The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-03-06


she gave to the manager of the
hotel, asking him TO post them II
she did not return in twenty-four
hours. In the first she told OF her
mission-without giving and details
of it-repeated wits soft and tender
words how dearly she loved him
she cried a little as she penned the
lines-but concluded by saying that
It was best for him to forget her.
It was a letter of farewell. written
sealed down. She could not trust
was more explicit. She told him
her destination. and begged him to
come to her assistance, for the fact
of his receiving the letter would
mean that she was in great danger.
She packed her hand bag and
drove to the station She was
perfectly calm, and her movements
were wholly without excitement.
She kept repeating to herself that
she was acting normally in a nor
NAL world, and that there was no
reason to consider herself set apart
from everyday conyentionality, why
should she consider that Adderley
place bound upon convention?
She reached the Ettle mushroom
town without incident leaving the
train in company with the usual
array of clerks and business men,
who had pushed as far as this from
the great metropolis. The fast train
by which she had elected to travel
was the one by which the bread
winners were wont to return to
their country residences. Esther
thought she recognized the man
who had Travelled UP with her on
the former occasion. and who had
been the first to report the find
ing OF the murdered mans body
outside Adderley Wood.
There was a little hotel close to
the station, and thither, she made
her way. 1t was prim and new,
like the rest OF the buildings which
surrounded IL. Here she engaged a
room for the night. stating that
she was going to visit some friends
in the evening and might remain
with them: her actual plans were
uncertain. Thus she provided for
every contingency.
OF For Adderley.
II was o'clock when she left the
hotel, and the night was warm and
balmy. The sky was perfectly
clear and studded with stars. There
was something almost Southern in
the deep blue in which they hung.
Esther. though she walked briskly,
felt vaguely languid, and her
thoughts flashed back to her lover
at Helm Court. II he were only
by her side. how she could mock
at danger; how pleasant it would
be to wander with him on such a
night into the cool shadow OF the
wood, and forget everything except
her love-but would such a dream
ever be realized?
She had followed the road, re-
berinE the solicitors Injunction
that she should first call at the
lodge. How grateful she would be
IL she should find Lillian there and
be spared a visit to the house OF
hateful memories itself. Here and
there paths brsnched of into the
wood. but she had no difficulty in
finding her way, for the road that
led to the lodge was the only one
that could be traversed by a We
hicle of any sort.
Oh, this must be the spot where
she had seen the terror springing
from side to side OF the road, and
here was the cutting on the right
OF the patch which had been OF
such. service to them when they
were forced to turn the motor
from that point TO the lodge they
had fed frsntically from their pur-
suer.
Lillian Not At Lodge.
There was no one in the lodge.
SDe knocked at the door repeatedly
without obtaining any answer.
There was nothing for it-she must
proceed farther.
A spirit of bravadO cama upon
her. She had come SO far and would
go on. She would seek for Lillian
in the house itself. She glanced at
her watch-to do so she had to
strike a match, a box OF which, as
well as a short candle, she had pro-
vided herself with. She had not
forgotten her former terror in the
darkness.
1t was not yet 10 o'clock: the
hour at which the solicitor had tod
her she might find Lillian. Ought
she TO wait before penetrating fur
Their?
Suddenly a bold idea flashed into
her mind. Could she not do some
thing to help herself? Had she not
signed her name in register
which she had seen taken from a
wOrm-eaten chest standing in a
corner of the vestry of the ruined
church? And the man to whom she
had been married-had he not also
signed his name? II she could see
that book she might at least learn
something. There was time 70 go
and return before 10 o'clock II she
had courage TO carry out the
scheme. But had she the necessary
courage?
The Search for the Register.
The night was very silent, and
there was but a feeble moaning
smong the rafters, but as she push
ed open the half-closed door there
came a violent scream from within
the church. and then the nutterinE
OF frightened wings. Esther, who
had started back in alright. ad-
once mere, she had realized
that the sound had come from an
owl.
Quickly she sped over the decay
ing boarIs. looking neither to right
nor to left Of her till she came to
the vestry, and here she would no,
look up to the ceiling because Of the
black veil of bats which she knew
hung there. She could hear them
uneasily at the unwont-
ed sound OF footsteps.
Continued Tomorrow
Copyright by W. R HsarStl