Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-11-17

lousy careful to give the members of
the force every bit of credit they de-
served-sometimes considerably more
than they deserved. In consequences.
ne a the entree at times when other
reporters We're vigorously barred.
1t was nearly II O'clock before Cod
frey arrived that ever ing, but l was
neither surprised nol impatient. 1
knew how many n unexpected were
the demands upon his time: and | al
ways found a lively interest in watch
ing the comings and goings at the
station across the way-where, alas,
the entrances far exceeded the exits!
But finally, 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 n pausing at the curb; and
as 1 grabbed my suitcase and sprang
to the seat beside him. he let the
clutch In again and we We're off. mo
time to lose," he added, as he changed
into high, and turned up Seventh ave-
nue..
At the park, he turned westward to
the circle, and then .northward again
out Amsterdam avenue. There was
little traffic, and we We're 500 skim
ming along at a speed which made me
watch the cross streets fearfully. In
a few minutes we were across the
Harlem and running northward along
the un1nteresting streets beyond. At
this moment, it occurred to me that
Godfrey was behaving si%ngularly as
though he were fastening to keep an
appointment; but / judged it best not
TO distract his attention from the
street before us, and restrained the
question which rose to my lips.
AT last, n built-up portion of the
town was left behind; we passed little
houses in little yards. then meadows
and gardens and strips of woodland,
with a house only here and there. We
were no longer on a paved street, but
on a macadam rOad-a road apparently
little used, for our lamps, sending long
streamers of light ahead of us, dis
closed far empty stretches, without We
hicle of kind. There was no moon,
and the stars were half obscured by a
haze of cloud, while along the horizon
to the west, l caught the occasional
glow of distant lightning.
And then the sky was suddenly blot
ted out, and l saw that we were rum
ming along an avenue Of lofty trees.
h road at the left was bordered by
a hig stone wall, evidently the boun-
Diary of an important estate. We were
soon past this, and l felt the speed of
the car slacken
Hold tight" said Godfrey, as he
turned sharply through an open gate
way and brought the car to a stop.
Then. %snatching out his watch, he
leaned forward and held it in the glare
OIL luc SIG lamp. give minutes to
49," he said. we can lust make it.
Come on, Lester"
He sprang from the car, and 1 fol-
lowed, realizing that this was no time
for questions.
This way he said, n held out a
hand to me, or I should have lost him
in the We were in a grove
OF lofty trees, and at the foot of one
of these, Godfrey paused. up with
YOU he added; and don't lose any
time" M he placed my hand upon
the rung of a ladder.
Too amazed to open my lips, 1
obeyed. The ladder was a long one,
and, as l went up and up, / could feel
Godfrey mounting after me. l am
not expert at climbing ladders. even by
daylight. and my progress was not rap
enough to suit my companion, for he
a breath of relief, L felt that / had
reached the top.
What now?" 1 asked.
d you see that big, straight limb
running out to your right?"
Yes l said, for my eyes were grow
ing accustomed to the darkness.
Sid down on it, and hold on to the
ladder"
1 did so somewhat gingerly, and in
a minute Godfrey was beside me.
Now" he said, in a voice low and
tense with excitement. look out.
straight ahead. And remember to hold
on to the ladder
II could see the hazy mist of the open
sky, and from the fitful light along
the horizon, l knew that we were look
ing toward the west. Below me
was a mass of confused shadows.
which l took for clumps of shrubbery.
Then l felt Godfrey's hand close up-
on my arm.
Look" he said.
For an instant. 1 saw nothing; then
my eyes caught what seemed to be a
new star in the heavens: a star bright.
sharp. steel blue
why, it's moving" 1 cried.
He answered with a pressure of the
fingers.
The star was indeed moving: not ris-
ing, nor drifting with the breeze. but
descending, descending slowly, slowly
l watched it with parted lips,
leaning forward, my eyes straining at
that falling light.
Failing is moi the word; nor is
drifting" 1t did not fall and it did
not drift. 1t deliberately descended.
In a straight line. at a regular speed.
calmly II evenly, as though animated
by some definite purpose. Lower and
lower it sank: then it seemed to pause.
to hover in the air. and the next in
slant 1t burst into q shower of sparks
and vanished.
And those sparks fell upon the
shoulders Of two white robed figures.
standing apparently in space, their
arms rigidly extended, their faces
raised toward h heavens.
CHAPTER II.
A STRANGE NEIGHBOR.
Mechanically I followed Godfrey
Gown the ladder. and, guided by the
naring lights, made my way back to