The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-05-07
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Who Is the Mysterious Hor.emsn2 2
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MO sooner had rushed into the
N wood by the side OF the road and
secreted myself in order to watch
the horScman in the distance than the
absurdty of my behavior overwhelmed
me. The bizarre happenings IN which
! had become involved since my en-
trance under Lilllans leadership into
the service evidently had so wrought
upon my nerves as 10 make me Sus-
pect an enemy in every pedestrian,
equestrian or motorlst whose path
CHANGED to pass mine.
"Tll be hiding from my own shadow,
next, Pete" | whispered to the bull ter
rier with me, and his lips curled back
from his teeth in the hideous grin which
only his breed can give.
That's right, Pete. laagh at me.
deserve it," answered whimiscally,
and then. getting up from my crouching
position and shaking my skirts ! added:
"Coms along. old fellow, well strike
out through these woods, and never
,,her our heads about our fellow
travellers"
He gave one Of his short. crisp barks,
and then ran on a little way ahead oi
me- investigating several matters that
interested him. But he always looked
around him from time to time TO be
sure that | was within sight. Poor old
William hadn't exaggerated the fidelity
OF the animal Pete evidently meant
10 make a thorough job of the task OF
looking after me.
We had gone but little way into
I al
loping OF horse along the road which
we had left Evidently the horseman
had conquered his mounts curvetngs,
and was making up for lost time.
smiled again at my own timorous ac-
tions OF a moment before How amused
the unknown horseman would be could
he know the alarm. he had caused in
one feminine heart
Plans to Perplex.
But the smile faded from my lips a
moment later when the sound OF the
gsllopng feet ceased For | realized
that the cessation OF the sound wasn't
the gradual dying away OF the galloping
in the distance, but sudden stop. as IL
the rider had reined his mount sud
denly.
NV unreasoning fears returned Why
should the man have stopped his horse
within a few feet OF the place where
Pete and | had entered the wood1 The
many plausible explanations OF his ac-
tion | put asideH | was obsessed with
the idea that the man was pursuing me,
For a horrid. nerve-racking moment |
debated whether | should boldly return
al I'D tia he
wefe indeed coming into the wood after
me-or whether I should hurry along
the path | had already entered as fast
as could, hoping TO elude him because
OF the many vines and clumps OF trees
and wild berry bushes.
II didn't take me many seconds TO
decide TO 60 ahead instead OF back.
knew the paths through this piece OF
woods perfectly. knew that but a little
way ahead OF me lay the brook which
] loved so well and already a plan had
leaped into my brain for misleading the
man pursuing me
Seeing But Unseen.
For my bizarre fears had been justi-
fled. the horseman w-s pursuing me
or at least he had turned into the wood
at almost the same place | had en-
tered. could hear the steps OF hi.
horse, and | Judged. although had nc
real reason for the inference, that he Z
dismounted and was leading his horse
The sounds made wild thing OF me
With a whispered admontion to Pet,
TO make no noise I fairly flew along
the path TO the brookside, Pete's al
most uoiseiess footsteps Dpttertnp after