The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-10-05
anything in this

mo use trying to % anything IN this
darkness. Billy Tie lamps are
smashed and there are only Two
matches left move We follow this
road and see if ii will not bring us out
70 the highway"
GO ahead" ! said and 50 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 devastate
as did the vines that hedged our path.
A thick fog rolled in from the sound
and chung MOSTLY to us. 1t was re-
lief, rs 1t 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-
sionnIly 4Abner's temper got beyond
control. and lie complained bitterly Of
| tho hard luck that had overtHllen us,
| I made 10 comment, but. considering
that Abner's reckless driving had been
the cause Of our predicament, Thought
that his remarks We're III timed sure
" | was the innocent victim OF the ae-
cident for which Abner's savage frame
Of mind was alone responsible. Soreiv
tempted was as | stumbled among
the briers to remind him Of his respon-
| n hln in
the drizzling rain.
So we proceeded on our trnmp-it
may have been an hour, but 1t seemed
much Ionger-along the old wood road,
| which seemed to grow worse as we pro-
ceeded Once we got off the track and
wandered for time in the brush be
fore we again got Oh 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 little. and soon we
came on a rough turnpike. We
turned into it with the feeling that our
tourney would soon come TO nm cl1d
There must surely be some sort o.
shelter not far away "A Darn or even
y cow shed would At least afford rs
protection from tie rain, Which had he-
Gun TO fall steadily Ahncr still march
ed in advance and we made fair speed
over the rutte1 and quilted highway.
Suddenly his voice sounded i'll trl-
unlnhant shout ~ house, Billy. boy.
We're not in it SO bad after all
Il hope they will put Us on the right
road" | muttered. peering over what
seemed to be All ancient aibor vitae
hedge i don't see any house, Ab-
ner''
"Where there's hedge there's
house., he grunted. Follow me-
l followed. paving along the wet
sickness of the hedge until we turn
| ed into d 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 heavy clap OF
thunder and a bright fash Of lightning
that revealed large. old fashioned
, brick house
The dimensions of the structure were
lost III the blurring fog. but now we
F! could see that 1t loomed above Us
; gloomy and forbidding, with dark OBJ
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
SID OF henroost. All was quiet-dead-
~ still.
IN the intermittent flare Of lightning
we mounted a short flight Of stone
steps to broad covered veranda.
Something white was squarely outlined
against the blackness Of the door. Alb
ner sacrificed a precious match, and
we Deered at it:
To Be Let
Apply to Jonadab Little,
No Oo1 Broadway,
New York City.
"Well, Of all the luck" growled Alb
ner impatiently.
1--WE can't sit out in this drizzling
rain" objected. Lets get inside the
house and keep dry anyway
mot bad idea Of yours. don't
! suppose It's occupied" he consented
and led the way on an Investigation OF
the French windows that opened on
the veranda when they did open. for
Of course, they We're now securely
I locked
. We had circled the house twice and
!. were debating the prudence Of break
ing in when there came 9 startling
I shrek from within It was wild
! weird cry that seemed to echo through
, untenanted halls and spent itself il
distant murmurings that at last dice
away into silence
r 1--WE must get inside anyway" dc
cidad Ahner. There is a woman il