The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-06-27
tcopyright, 1914. ny Harold Mac
Grathl.
CHAPTER l.

tcopyrigh,, 1914. ny Harold Mac
Grathl.
CHAPTER l.
A Call In the Night.
nHERE are few things darker
than a country road At night.
particularly n ono does not
know the lay OF tho land. II IL not
difficult 20 traverse a known path :.
no matter how dark II is. one Is
able TO find the way by the aid OF
a mental photograph taken tn the
daytime. But supposlng yon have
never been over the road ~ the
daytime. that you know nothing
whatever OF its topography. where
n dips or rises. where II narruws
or forks. You find yourself in the
same unhappy state OF mind as q
blind man suddenly thrust into a
strange house.
One black night. along certain
country road. In the heart OF New
Jersey. In the days when the only
good roads were city thoroughfares
and country highways we're routes
70 limbo. a carriage went forward
cautiously. From time to time II
careened like a blunt-nose barge In
4 beam sea. The wheels and springs
voiced their anguish continually;
for II was a good carriage. unaccus.
toned to such ruts and hummocks.
Faster. faster," came a muffled
voice from the interior.
"Sir. dare not drive any faster"
replied the coachman. Il can't see
the horses heads. sir. let alone the
road. I've blown out the lamps,
hut can't see the road any bet
ter for that"
LET the horses have their heads.
they'll find the way. II cant be
much farther. You'll see lights"
The coachman swore in bis teeth
All right. This man who was In
such hurry would probably send
them all into the ditch Save for
the few stars above. he might have
been driving Beelxebub's coach In
the Bottomless Pit. Black velvet.
everywhere black velvet A wind
was blowing. and yet tho blackness
vas 70 thick that II gave TO the
coachman the sensation OF mild suf.
location.
BY and by. through the trees. he
NV : flicker of light. 1t might or
might not be the destination. He
cracked his whip recklessly and the
carriage lurched on two wheels.
The man in the carriage balanced
himself carefully so that the bundle
In his arms should not be unduly
disturbed. His arms ached. He
stuck his head out OF the window.
That's the place" he said. And
when you drive up make as little
noise as you can"
Yes. sir" called down the driver.
When the carriage drew up at
its journeys end the man inside
jumped out and fastened toward
the gates. He scrutinized the sign
on one OF the posts This was the
place:
Miss Fariow's Private School.
The bundle IN his arms stirred
and he hurried up the path to the
door of the house. He seized the
ancient knocker and struck several
times He then placed the bundle
on the steps and ran back TO the
waiting carriage. into which he
stepped.
"Of with you,"
That's good word, sir. Maybe
We can make your train"
DO you think you could find
this place again."
you couldn't get me on this pike
again, sir. for thousand: not mel"
1t was a quarter after 10. Miss
Susan Farlow had Just returned to
the reception room from her night.
ly tour of the upper halls to see
II all her charges were in bed,
where the rules OF the school con
fined them after $3.50. II was at
this moment that she heard the
thunderous knocking at the door.
The old maid felt her heart stop
beating for moment. Who could
II be at this time Of night? Then
the thought came swiftly that per.
haps the parent of some one OF her
charges was Ill and this was the
summons. Shilling her fears, she
went resolutely to the door and
opened IT.
There was no one in sight.
who Is it?" she called.
No one answered. She cupped
her hand to her ear. She could hear
the clatter OF horses dimly.
Welt" she exclaimed, rather
angrily, too.
She was in the act OF closing the
door when the light from the hall
discovered to her the bundle on the
steps. She stopped and touched 1t
Good heavens, it's child"
She picked the bundle up. A
whimper came from II, a tired 1T
tie whlmper Of protest. She rar
back TO the reception room. A
foundlingl And on her doorstep!
1t was incredible.
Then she unwrapped the child
1t was about year old, dimpled and
golden haired. A thumb was in iti
rosebud mouth and its blue eyes
looked up trustfuily into her own.
why, you cherub" cried the OLE
maid, strange turmoil In her heart
She caught the child to her breast
and then for the first time no
ficed the thick envelope pinned Il
the child's cloak. She put the babj
into a chair and broke open tn.
envelope.
Name this child Florence Gray
/ will annually send liberal sun
for her support and reclaim her OF