Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-11-18

avenue at a speed that drew my eyes,
and 1 saw that Godfrey was driving it.
Jump in" he said, pushing out his
clutch and 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 were off. NO
time to lose" he added, as he changed
n 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 soon skim
ming along at a speed which made me
watch the cross streets fearfully. In
a few minutes we We're across the
Harlem running northward along
the undressing streets beyond. At
this moment, it occurred to me that
Godfrey was behaving singularly as
though he We're fastening to keep an
appointment; III 1 judged it 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
n gardens n strips of woodland,
with a house only here and there. We
We're no longer on a paved street, BIT
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
hlcle of any kind. There was no moon,
and he's stars were half obscured by a
haze OF cloud. while along the horizon
to the west, | caught the occasional
glow OF distant lig. thing.
And then the sky was suddenly blot
ted out, and 1 saw that we were run-
ming along an avenue Of lofty trees.
The road at the left was bordered by
a high stone wall, evidently the boun-
Diary of an important estate. We were
soon past this, and l felt the speed Of
the car Stacker
Hold Tight" said Godfrey, as he
turned sharply through al open gate
way and brought the car to a stop.
Then, snatching out his watch, he
leaned forward and held it in the glare
of the side lamp. Five minutes TO
~" he said. w can just 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. and held out a
hand to me, or l should nave lost him
in the darkness. We We're 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 nv lips. T
obeyed. The adder was a long one,
and as l went up n up, l 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 for he
kept urging me on. But at last, with
a breath Of relief, l felt that I had
reached the top.
What now?" l asked.
DO o see that big, straight limb
running out to your right?"
Yes, said, for my eyes We're grow
ing accustomed to the darkness.
Sid dow on it, and hold on to the
ladder" ~
l 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, l knew that we were look.
ing toward the west. Below me
was a mass of confused shadows,
Wnlch took for clumps Of shrubbery.
Then l felt Godfrey's hand close uu-
on my arm.
Look" he said.
o an instant, 1 saw nothing: her
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 ayes straining at
that falling light.
Railing" is not 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 and 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
and vanished.
And those sparks fell upon the
shoulders of two white-robed figures.
standing apparently in space, their
arms rfgidly extended, their faces
raised toward the heavens.