Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-05-07
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0y HAROLD riyuo.
Author Of TO the Victor"
Copyright
= sftet4sy = 49, esHs "a a.ss,-t4
The Frank A. Munssy Company

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Where the road began it's abrupt
drop, it dived between banks, higher
than would be the head of a man rid.
ing 10 the ford. The figure which had
moved and dislOdged the stone became
still. covered against one OF these
banks After silence had come again
and reigned for many minutes the fig
ure explored that bank, reaching up
and touching the cold damp earth 10
ascertain height. Then it moved back
up the road silently. carefully.
Gaining the level once more, the
figure stopped and for another inter.
val was motiOnless; and sounds for
RODS about would have been audible.
When no sound came the figure step
ped out of the road and into the brush.
carefully parting stiff. dry branches.
moving past them and letting togeth-
er again gently, without more than a
slight rustic. After each step gained
by that method the figure paused
again. rigid. poised, as though to lis.
ten.
Once more the grapevine creaked,
And the stream sang to itself; beyond
those--nothng.
Slowly carefully, with great pains.
the figure made its way through the
U1,fsh along toward the creek until it
gained . point opposite that where
the road fell, listened Arain, after
which it lay town with awkward, 81
lent mo femer 5. and stretched Oh the
cold ground. head close to The ba TX.
Again the puff Of wind which made
the hoary loop OF vine swing and
again the creating that resembled a
yawn: but that was not the sound
which cadsed the manly that time
he Vas man and no longer mere
biotch---who stretched on the bank to
ut his head quickly and choke back
his breathing so his ears would have
more opportunity.
From behind had come, borne by
the breeze which moved that vine, the
fsintest. most insignificant little thud
But there in that situation, with the
silence of dawn all about the faint
sounds were those which would arouse
concern. So the man on the bank held
his aching lungs motionless while he
strained to listen---to listen,
II came again-that thud. And in
moment sharp. staccatsed click rs
III stone on stone. The man on the
bank pressed his body closer against
the ground and a tremor shot through
him.
For moment no break except the
purlins of water. Then, in one Of
those flashing intervals when the
stream stilled fits voice and absolute
silence reigned just breath of breeze
came Mp the road before that air.
current could bring pressure enough
10 move a branch or limb or even set
the grapevine into sound. 1t bore to
those strained ears dull, complain
makes when the horse which bears
il stehs.
A stirring OF branches above shut
on anything else, and day seemed to
make IT'S ffSet conscious movements
The @shimtnerfhs IN the east suddenly
became boideD more intense. and light
Uttered down into the tansle OF gray
growth along Rock Creek. "a
1 Night was gone; light had come;
objects were distinguishsble.
And Eli,s Hardy. stomach down on
the bank above the road, shifted his
heavy sVn back TO his right hand and,
with eyes that burned. focused his
gaze on the road whence had come
that thud. THIS click, that creak.
"a bird twittered-then another. A
veuisfel came out Of IT, nest and scut.
tied uiong = barren limb. msking the
branches rattle with the vibration his
Skipping body. sent up.
+, Then quiet again. as though having
vsnQuished the night, day was con.
tent to settle back and dream a Bit be-
fore fully awakening to the business
In hand.
Hardy breatbed twice. loudly, 10
relieve me strain, and after the roar
" breath In his ears subsidized he
heard other sounds, regular and light
and drawing near.
= He felt Sudden nausea, and a cold
damp sprahs out Of his entire body.
His hand, he remarked. did not trem.
Bile; Nm stretching limbs were rs
steady as steel, but within him seine
thing Qufvered and Quailed.
II was sickehins, this lying in wsit
for q human being with that weapon
IN his hands, but II must be!