Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1913-11-14

mo use trying to do anything IN this
darkness. Billy. The lamps are
smashed. and there are only two
matches left. | move we follow this
road and see If it will not bring US Out
to the highway"
Go ahead" | said. and so we left
the scene of disaster. The wood road
was softly ~carpeted with dead leaves
and cunningly laced with wild black
berry and cat brier, for nothing else
could scratch and tear and deyastate
as did the vines that hedged our path.
A thick fog rolled in from the sound
and chung MOSTLY to MS. It was a re-
lief. as it seemed to tighten the dark
ness of the starless. moon forsaken
night.
| plodded along behind Abner Bur-
tons bulky form. which moved like a
fat shadow in the fog.
For a long time we followed the old
wood road, mostly in silence, but occa-
sionally Abner's temper got beyond
control. and he complained bitterly of
the hard luck hat had overtaken us.
| made no comment. but, considering
that Abner's reckless driving had been
the cause of our predicament, thought
that his remarks were III timed. Sure
ly | was the innocent victim of the ac-
| cident for which Abner's savage frame
of mind was alone responsible. Sorely
tempted was I as l stumbled among
the briers to remind him of hts respon-
sibi1ity for our d~isagreeable tramp In
the drizzling rain.
So we proceeded on Il tramp-it
may have been an hour, but it seemed
much longer-along the old wood road.
which seemed to grow worse as we pro-
ceeded. Once we got off the track and
wandered for a time in the brush be-
fore we again got on the road. Bad as
it was, 1t was our only hope. To lose
our way meant a most unpleasant
night In the wet and gloomy woods
without fire or shelter. Finally the
road broadened a little. and soon we
came on a rough turnpike. We
turned into It with the feeling that our
journey would oon come to an end.
There must surely be some sort of
shelter not far away. A barn or even
a COW shed would at least afford us
protection from the rain, which had be-
gun to fall steadily. Abner still march
ed In advance. and we made fair speed
over the rutted and quilted highway.
Suddenly his voice sounded in a tri-
nmphant shout. "A house, Billy, boy.
We're not in 1t so bad after ALL"
81 hope they will put us on the right
road" l muttered, peering over what
seemed to be an ancient arbor vitae
hedge. Il don't see any house. Abb
ner."
"Where there's a hedge there's q
house." he grunted. "Follow me-"
L followed, paving along the wet
sickness of the hedge until we turn
ed into q narrow opening and trod on
a graveled path that seemed to wind
sinuously around shadowy clumps OF
lockwood and tall shrubs pungent
smelling and dripping with moisture.
All at once, without even a warning
grumble, there came a heavy clap of
thunder and a bright fash of lightning
that revealed a large, old fashioned
brick house.
The dimensions of the structure were
lost in the blurring fog, but now we
could see. thatIt loQmed above u
gloomy and f6rbldding. with dark1o5
longs indicating closed shutters. We
were chilled by the silence Of the place
There was no bark Of watchful dog.
stir of restless cattle or midnight Cos
sip OF henroost. All was quiet-dead-
~ still.
In the intermittent fare of lightning
we mounted a short fight Of stone
steps to a broad. covered veranda.
Something white was squarely outlined
against the blackness of the door Alb
ner sacrificed a precious match. and
we peered at II:
To Be Let.
Apply to Jonadab Little.
No. COL Broadway.
Mon Vork CffW