The Washington times., 1918-02-13

posed the shorter route, but Esther
felt it utterly impossible for her to
force her way through the thick
brambles. As it was her limbs
would scarcely support her, and more
than once her feet caught in the tan
gled grass and nearly brought her
heavily to the ground. She clutChcd
at thorns and nettles to support her.
so that her hands were bleeding and
painful. when shall | awake
when" she kept muttcring to her
self.
1t seemed rs If they would never
reach the avenue by which they had
arrived. They could not LOSE sight
of the house; they saw it in every
aspect, and once when they thought
they had circled it they came upon
another wing, gaunt, and ivy-clad
as the main building. Lillian Crum-
bled impatient words at the delay.
She. indeed, seemed as unneved as
her companion. The night was very
dark now. Esther found herself
wondering what the hour might he,
and if Dora was comfortably asleep;
also what Mrs. Doyle would think
if she were disturbed by Esthcr's re-
turn. The girl felt in her pocket
where she had placed her latchkcy.
and was troubled because her fingers
failed to touch it. Could she have
lost it in one of her falls? What
was she to do when she reached
home? When!
The Terror Loose.
They reached the avenue and
stumbled back along the narrow
path by which they had come. They
spoke no word TO each other. hut
the wood and fields about them, the
trees above, seemed awake with
sound. It was the wind, Of course.
in the tree tops. but why did it suC-
gest that uncarthly moan which lad
pierced Esthcr's ears but a little
while before?' Should she ever for
get It? There were some frogs
croaking in an unseen marsh near
by. and Esther tried to force herself
to listen to them. They made cheer
full music, but they could not drown
the other sound, for that was all
about her, before. behind, and above,
and at her very shoulder.
4 few minutcs-bu what was
that fantastic shape which suddenly
sprang into the path ahead Of them,
blotting out the view of the cross
road? Esther had noticed move
mcnt among the tree stems. but she
had put it down to the wind: she
had watched curiously, but silently.
till it seemed as If Il heavy black
trunk had fallen across the track.
lying where it fell. She wondered
if it was a tree that had collapsed,
though surely the wind was not
strong cnough-yct it would be an
obstacle in their way, lying as It
did, and she was about to call Lii
lian's attention when, of a sudden,
it writhed and sprang up, huge, I'M
calmly, but vaguely human in shape.
Esther gave a sharp scream. My
God ,,bat is that ~
Lillian looked and saw. With n
violent jerk. an application of the
brake that nearly overthrow them.
she brought the car to halt. Il
feared it. feared" she moancd.
God in heaven. what arc We to
do"
The figure in the path was leap.
ing Obicctlessly from side to side
Gaunt arms were extended, swing
ing and striking at nothing or
catching at overhanGing branches
and swapping them ruthlcssly. In
the dim light the shape appeared
mOnstrous; now il crouchcd down,
now it drew itself up to its full
height.
1t was 10 time for questioning
They were as yet unseen, for the
thing, whatever it was, had its head
turned from them.
"It will dive into the woods
again" said Esther hoarscly. 1T
has not seen Us then let u
DASH
NO, no" cried Lillian. lie
would bC on us in second. lie
would gDrinr OIL tho car lie has