Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-10-31
ADAMS GARDEN.
a NOVEL
CHAPTER xxI.-Continued.
BY NINA WILCOX PUTNAM

HaHEHaIE IHH-. ~ ssl@aH EEFt1nN 8EgsS9 49,
CHAPTER xXI.-Continued.
The ferry-boat left her slip on the
farther shore, away up the river, and
began a deliberate progress toward
him. comfortably low in the water,
resting her fat sides upon 1t and maxi
ing no haste. like a matronly duck.
A slim sailboat or two skinned out
OF her way, and a barge. creeping
whistled a greeting. Slowly she came
into the dock. and discharged her
meagre handful OF passengers on the
far side Of the chain, and then that
was lowered and Adam went aboard
together with the dray, an automo-
bile. and half \. dozen other travellers.
There was an unreasonable wait
while the pilot bought a cigar. and
then, promptly at three Though it
seemed to Adam, glancing a%nxiously
at his watch, that 1t must be later),
they slipped quietly out into the
river.
Adam stood on the top deck and
wondered how she would come.
Would she be waiting when he got
there, could she be on the boat? He
knew instinctively that she was not,
but, nevertheless. he made a thor.
ough tour of inspection on the bare
possibility and returned to his post.
Why had she told him to come to a
place so far away? Why not the old
syringa-haunted bower in the park?
Did this something" which had hap
pened have anything to do with
Breck? If so, she would scarcely sc
to a place of which his cousin knew.
Probably, too, she did not want to re-
turn to a spot which must always
remind her of Allen and the hideous
story he had told her as they left it.
No, this trip could scarcely have any
thing to do with Breck: he vas done
with now, or would be, If ever he
showed his hand again!
The ferry docked with many a
groan and protest from the slip, and
Adam, descending hastily. entered
the f~erry-house. Here he paused for
a moment to purchase a box Of cigars
cites and drawing his hand from the
sling lit one. Then he replaced his
hand in Its support, and walked
briskly to the entrance. scanning the
road in both directions to get his
bearings.
mile and a half north from the
upper ferry" he repeated to himself.
quoting from the note. straight
along the cliff path. This must be
the way!'
He turned abruptly. leaving the
shade of the doorway. and nearly col
lided with a young a who lounged
near by. Looking up with q word of
apology, he was amazed to recognize
the youth who had brought him the
note. and whom he had seen in the
telephone booth.
Hello" said Adam. "what are
you doing here?"
For answer the young man merely
stared and turned away. Adam, too
impatient to carry the matter further,
continued on his way with a shrug.
Most deucedly unsociable young
chap" he said. And then wondered
if perhaps he had not been mistaken
in the fellows identity. But no. that
pale. speckled face, those narrow
they were unmistakable. Confound
the fellow, why was he always bump
ing into him? 1t seemed odd. to say
the least of it, that he should have
seen him so many times of late. in
such widely distant quarters. If it
had always been at the flower-mar-
ket, now, n could understand it;
but uptown, and now, over here:
there was something decidedly odd
dental. surely. And the fellows
manner. So careless at first, but this
last time, startled, sullen. afraid! The
thing began to rear an almost sinis-
ter look. Was it possible that some
one was having him shadowed?-for
instance, Ewes father. who was so
severe about her young men? After
the notion as absurd. Professor En-
dicott hardly knew of his existence.
Besides people who were s~hadowing
a chap took good care to keep them
selves dark. while this fellow had de-
liberately thrust himself in the way.
looking him in the face as if desir-
Gus Of knowing him again. 1t was
queer, decidedly queer. Suffering
cats! What could anybody want to
know him again for? He decided to
speak to Evelyn about it and ask how
she came to use this particular mes
senger. ,
The path took a sudden turn, be-
coming a mere trail along the cliffs
edge, and as he followed it, the ferry
building, some fifty feet below, came
into view for a moment, and he could
pany with two companions, making
for a large gray automobile which
waited a little way off. near the car
tracks. The three seemed not to be
in any hurry, far they walked in a
~leisurely fashion, stopping occasion
ally, and laughing. Once, he fancied,
they glanced up in his direction, and
then wen on toward the car. But
what had all this to do with him?
Nothing. of counsel" He dismissed
the creature. from his mind, and set
his face toward the appointed meet
ing place.
The trail along the cliff was very
beautiful, winding on the very edge in
places where the stone fell away
sheer for a hundred feet and more
to the placidly flowing Hudson.
Then again the path plunged into a
thicket, waist high with ,hlossoming
shrubs and wild flowers, or through
a wood whose thickness and virgin
look amazed Adam. He had not
dreamed that here, 30 close to the
city's heart. was a practically un-
touched woodland. %traversed only by
occasional picnickers whose feet had
worn the only paths there were. 1t
was a surprise and a delight. The
heat of the sun was gracious here,
bringing warm scents up out of the
secret heart Of the earth, .filtering
gently through the thick foliage of
the wooded parts, cleaning golden.
silver, diamond, on the ripping lit
tie waves, far, TAR below. He heaved
a deep sigh Of happiness and content.
No wonder she had appointed this
about romance, we'll, this was the
spot for it! A squirrel raced up a
tree ahead Of him, and shrilled de-
lightfully.
Hello, you little devil" called
Adam, pleasantly. passing by. There
were birds, too lots OF them. as In the