The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-04-20
CHAPTER I.
The Fall ing Star.

was genuinely tired when |
got back to the office, that
Wednesday afternoon, for it had
been a trying day-the last of the
series of trying days which had
marked the progress of the Min
turn case.
Besides. there was the heat, I'M
precedented for June.
MIR. Godfrey, SIR" said the
office-boy, and close upon the
words, Jim Godfrey entered.
How do you do 1t, Godfrey"
l asked. as he sat down.
do WHAT"
Keep SO fit"
BY getting a good sleep every
night. I'm staying at little place
I've leased for the summer up on
the far edge of the Bronx. I'm
going to take you up with me to-
night and I'm going to keep you
there till Monday. That will give
you five nights sleep and four
days rest.
'I'll call for you at the Mara
thon about ten-thirty. That's the
earliest | can get away" and in
another moment he was gone.
A little after ten that night
l was at the Marathon waiting fol-
Godfrey.
Just across the street cleaned
the lights of the police-station
where he and | had had more
than one adventure. For Godfrey
was the principal police reporter
on the Record.
1t was nearly eleven o'clock
before a car swung in from
the Avenue at a speed that
drew my eyes, and l saw that
Godfrey was driving it.
Jump in" he said, pushing
out his clutch and pausing at the
curb; and as sprang to the seat
beside him, he let the clutch in
again and we were off. mo time
to lose," he added, as he changed
into high, and turned up Seventh
Avenue.
At last, the built-up portion OF
the town was left behind; we
passed meadows and strips OF
woodland, with a house only here
and there.
Hold tight" and Godfrey
turned sharply through an open
gateway, and brought the car to a
stop. Then. snatching out his
watch, he leaned forward and held
1t in the glare of the side lamp,
Five minutes to twelve" he said.
I'VE can just make 1t. Come on,
Lester"
He sprang from the car. and ]
followed.
This way" he said. We were
in a grove of lofty trees, and at
the foot of one of these, Godfrey
paused. up with you," he add
ed, and placed my hand upon the
rung of ladder.
Too amazed to open my lips,
obeyed. The ladder was long one
and, as / went up and up, / could
feel Godfrey mounting after me.
do you see that big straight
limb? Sit down on it,"
I did so and in a minute God
frey was beside me.
"LoOk!" he said.
For an instant, | saw nothing
then my eyes caught what seem
ed to be star, bright, sharp, steel
blue
"Why, it's moving!" I cried.
The star was indeed moving.
Lower and lower It sank and
burst into a shower Of sparks and
vanished.
And those sparks fell upon the
shoulders of two white-robed fig
ures, standing apparently in space,
their arms rigidly extended, their
faces raised toward the heavens.
l followed Godfrey down the
ladder and made my way back to
the car. | climbed silently into
my seat, while Godfrey started
the motor. Then we rolled slowly
up the driveway, and stopped be-
fore the door of a house standing
deep among the trees.
wait for me here minute"
Godfrey said, and when l had
got out, handed me my suit case
and then drove the car to its
garage.
He was soon back, opened the
house door, and waved me in.
1t was a pleasant room, with
the simplest of furniture. The
night-breeze ruffled the curtains
at the windows, and filled the
room with the cool odor of the
woods. A tray containing some
cold meat, bread and butter,
cheese, and a few other things,
stood on a side table, and to this
Godfrey added two bottles of
Bass.
mo doubt you're hungry after