The evening world., 1915-02-15

Waking bfo08nt ~ oooo08y
dismal shack Of ioes n the mides g
;cr"srS s%s ,SsoasS SlsSa'ns .As v.ss:. d,:osv:s.
ins no pstn, until I attained ths door.
IL was closed but unfasteueds and,
revolver In hand, I opsned 70 softly
and stepped within. Thefo. Wa4 eW
one room, and that bafS, sxespt ioe
an empty boz or two ana . few d.
cardsd garments hanging from peee
against the wail. \ gun with brohea
lock stood In one corner besde ~
axe. and . rudsay eoastruoted eres
place occupied one END. There wee
no other entrance. ana me sn91s
window was securely closed.
whosvsr the former occupant mlons
BE-, or whsrs he had gone. was g
small moment 70 me just tnen:
was enough 70 b ascSrsd tnss s
, food fragments renewed my con-
sciousness of hunger, revtvsd ny
sense Of chilly discomfort. ! glanced
without into the storm ana closed the
door, changing the interior Into twi.
iisht sloom. Using the axe, ] soon
had q cheerful fire going, and - ne
warmth of the flame became per-
] cept,bls began aager search Tor some
thing to eat.
II vas Cowan, no doubt, ana his
| mo,intaineers who had attacked my
| com panions, and there would be III.
tie mercy shown. This hut likely was
the abode OF one Of the gang. ana !
gaxed about In renewed disgust. ~
would. be well for me 70 De awy ,s
forc the owner returned; yet ! nn-
gered, seduced by the warmth of the
Are and dreadlng the storm without.
The fellow would not come back
probably until the snow ceased. Nor
| aid 1 in the least know whore wes
to ro--except that must push along
TO the north, out OF Cowan's coun-
try.
onos In the neighborhood Of Lewie-
burg I would be on more fnmhSr
ground, and could eroceed with tne
work assigned me. II there were reo-
eral troops there ! would co,Sy snt M
nroc,nim my own purpose rs a re-
cruitiuR officer and request protec-
tion. Ny papers. my intimacy win
can't. Fox and the knowledge through.
ont the district that Lieut.. Raymond
had been detailed to this service
would disarm all suspicion. And N
my Judgment Le~tsovfg ~ IN .ns' ~
ibie at the other end Of the gap.
1 found the road aad TOOK up my
''Sdsy Few iog nu.s Appeared along the
curying road. the one nearest me "a
ruins, while q gaunt chimney eesido
q broad stream unbrsdesd was ~
that remained Of . former mhl. =.
Beyond this. n m.oss mA o. : sr"S sros.tsS v
: white, was the only conslicuoue feA.
.. ture in the landscape: l reco3nisee
a II Al once as the resideu6o of AA3ol
Nv SSss rsstsd upon II. a. msmcr!
A of the man and his fate surged treshlI
bacN intb' mind. The place hud osei
spared dessTuSs1Sn; S ~. Ssstsncs .h.r
.. was nothing to indicate that the nous
9 / went straight forward, to the W
q The front steps were broken. spin
. tered Is II by an axe. and the support
r ing pillars Of the wide veranda hal
= been hacked and gashed. The 900
windows to the right were smashed ID
sash and all, leaving wide opening.
J. Ny revolver was under the nap q
my cavalry Jacket. dry and ready TO
use. I brought Il forward. within cas-
! grip, and stepped over the sill. NJ
;, feet touched carpet. Uttered VIII
y y broken glass, and l felt about cav
tiously. locating an overturned chail
= and . cushioned settee. minus one -!
y, cropped about, found mmI
J. lighted Il and began to explore. tn
= library, q large room. the walls line
= with bookcases, afforded no encour
:, :, agement, but I stopped In amasemer
y at the door, Of the dining room-tR
light Of my lamp revealing . tAbIe .
4 which some one had lately eatsn, q
|. parentiy alone. There was 2 sing
plate, n cup and saucer. q halt losx :
bone, with considerable meat remain
Ing untouched. and q small china tee
is pot. For an Instant the uncxpecte
r sight OF these articles fascinated m
and then my eyes caught dull gleaI
" in the fireplace at the opposite end
N the room-ths RED gieam Of . Nv
~ ember.
d. dence Of my own eysc nThy Is ~
but the rejection Of the light hel
tx in my hands. Yet u step forwAr
convinced me--the ashes OF the flrs
X place radiatsd warmth; sono one the
ID had been In that very room Wth'
ID an hour, had warmed himself thsr
" and partaken of food.
ly Ny heart beat fast. but from ex
- ClteTnent, not ,teaI. VAIN CocAco
ID volver In one hand. the lamp In On
g. other. I silently opened door afts
- door, peering into vacant apartment
half thinking every shadow to ee
N skulkins fiEurs. ! moupted the osc
stairway, a strip Of rag carpet ren
h. der4ng my steps silent. and. wit
70 head above the landing. flashed "a
iight cautiously along the upper hal
There were doors on either side. IN
Of most Of them open. but the third !
A the left wns closed. There was. n
I transom over II. but the door wa
IN far enough away from the radius
a my lamp 90 az to reveal faint gio'
Of OF light at the floor line. sat tn
lamp down on the landing and creI
m nolselessly forward TO assure myself
%. II was true. a light was burning With
4. In the closed room. IT.
N CHAPTER w.
q. The Mistvess Of the House.