The Washington herald., 1916-01-02

him, and together We rolled in the
snow.
DO be careful, JohnI' I cried as
rose and shook the snow from my
heavy ulster.
Bad luck1l attend us now. doctorI"
cried John IN a pitiful voice. I've
lost my companion of over forty years
my good and trusty stick"
mo matter; lead on!"
NO; I've doneP'
Remember Peddler Betty's terrible
fate, which is likely to come upon
us II we do not act quickly"
1T WIN come. doctor; so we may
as well give in -- AS
DO you wish to die-alc le-on
this wild tract?' 1 asked, speaking
in severe tones
'No-no!"
Then follow me; our only hope is
to keep moving"
1t is possible we walked for half an
hour before any adventure befell US;
and then something entangled my
legs and pitched me headlong. 1t was
a natural act for me to feel for the
object by which I had been tripped;
and / uttered cry of surprise when
discovered 1t was Johns companion
of forty-odd yesrs-his big knobbed
stick!
MY SDlTlIS SANK TO EeTOe IOT Ine re-
covery OF the stick told me that for
the last half hour we had been aim
lessly wandering in a circle.
So far, we had had no difficulty to
keep up our circulation; but I soon
began to feel the drowsy sensation so
much to be feared. 1 again impressed
upon my companion the need Of exer-
tion to keep us awake. His reply was
In a sleepy voice, and 1 began to fear
he would give me trouble.
Suddenly a bright, starlike lumlnary
appeared ahead of us. 1t was par
tally obscured by the falling snow,
and was receding from us.
My companion sank upon his knees.
and uttered a deep groan of fear.
"Peddler Betty's ghostp' he gasped.
I'VE are doomed"
Don't be stupid, John!" I cried;
though confess to being considerably
startled. I'VE must be near a house,
and that light Is in the window
mo, mol It reoeded from US. 1t in
vites US to follow. We'd be spirit-led
to our doom"
Better that than not to be led at ALL"
I cried recklessly. But even as 1 spoke
the light went out.
We again plodded onward-often fall
ing-and with that terrible drowsiness,
so difficult to combat, gaining a more Sc
cure hold upon US
How long we thus advanced I cannot
tell. 1t seemed we tramped for miles,
and occupied hours in so doing; possibly
we only traversed a few hundred yards,
and It was not more than ten minutes
before another startling incident brought
US to a sudden stop.
Melancholy-mournfull intense
weirdness-the long-drawi howl Of q dog
rang out, IN advance Of US, and in the
direction where the light had disap-
peered.
"oh. doctor!" cried John. as well as
his chattering teeth would aIlow-Peddler
Betty again--the light-the howiing-its
all just as others have seen and heard
her Thost-we're doomedP'
A-sin the howl rang out, and again we
stumbled forward. This was repeated on
two other occasions, and was cheered
by the knowledge that the howls each
time appeared nearer. So I began to-
push on somewhat recklessly. Suddenly
the ground seemed to slip from under
me, and felt myself falling down, down,
down. Then came a shock, and 1 was
at the bottom Of some pit, shaken, but
not seriously hurt.
groped around In the snow, and then
called, Where are you. John?'
The reply came from above me, Here.
doctor. Are you hurt2 Oh but this comes
of Peddler Betty's ghost!"
NONSENSE cried I impatiently. At
have simply fallen into a pit of some
sort"
Unto one of the gravel pits.p
How can find my way out?o
by the roadway; but be CAREFUL
When my eyes had become somewhat
accustomed to the place I could make
out some objects nearest me. dog
stood by a snow-covered object having
the outline OF a human form. A closer