The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-07-18
copyright: 1914: By Harold MacGrath.l
CHAPTER I.
A CALL IN THE NIGHT,

A CALL IN THE NIGHT.
WHERE are few things darker than o
country road at night, particularly II
one does not know the lay of the land.
1t is not difficult to traverse a known
path no matter how DARK it is, one is able to
find the way by the aid Of a mental photo
graph taken in the daytime. But supposing
you have never been over the road in the day
time, that you know nothing whatever Of its
topography, where it dips or rises, where it
narrows or forks. You find yourself in the
same unhappy state of mind as a blind man
suddenly thrust into a strange house.
One black night, along a certain country
road, in the heart of New Jersey, in the days
when the only good roads were city thorough
fares and country highways were routes to
limbo, a carriage went forward cautiously.
From time to time it careened like a blunt
nose barge in a beam sea. The wheels and
springs voiced their anguish continually; for
1t was a good carriage, uLLccustomed to such
Euts and hummocks.
Faster, f~asterI" came a mufHed voice
from the interior.
"Sir, 1 dare not drive any faster" replied
the c%oachman. Al can't see the horses heads,
sir, let alone the road. I've blown out the
lamps, but I can't see the road any better for
that"
"Let the horses have their heads; they'll
find the way. It can't be much farther.
You'll see lights"
The coachman swore 10 his teeth. All
right. This man who was In such a hurry
would probably send them al into the ditch.
Save for the few stars above, he might have
been driving Beelzebub's coach in the Bottom
less Pit. Black velvet, everywhere black vel
vet. A wind was blowing, and yet the black
ness was SO thick that it gave to the coach
man the sensation of milo suffocation.
By and by, through the trees, he saw a
flicker of light. 1t might or might not be the
destination. He cracked his whip recklessIy
and the carriage lurched on two wheels. The
man in the carriage balanced himself carefully,
80 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" "
Eyes, 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:
4 MISS FARLow's PRIVATE SCHOOL.
The bundle in his arms stirred and he hur'
ried up the path to the door of the house. HI
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'll"
"That's a good word, sir. Maybe we cal
make your train"
do you think you could find this plac'
again."
"You couldn't get me on this pike again
sir, for a thousand not me
The door slammed and the unknown sanl
back against the cushions. He took out hi
handkerchief and wiped the damp perspiratiol
from his forehead. The big burden was off hi
mind. Whatever happened in the future, the
would never be able to get him through hi
heart. So much for the folly Of his youth.