Evening star., 1917-09-09

south. Those in the west tFrench
wfndowD opened on loggia: those
on the south opened right into tho
dense tangle of neglected shrubbery.
mosphere Of loneliness. for which. in
some measure. its history may have
been responsible.
Bristol" I said. suddenly. at was
some one who came through the open
window"
No one" he replied. came through
the windows. West saw absolutely
nothing. If any one comes that way
tonight. we have HIM"
Powerful man traps were set In such
a way that any one or anything, fgno~
rant of their positions. coming up TO
windows must unavoidably be shared.
These had been placed in positions with
much secrecy. after dusk And the
back to the wall. No one could ap-
proach him except from the front.
The nearby chapel bell sounding the
half-hour. Bristol rose, with a sigh that
out to take the report of the man on
duty at the game. AS his footsteps
died away along the elm avenue. the
thought came to me that all about me
in the darkness menace lurked: and
felt myself succumbing to the greatest
dread experienced by mantle dread
OF the unknown.
Then sounded footsteps along the ave-
nue.. and my fear whispered that they
were not those of Bristol. but of one
who had murdered him. and who now
came. guilefully. to murder mel
1 snatched the revolver from my
pocket and crossed the darkened room.
lust to the right of one Of the French
windows I stood looking out across the
loggia to the end of the avenue The
night was a bright one. and the room
was flooded with a reflected mystic
light. but outside the moon paved the
avenue with pearl: and through the
trees 1 saw a figure approaching.
Was it Bristol? 1t had his build, ic
had his gait; but my fears remained.
Then the figure crossed the patch of
shrubbery and stepped into the loggia.
Mr.. Cavanagh.
I laughed drily at my own cowardice,
but my heart was still beating abnor-
mally.
Here 1 am. Bristol. in a ghastly
funk"
II don't wonder. They may be on us
any time now. Ais well at the gate.
but Morris says he heard, or thought
he heard. something at the side of the
chapel opposite a while ago"
We resumed our seats and silence fell
The moon rays. creeping around from
the right of the avenue. crossing the
shrubbery and encroaching upon the low
Against the silvery light Bristol ap-
peared to me in black silhouette. The
breeze too. seemed now to blow from a
slightly different direction. 1t came
through the windows on my right. be
yond which lay the unkempt bushes
which extended on that side to the
wall of the grounds.
So we sat until the moonlight poured
fully in upon Bristols back. So we sat
when the clock chimed the hour OF /
Bristol arose and once more went TO
the gate. He had arranged to visit
Morris post every half hour. Again
experienced the nervous dread that he
would be attacked in the avenue: but
again he returned unscathed.
"Alls WELL he said.
But from the tones | knew that he
had not forgotten that it was at this
hour Marden and West had suffered
mysterious attack.
And now my attention turned anew
to the course Of the slowly creepiue 2
moon rays. In my mind idea was
struggling for definition There was
lighting of the room. Why. 1 asked
myself. had the attack been made 1t
o'clock? Did the time signify anything ?
Ii so. what? / looked toward Bristol.
His figure. the chair upon which he
sat. We're sharply outlined by the cold
light. The wall behind me. and to my
left. was Illuminated brilliantly: but no
light fell directly upon me.
The idea was taking shape. From the
loggia and the avenue Bristol I reason
ed. must be clearly visible. From the
shrubbery on the south through the
other windows-could I he seen? Yes,
silhouetted against the moonlight
a faint sound. quite indescribable
me to my ears from some where out
side-beyond.
Ny God" whispered Bristol. Did
you hear it,"
Yes, What
1t must have been Morris"
Bristol was half standing-one hand
upon the arm of the chair. the other
concealed. but grasping his revolver
as well knew l. too, had my revolver
in my hand. and as I twisted in my
seat. preparatory to rising. in sheer
nervousness / dropped the weapon upon
the carpet.
With an exclamation of dismay. I
stopped quickly to recover it.
As l did so. something whstled past