The commonwealth., 1919-04-29
CHAPTER !.

NntGS GA Ds
The First Wayfarer and the Seeona
Wayfarer Meet and Part on the
Highway.
A solitary figure trudged along the
narrow road that wound its serpen-
tlnous way through the dismal. forbid
ding depths Of the f0rest-a man who.
though weary and footsore. Jagged not
in his swift, resolute advance. Might
WAS coming OF, ,yaad. with it the no un-
certain prospects OF q storm.
He cume to the pike and there
was a signpost. A huge, crudely paint
ed hand pointed to the left. and On
what was intended to be the sleeve of
a very stiff and unfiinchinE arm these
words were printed in scaly white:
''Hart's Tavern. Food for Man and
Beast Also Gasoline. Established
1885, 1 Mile" .
On the opposite side Of the pike"
in the angle formed by junction with
the narrow mountain road. stood an
humber slgnpost, lettered so indis-
tinctly that it deserved the compass
sion of all observers because of it's
humility. Swerving in his hurried pas
sag the tall stranger drew near this
shrinking friend to the uncertain trav- !,
eler, and was suddenly aware Of an !
other presence in the roadway. |
A woman appeared, as if from no
where. almost at his side. He drew }
back to let her pass. She stopped be-
fore the little sfgnpost. and together
they made out the faint directions.
TO the right and up the mountain
road Frogg's Corner lay four miles and
a half away; Pitcairn was six miles
back over the road which the man had
Travelled. Two miles and half down
the turnpike was Spanish Falls, rail
way station, and four miles above the
crossroads where the man and women
stood peering through the darkness at
the lacOnic Signpost reposed the vii
lage of st. Elizabeth. Hart's Tavern
was on the road to st. Elizabeth, and
the man, with barely glance at his
fellow traveller, started briskly off in
that direction
He knew that these wild mountain
storms moved swiftly; his chance OF
reaching the tavern ahead of the del.
powerful legs had carried him twenty
or thirty PAGES before he came to
sudden halt
What of this lone woman who trav.
ersed the highway? His first glimpse
OF her had been extremely casual
indeed, he had paid no attention to
her at all, so eager was he to read
the directions and be on his way.
She was standing quite still in front
of the signpost, peering up the road
toward Frogg's Corner-confronted by
a steep climb that led into black and
sinister timberlands above the narrow
strip of pasture bordering the pike.
The fierce wind pinned her skirts to
her slender body as she leaned against
the gale, gripping her hat tightly
with one hand and straining under the
weight of the bag in the other. The
ends of veil whipped furiously about
her head, and, even in the gathering
darkness, he could see strand or two
of hair keeping them company.
Retracing his steps, he called out to
her above the gale:
Can be Of any assistance to you2
She turned quickly He saw that
the veil was drawn tightly over her
face.
mo, thank YOU" she replied. Her
voice oFSpife a certain nervous note
was soft and clear and gentle-the
voice and speech Of well-bred per-
son who was young and resolute.
pardon me, but have you much far
thar to go? The storm will soon he
upon us, and-surely you will not con-
sfder me presumptuous-I don't like
the idea of your being caught out in
What is to be done about it?" she
inquired, resignedly. 81 must go on.
can't wait here. you know, to be
washed back to the place 1 started
FROM
He smiled. She had wit as well as
determination
''If | can be Of the least assistance
TO you praT don't hesitate to command
me. l am sort Of tramp, YOU mighr
say. and | travel as we'll by night as
Go By day-so don't feel that YOU are
putting me to any inconvenience. Are
you by any chance bound Tor Hart's
Tavern? If SO. l will be glad to LAG
behind and carry your bag
1ou are very good, but I am not
bound for Hart's Tavern, wherever
tnat may be. Thank you, Just the
same You appear to be an uncom-
1aohty genteel tramp, and it isn't be-
cause | am afraid YOU might make off
with my belongings" She added the
last by way of apology.
He snlileu-and thea frOvned &C ho
clouds now rolling DL2inously up over
the mountain ridge.
by joVe. were going to catch il
good and hard" he exclaimed. .R,ttar
take ~ advice. These storms ar. tor