South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-10-26
WHY DOES THE UNKNOWN
IORSIsMAN RIDE AWAY IN
FEAR?

screen of bushes behind which l was
crouching and recognized across the
brook from me the features of the
foreigner I had seen in the taxicab.
All the vague fears at which 1 had
laughed even as I yielded 70 them
were more than realized as / saw the
face of the horseman He had fol-
lowed me. but why he was spying
upon me I had no idea, unless in
deed. he belonged to the same SIM
ster organization of which Grace
Draper was a leader.
His appearance also corroborated
the secret theory l had had that
my new neighbors had rented Mrs.
Durkee's home because it would give
them opportunity 10 observe my
movements. 1t was so absurd a thing
on the surface Of it that / hadn't
even told Lillian about it But little
Mrs. Durkee's description Of the man
with whom she dealt tailed exactly
with the appearance of the man
standing beside his horse so quietly
on the other side of the brook.
/ was glad to feel calmness de-
scending upon me instead of the
wild terror that had possessed me
before. I debated quietly whether
or not to emerge from ny hiding
place casually and meet the man
face to face, or TO remain where /
was with the chance that he might
not find me.
Galloping Hoofbeats.
Inaction of any kind is distaste-
full 10 me, so that I didn't ponder
dong. / spoke to the dog in the care
less way so many women use when
they're alone with an animal, as if
the beast could understand the Ian
guage.
Pete, old doggie. don't you think
we've gathered all the violets we can
here? What do you say to going on
further"
Pete gave the short sharp bark
with which he always answers any
remark made to him. but my little
speech was punctuated in far more
startling manner.
For the man on the opposite side
of the brook instead of coming to-
ward me, ieaped TO the back of his
horse and put him through the vines
and bushes along the path he had
come at a tremendous rate. He didn't
go clear to the road. however, for
. - J, Cd
as suddenly as they had sounded,
and 1 know instinctively that he'd
again dismounted.
To say that 1 was bewildered is TO
use a mild expression indeed. The
man had undoubtedly followed me
from my home and had tracked me
there could be no other word for
Through the woods. Why in the
world had ne scurried away like a
frightened rabbit at the mere sound
of my voice
All at once a plausible explana-
ton of his latest action struck me.
| / couldn't understand his reason for
tracking me. but evidently he'd
planned to follow me himself un-
discovered. II was no part OF his
[ plan for me TO see him, or to know
/ that ne was following me.
\ Strange Thought.
/ Instinctively i felt that the rea-
son for this attitude must be a fear
! of recognition upon the part Of the
mysteriOps horseman. Once again
\ l visualized the tense moment when
/ 7 had looked from my taxicab into
/ the one drawn up beside mine in
I the Fifth avenue blockade and had
met the eyes Of the man who JUS
| fed at the sound Of my voice.
/ Hauntingly familiar eyes they
were. and they'd registered startled
| recognition as they met mine. The
! conviction seized me, all the more
| firmly because 1 had fought against
\ il for so many days. that l knew
/ this man, and that his foreign APP
/ pearance was only a clever disguise
! Where had seen eyes like his
! No longer afraid Of pursuit, I moved
away from the thicket and sat down
upon a fallen tree while in memory
7 ran the gamut of my men friends
/ acquaintance and those with whom
I had had business or professional
dealings.
There was but one who fitted IL
any manner the appearance of my
/ new neighbor. His name nearly
escaped my lips. then l depressed
even the thought OF him. II was 81
/ absurd a thought that I wouldn't
voice it even 10 myself
There was no reason, however
| why / shouldn't contine my walk
The mysterious hOrseman was evi
IDENTIFY as much afraid OF me as
was Of him. Even if his shadowinl
OF me had some sinister purpose
was safe as long as he feared m!
recognition.
knew that I was a half mil,
from the road which ran parallel I,
the one l had first travelled I haC
no wish 10 wade the brook again
even if there had been no myst eriou.
figure waiting in the woods. So witt
Pete still III contented attendance
! strOlled leisurely through the wood:
and came out upon the other road
one which had for more travel thar
the first one.
a number Of autos, carriages anC
I farm wagons made my walk much
+, less attractive than the stroll alona