The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-11-18

and saw that Godfrey was driving IL.
Jump in" he said, pushing out his
clutch and pausing at the curb; and
| as grabbed my suitcase and 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 ave-
nue..
At the park, he turned westward to
the circle, and then northward again
out Amsterdam avenue. There was
little traffic, and we were soon 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 uninteresting streets beyond. AT
this moment, 1t occurred to me that
Godfrey was behaving singularly as
though he were Fastening to keep an
appointment; but l judged 1t best not
to distract his attention from the
street before us, and restrained the
question which rose to my lips.
At last, the 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
We're no longer on a paved street, but
on macadam road-a road apparently
little used, for our lamps, sending long
steamers of light ahead of US, dis
closed far empty stretches, without We
hicle of any kind. There was no moon,
and the stars were half obscured by q
haze OF cloud. while along the horizon
to the west, 1 caught the occasional
glow Of distant lig, thing.
And then the sky was suddenly blot
ted out, and saw that we were run
ming along an avenue of lofty trees.
The road at the left was bordered by
high stone wall, evidently the boun-
dairy Of an important estate. We were
soon past this, and 1 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.
leaned forward and held it in the glare
of the side lamp. Five minutes to
H." he said. I'VE can just make it.
Come on, Lester"
He sprang from the car, and I fol-
lowed, realizing that this was no time
for questions.
This way" he said. and held out a
hand to me, or l should have lost him
in the darkness. 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" and he placed my hand upon
the rung of a ladder.
Too amazed to open my lips, ]
obeyed. The ladder was q long one
and, as 1 went up and up, 1 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
kept urging me on. But at last, with
breath of relief. felt that 1 had
reached the top.
What now" l asked.
hat
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"
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"
could see the hazy mist OF the open
sky, and from the fitful light along
the horizon, knew that we were look
ing toward the west. Below me
was a mass Of confused shadows,
which took for clumps Of shrubbery.
Then 1 felt Godfrey's hand close up
on my arm.
Look" he said.
For an instant, I 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!" I 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 1t with parted lips,
leaning forward, my eyes straining al
that falling light.
Failing" is not the word; nor "a
drifting" 1t did not fall and it did
not drift. 1t deliberately descended
in straight line, at a regular speed,
calmly and evenly, as though animated
by some definite purpose. Lower and
lower it sank; then 1t seemed to pause,
to hover in the air. and the next in
slant it burst into a shower Of sparks
and vanished.
And those sparks fell upon the
shoulders Of two white obed figures
standing apparently in space, their
arms rigidly extended, their faces
raised toward the heavens.