
peered out. The man was almost
across the yard, moving In the shadow
OF the pig-sties. AS he stopped at the
wicket-gate that opened on to the
moor, he turned his head to the moon.
1t was Hearne again.
decided on that instant. | slipped
on my boots and ran down the stairs.
The landlord was locking up for the
night as l came to the front door.
I'm going to take your advice" |
said with laugh.
Very good. sir: will sit up for
you"
mo. no, give me the key. Has Mr..
Hearne gone to bed?"
Yes, sir, about ten minutes ago."
His room is on the first floor,
isn't it?"
mo, sir; he chose one on the
ground floor. He preferred It,"
The wiser man. thought l. He need.
ed no door when he had but to open
his window and step out.
When l got to the back of the inn
Hearne was a good four hundred
yards away. climbing a low ridge. AS
he disappeared over it's edge set on
running at top speed, for | saw that
In so broken and rugged place l
should have to keep close to his heels
or should lose him altogether. 1t
was well did SO, for when l reached
the crest OF the rise he had vanished.
Presently, however. / caught sight
OF him again, walking very fast down
a hollow at right angles to the line he
hrst took. 1t led in the direction of
the cairn hill.
1t was hard work, that two miles
stalk across the moor. Sometimes
ran, sometimes crawlcd, sometimes
lay fiat on my chest with my head
buried in the heather like an ostrich
Once / tried to cut a corner across
what seemed a plot of level turf and
struggled back, painting, from the
grasp Of the bog with the black slime
almost to my waist. But took great
credit for my performance since the
old man tramped steadily forward
showing no sign of having seen me.
He did not climb the cairn hill as
had half expected, but skirted along
the base until he came to the track
which led to the ruined farm. Down
this he walked quickly and passed
through the doorway of the main build
ing. remained upon .hc sloro of the
hill, waiting for him to reappear
Five. ten minutes went by. and then
my curiosity got the better of my
determined to 60 down
and see what he was about.
The place was sheltered from the
gale, but I could hear it yelping and
in the rocks above, now and
again gust came curling up the val
ley. setting the heather Whispering
around me. crept forward over the
soft turf of the cart track, reached
the gap where the door had been hes
Itated. listened. and then stuck In INV
head.
had been a boxer in my time or
that would have been the end of me
AS | ducked, the heavy stick licked
on my cap and crashed into the wall
with a nasty thud. Jumped back
ard he came storming out through
The doorway like a mailman. l never
~ @ 4 ooAE