The Washington herald., 1914-11-01
ICAMP-FoRITHE-NIGHT

t-CAMP-kOH-THE-Nl9HT.
well, gentsl" tie driver observed cheerfuIly
Withdrawing head and hands from long and init
mate communion with the stubborn genius beneath
the hood, Il reckon you-an mays well make up
yore minds TO christen this-hyeh salubrious spot
Campforthe-Night You wont be goin' no fartheh
not just t present Pulling this old wagon
through them desert sands back yondeh has Just
naturally broke the heart Of that engine!"
What, precisely, is the trouble?" Alan Law In
quired, rousing from anxious preoccupation.
Plumb bust all to hell" the chauffeur ex-
planned tersely.
Nothing could be fairer, more exact and CON-
prehensive than that Tom Barcus commented
others humor. His worried eyes reviewed the
scene Of the breakdown.
What's to be done?" he wondered aloud.
Take 1t calm" the afable chauffeur advised.
"Frettin' won't get you-all nothin' If 1t was me,
I'd call It a day, make fire get them cushions out
of the cysh, and get some rest You can't do moth
in till get back, anyway, and that won't be much
before sunup"
where are you gofng2" Barcus demanded.
''Walkn', friend; just walkin'-"
"What for?"
''To fetch help-Ieastways, onless yo've got some
kick comm and 'ud ruther stop hyeh permanent"
He turned on and busted himself with prepara-
tions against his journey.
. Its simply things like this make me believe
this isn't after ALL nothing more nor less than
long-drawn-out nightmare" Barcus observed
Mr.. Law was not attending: he had turned away
and was Just then standing by the running board
of the motor car and civilly explaining to Miss
Judith Trine the purpose Of the chauneur's expes
dition. s4 f.
Discovery of this circumstance worked aNdeep
wrinkle between the brows as well as into the
humor Of Mr.. Barcus.
Here, he promised himself, situation to
titiIlate the Comic Muse itself He pointed outNin
f1rn fha aavaraI ear
derelict in the hollow of those awful and silent
hills-tor al the world Ike mouse petrihed with
fright at finding itself in the midst Of herd Of
elephants; in the car that aged monomaniac, Mr..
Seneca Trine author OF all their woes and misad-
ventures, gnashing his teeth in impotent rage to
find himself in close juxtaposition to and helpless
to injure the man for whose life he lusted with
insatiate passion the latter standing outside the
car, in polite conversation with Mr. Trine's mutt
Judith-tSlking to her in the friendliest fash
ion imaginable, precisely II she had not fallen
little short of composing his death, not once but
half dozen times; Judith herself poised on the
running board and smiling down at her victim with
a warmth patiently even more than the warmth Of
friendship; and at some little distance Rose, Mr..
Laws hancee and Judths sister, eating her heart
out with jealousy of this newsprung intimacy be-
tween her sister and her loyeri
BAD business, my friend!" Barcus mentally.
apostrophized the unwtting Alan Law. bad busi-
ness-and only the beginning of it, or I'm no
prophet If you had the wit with which Providence
has endowed the domestic goose you'd realize that
you might well encourage the attentions Of coy
young cyclone the affections of that handsome,
outstanding and able-bodied young woman who's
spiIing her heart out of her eyes into yours this
blessed minute as ever was! Not to mention the
trouble you're brewing for yourself with the young
woman to whom your affections are unswervingly
devoted"
He interrupted himself to nod knowingly and
with profound conviction: 'I knew it. Now It
begins againl"
For Rose had abruptly taken hand in the affair.
q gesture of evaporation prefacng her cali:
"Alan!"
To her Mr. Law turned instantly. with such alac-
rity that none who watched might doubt. which a
the two women came first in his esteem
Nor was this wasted upon the understanding OF
Judith. Eyeing her narrowly though furtively, Mr.
Barcus saw her handsome face darken ominously.
And her father was as quick to recognize these
portents Of trouble and to seek to advantage him
self of them.
His head craned out horribly on his long, wasted
neck as he pitched sibilsnt whisper for her ears
and his face in the moonlight seemed to glow with
the reflection of that inferno which smoldered in
his evil bosom
But one was siIenced, the other quenched. all in
q twinkling His daughter turned on him in
fash of imperial rage.
BE SILENT" Barcus heard her say. Be silent. do
you hear? Don't ever speak to me again unless
you want to replace that gag II say, don't
speak to mei am finished With you once
and for all time: never again shall you peryert my
nature to your damnnble purposss-never again
shall word or wish Of yours drive me to lit mys
hand against man who has never done you the
least HARM though your persecution Of him wehld
have acquitted him Of charge Of manslaughter Ia
any court-on grounds Of .self-defensei Dr-
derstand mel she ragged I'm through. Hence
forth go my way, and you yours
Her voice broke. She clenched hsr hands into
two tight fists with the effort at selfeontrol and