Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-10-26

filling the prognOsfs of Sum Fat; by
nightfall the wind had developed into
an enthusiastic gale, driving before it
sheeted rain and great ragged wastes
OF mist.
And the second day was like unto
the first. The third day broke full Of
the spirit of the second; but toward
noon the rain ceased. In the evening
weary of the seduIous attentions Of a
cloud of furnished mosquitoes, Whita-
ker sat in darkness, not tired enough
to go to bed, too tired to bestir himself
and seek distraction from a tormenting
train Of thought.
A pool Of limpid moonlight lay ike
milk upon the floor beneath a window
and held his dreaming gaze while men,
DRY marshaled for his delectation a
pageant Of wasted years, infinitely des-
olate and dreary in his vision.
How long he sat unstirring, preoccu-
pied with fruitless inquiry, he did not
guess. But later he reckOned it could
not have been long after ten o'clock
when he was disturbed. The sound of
a football, hushed and stealthy on the
yeranda, reused him with a start, and
almost at the same instant he became
aware Of shadow that troubled the
pool of moonlight, the foreshortened
shadow Of a mans head and shoulders
He sat up, tense, rigid with surprise
and wonder, and stared at the silhou-
cited body at pause just outside the
window. The fellow was STOPPING to
peer in. Had Drummond hunted him
down to this isolate hiding place? On
the thought he Ieaped up, in two
strides slammed out through the door.
Il say!" he cried loudly. But he
cried apparently, to empty air. The
man was gone-yanished as strangely
and as quietly aS he had appeared.
Pausing and glaring round the clear
ing in complete bewilderment, he de-
tected or else fancied a slight move
ment in the shadows on the edge of the
encompassing woodland. Instantly,
needless of the risk he ran if the man
were indeed Drummond and if Drum
mond were indeed guilty of the assault
now four nights old, Whitaker broke
for the spot. 1t proved to be the en-
trance to one of the woodland paths,
and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. or no his imag-
inatiOn were in fault-there was no.
body waiting there to be caught.
But if anyone had been there, he had
unquestionably fed along the trail.
70 in, - II
low. Before he realized he could have
covered half the distance, he emerged
abruptly into the clearing of the Fiske
place.
Here he pulled up, for the first time
alive to the intrinsic idiocy Of his con-
duct, and diverted besides by the dis
cOvery that his impression of the early
evening, that the cottage was tenanted,
had been well founded.
The ground floor windows shone with
dim but warm illumination. He could
see distinctly part of a living room
rather charmfngly furnished in a sum-
merry way. At It's farther end dark
haired woman in a plain black dress
with short apron and lace cap sat
reading by mplight-evidently a
maid. Her MISUNDERSTANDING by ap-
pearanceS-W outside on the lawn
below the veranda, strolling to and fro
in company with a somewhat short and
heavy man who wore an automobile
buster and visOred cap. By contrast,
her Whitehead figure, invested with
the Illusion of moonlight, seemed I'M
usually tall. Her hair was fair, shin
ing like q headdress of palest gold as
she bent her head, attentive to her
companion. And Whitaker thought to
discern an unusual quality in her
movements, a quality Of charm and a
graciOusneSs of mien rarely to be no.
ticed even in the most beautiful of
the women he had known.
OF q sudden the man paused, pro-
duced a watch from beneath his dust
err, consulted it briefly and shut the
case with a snap. He said something
in q brusque tone, and was answered
by what sounded like a pleasant mega
tive. Promptly, as If annoyed, he
turned and strobe hastily away. disap-
pearing round the mousse.
Alone, the wOmaQ watched him as
long as he was in sight, her head to
one side with an effect of critical
amusement. Then, with a low laugh,
she crossed the veranda and entered
the lighted room. At the same time
Whitaker, lingering and watching
without in the least understanding or
even questioning why he was doing
this thing so contrary to his instincts,
heard the heavy rumble of a motor car
on the far side of the house and saw
the machine swing off across the clear
ing into the woods.
In the living room the woman was
saying: You may go now, Elise. III
be ready for bed before long"
eyes, madam" The maid rose and
moved briskly out of sight.
Her mistress, casting aside a scarf
of embroidered Chinese brocade, stood
for q moment in deep thought, her
head bowed, the knuckle of a slender
forefnger tapping her chin-charm-
tngly posed. Whitaker abruptly IN
derstood why it was he loitered, peep
ing-she was absolutely beautiful, a
creature both exquisite and superb,
matchless portrait for the galleries Of