The Green Forest tribune., 1915-05-28

great things of you over here, Edgar. We hear that you have been on the point of proving most unpleasant things with regard to our origin"
 Oh! there is no doubt about that" the professor observed Where we came from and where we are going to are questions which no longer afford room for the slightest doubt to the really scientific mind. What sometimes does elude us is the nature of our tendencies while we are here on earth"
 There was brief silence. The port had been placed upon the table and cof- fee served The servants, according to the custom of the house, had de- parted. The great apartment was empty. Even Quest was impressed by some peculiar significance in the long-drawn-out silence. He looked around him uneasily. The growing re- gerd of that long line of painted war I45is seemed somehow to be 1uIf Of menace. There was something grim, too, in the sight of those empty suits of armor
 q may be superstitious, Lord Ash leigh said, but there are times espe- cially just lately, when I seem to find a new and hateful quality in silence. What is it, wonder? I ask yo, but think l know. It is the conyictiou that there is some alien presence, some thing disturbing, lurking close at hand"
 He suddenly rose to his feet, pushed his chair back and walked to the win dow, which opened level with the ground. He threw it up and listened. The others came over and joined him. There was nothing to be heard but the distant hooting of an owl, and farther away the barking of some farmhouse dog. Lord Ashleigh stood there with straining eyes, gazing out across the park.
 There was something here" he muttered; 'something which has gone. Whats that? Quest. your eyes are younger than mine. Can you see any thing underneath that tree?"
 Quest peered out into the gray dark ness.
 T fancied I saw something moving in the shadow of that oak" he nut tered. Wait"
 He crossed the terrace, swung down on to the path, across the lawn over wire fence and into the park itself All the time he kept his eyes fixed on a certain spot. When at last he reached the tree there was nothing there. He looked all around him. He stood and listened for several mo- ments. A more utterly peaceful night or more utter peace it would be hard to imagine. Slowly he made his way back to the house.
 T imagine we are all a little nervy tonight" he remarked. There's noth- ing doing out there"
 They strolled about for a hour or more, looking into different rooms, showing their guest the finest pictures, even taking him down into the wonder full cellars. They parted early, but Quest stood, for few moments before retiring, gazing about him with an air almost of awe. His great room, as large as an Italian palace, was lit by dozen wax candles in silver candle sticks. His four-poster was supported by pillars of black oak, carved into strange forms, and surmounted by the Ashleigh coronet and coat-of-arms. He threw his windows open wide and stood for a moment looking out across the park, more clearly visible now by the light of the slowly rising moon. There was scarcely a breeze stirring, scarcely sound even from the animal world. Nevertheless, Quest, too, as re- luctantly he made his preparations for retiring for the night. was conscious of that auer sensation of unimagined and impalpable danger.
 CTO BE CONTINUED)