The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-18
Edited by MARY MARSHALL

1t was the end of September that we
left home for the summer holiday in
the Oldest part Of Canada. The others
went by train all the way. but I de-
cided to ride back part of the way on
my bicycle. And everything was fine
on the first day. until towards even
ing. when 1 was still quite distance
from the village 1 intended to stop at
over night. storm began to come
! above the horizon. black clouds hid
the sun, and the first thing 1 knew l
made the wrong turn and to make my
troubles worse 1t began to rain.
Well, sometime after that l came to
a branch road. with a sign post. and
as I didn't mean to get lost again. if
1 could help it. Skinned up the post
with my bicycle lamp in hand and
made out that if l took the branch
road I'd come to a wayside inn in
couple of miles or so. 1t wasn't much
of a road--and the going was pretty
rough-frst across a wild open stretch
and then through a grove Of mrs.
where 1t was as black as your hat.
and the wind moaned fearfully through
the branches overhead.
When I got out into the open again
I came to an old church. with a big
square tower. black and lonely enough
to give you the creeps. not to mention
| the tombstones standing all round it.
and nothing else in sight but that road.
| To
it. To cap it all. as a kind of last
straw. the rain began to come down
in bucketfuls. I dragged the bicycle
up against the hedge fence and made
for the church porch at top speed.
l cleared out again. Just as l was
crossing the churchyard. I thought I saw
! a kind OF light in one of the windows:
| but 1t went as quick as it came, and Id
| made up my mind it was all in my eye,
| so to speak, when. sure enough, there 1t
! was again. Well. it seemed rather funny.
| though l reckoned It might be the sex
! ton doing something or other. At all
| events 1 went back and got a stone and
took a good look through the window.
to make sure: but me queer thing was.
! couldn't see anything: it looked as
| dark and quiet as an empty grave.
Id just about concluded it was fancy
| after all and was going to get down.
when / saw the light again, and no mis-
! take about it this time. 1t was like the
| flame OF match. but that was all l
could make out through the colored
! glass. at first. Luckily. hit on a small
hole. where 1t was broken little, and
| when l put my eye close l could see in
easily.
There was a mana tramp-lookinS fe
low-ovcr on the other side of the church.
I could just make out he was forcing
open an alms-box with a short iron bar.
Once or twice he stopped to light an
other match and take a look around, and
the chance Of his spotting my head
through the window fairly made my skin
tingle. But somehow l couldn't move
sort of fascinated, l suppose. Luckily
ne didn't see me. though.
Well, I'm pretty big boy for my age.
and just then | was feeling about as fit
1 took another look at him to weigh up
my chances. He was little taller than
me, thought. and had a wiry look about
him, and might be 4 mean one to tackle:
but he wasn't likely to be in any extra
special form, and anyway whether he
was or not. I'd set my teeth by that
time and got my back up.
The light was out again, and this time
he didn't seem in hurry to get another,
so l guessed he was busy filling his
pockets. and would soon be making for
the door. So I slipped round to the
porch again, squeezed into the darkest
corner, got my fists ready for action.
took one or two good long brcaths, and
waited to see what would happen. If it
hadn't been for the leaves the wind had
blown in there. he'd have been pretty
sure to hear me. no doubt.
1t seemed an awful long time that I
stood there, squeezed up, though / dare
say 1t wasn't more than a few minutes,
really; but, at last, I heard. the handle
of the door turn in q sneaking sort of
way. and then, out he came. felt sure
he would sec me; my heart was going
like 2 young sledgehammer. But he
didn't; so when he turned to close the