The Washington times., 1918-02-28
The Wolves of New York
A STORY OF LOVE AND MYSTERY
Young Lord BOrradale Tells Esther
He Will Shield Her Through Life
Even Though She Can't Wed

watched: to De aIralu OF the rust
ling OF the wind in the trees; to
tremble-as I do-at the call OF
night bird"
GIimpses the Truth.
She spoke very plaintively and
her words impressed the man with
their truth.
at Is an impossible state of
things" he said, half to himself.
land it must be put to an end: II
must. BY jove, too. It shall be II
I've strength in me. What was
that?"
Had he, too, become nervous? He
could have sworn he heard the
sound OF a footstep on the gravel
below, and the ivy in the angle OF
the terrace moved strangely. He
craned his head over the oAlustrade,
but nothing met his gaze but the
silent lawn, and the long shadows
Of trees and bushes. Still, he could
not see round the bend Of the ter
race, or close beneath him where
the creepers grew thick enough to
afford concealment.
"Did you hear Rnythlng?" whis-
pered Esther, feRrfully: 1.-TWO or
three times lately It has seemed to
me that I have heard strange
sounds from among the bushes, but
I have never dared"
Are They Watched?
He laughed. you are filling me
with morbid fancies, Esther" he
said. There can be no one there.
But will see, to make sure"
mo, no." cried Esther, holding
him back. Don't Eo-you must
not Eow
But I wiII-if it's one of those
enemies OF yours well have the mat
out this moment. Finish 1t, once
and for all. Don't stop me, Esther
1T is for your sake"
The sound beneath was repeated.
It was a distinct foot fall upon the
gravel 1t was as IL some one was
stealing lightly away.
Harold Borradale disengaged him.
self gently from the trembling girl
and vaulted lightly over the balus-
trade, landing easily upon his feet
on the gravel below. A second later
Esther heard him give q sharp cry
and set off running in the direction
of the trees that bordered that part
of the house, divided only from the
terrace by a narrow strip of lawn.
Springing to her feet, she gazed
over the balcony. She saw Bora
dale running, and in front OF him a
large uncouth figure that sprang
among the bushes and was lost to
her sight. The next moment the
pursuer had followed Then came
q sharp sound as a breaking OF
branches, then all was silent.
Screams With Fright.
Esther stood Mortified, gazing at
the black surface of the thickly
planted trees, then fear lent her
voice.
Help. help" she screamed, de-
spairingly.
Mrs. Meredith, who had been doz-
ing comfortably in the dimly lit
drawing room, woke with a start
and ran to the window. She has
given herself no time to think.
Esther turned to her. speaking rap
idly, hoarse with apprehension.
Quick" she cried; "oh, dear Mrs.
Meredith, ring the bell and call up
the men. It's some one in the
shrubbery-I saw him spring In-a
burglar. perhaps-and Harold has
followed; there may be more in
there. Oh. for heavens sake, be
quick"
Must Know What Happened.
Mrs. Meredith's silhouette disap-
peared from the window. Esther
stood straining eyes and ears, but
there came no movement from the
bushes, and the silence of the night
was undisturbed. Then, acting upon
impulse, as she was wont to do, she
ran quickly down the broad stair
case of the terrace, along the gravel
path at it's base. and over the strip
of lawn. Harold, Harold" she
cried, as she ran. She was not
afraid, or, rather. she gave no
thought to danger. He had passed
that way, and It was to him she
must go.
IDENTIFY thrown themselves directly
into the shrubbery. There was a
track among the bushes and deep
footmarks in the soft earth. Esther
followed without a pause. Even so,
she had forced her way through en-
tangling branches that fatal night
when she had Ned from a pursuing
horror. Now, oh, God, IL was the
man she loved who was in danger
it was him whom she was seeking.
Harold, Harold" Her cry rose
strangely from among the dark re-
cesses, dark in contrast 10 the moon
lit lawn.
She came TO a spot where the
trees grew more sparsely, and
where a patch OF rank grass took
the place of clustering shrubs.
Here, too, the white moonbeams
penetrated and she could see. She
paused a moment, and then ran for
ward with a sharp scream.
Sees Two Bodies.
Two men lay prone upon the
ground at some little distance from
each other. One had evidently stag
gered a few PAGES before he fell:
this one was in evening dress and
Esther threw herself upon her
knees beside him. She paid no heed
TO the other injured man. What
was he to her? What thought had
she but for Harold?
He lay on his side. and presently
he stirred and moaned His eyes
fixed themselves upon Esther's face
as she stopped over him. He tried
to smile, and struggled to raise
himself TO a sitting position. Thank
heaven. he was not dead!
Esther" he murmured, as he
sank back again. my dear, my
love"
Harold. are you hurt? Oh, and It
was all for me?" She gave a sudden
l. L. l.