Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-12-21
box hedges | have ever seen.


sive yard on all sides. stood ON hisl,
ground. The road seemed to have
been cut through this hillock, 50 that
bank rose on either hand.
In the March gloom | noted only
the bank, the ghostly fence. and the
hedge, with Il CLEAN of lights from
the building, and vague shapes of
gaunt-limbed trees; but my magma.
ions supplied the details, which next
day found substantially correct.
The first aspect of the place de
pressed me, nor was that feeling ever
afterward relieved or put away.
Somewhat to eastward of the house
a driveway branched from the main
road, leading in long curve to the
sanltorium. Up TO this the carriage
toiled, the harness creaking and
straining as the tired horses, steam
ing in the lamplight. tugged their
heavy load. Box hedges, lower than
the one edsing the road, filled the
front ana side yards with primly CON
yentional patterns in the style of dec
AIDES long past and gone.
| caught sight of gravel walks be-
tween these hedges; they seemed to
put me back in the early days of the
century. A strangely out.of.the-
world sensation came upon me, a kind
of detachment from the realities of
modern lfe, The year 1892 seemed
TO fade and vanish and the former
days of long before the war seemed
rising from the sodden ground,
wraith-like as the mist that 0verhung
the toilng animals.
With a grinding of wheels on the
wet gravel We drew up at the steps
of the porch which seemed to sur
round the building As Ergazy help
ed me out of the carriage and took my
sialise, ! looked curiously al, the house.
The sight of telephone-wre and the
shine of electric lights within some
what dispelled the illusion of the
past, yet these seemed far out of
place here at this old-time mansion
set down in the midst of nowhere. on
the bare. marshy reaches of the north,
ern Long Island shore. !.
However, had but little time for
observation.
Here we are" observed the doctor.
And the quicker we get inside away
from this raw mist the better
He led me up the steps and across
the porch to the front door, which in
itself proclaimed the house colonial in
style.
a huge old door it was, opening in
halves. On either side smalpancd
LIGHTS Of glass extended from top to
bottom. An interesting fanlight sur
mounted the Intel. Midway of the
panels brass knocker waited a sum.
moning hand.
Under different circumstances the
place would have charmed me; but
ow--despite the lights wlthin--it
gave me an uncomfortable sense of
vacancy Something about the stark,
bare trees about it, the gloomy pent-
house of the porch, and the heavy
mists rising from the Sound off to
northward plus a certain musty,
saline odor reeking from saltmarshes
evidently not far away-depressed me
and filled my heart with uneasiness.
Again | seemed to hear the inner
warning; Tragedy"
But now, even had | wished it, re.
treat was out of the question. Here
! was; here must stay. The game
must be played through
Ergaay knocked vigorously. Steps
sounded within. The latch lifted,
chain ratified, and the door swung in.
ward.
Why had not Ergazy been able to
open it himself?
Why had it been locked?
l had not time even to ponder the
question, AS the door opened | heard
a sound Of music--a piano of unusual
richness, over which a skilled and
melancholy hand lingered--and saw a
man standing in the oblong of light
cut in the gloom by the illumination
within.
"Ah, Here at last?" the man cried
with Il marked French accent. And
you have her, see?'
Happy to say | have replied
Ergazy, stepping into the hallway.
"Dr. Bloss, allow me to present my
friend and colleague, DR.. Andre
The Frenchman took my hand,
bowed and kissed it, quite in story.
book style--my first experience of his
courtly, whimsical, yet charming way.
''Dr. Bloss. | welcome you said
he. "Now our little triumvirate is
am more glad than
can tell to see you here,
"Triumvirate!' exclaimed Ergazy
with certain malice. "And one of
US a woman"
He dropped my bag and blinked at
me.
"Ah, that matters nothing smiled
Brodeur. in science sex counts for
nothing. DR.. Bloss is one with rs in
This work. Triumvirate, | repeat"
lie closed the door.