The evening world., 1920-04-16

She rose as Dominey
entered the room and dropped an old
courtesy.
"Well, Mrs. Unthnnk," he inquired,
what can l do for your
Its about the wood again, sir"
she confessed. II can't bear II. All
night long | seem to hear those axes
and the calling Of the men"
what Is your objection. Mrs. I'm
thank, to the destruction Of the Black
Wood?" Dominey asked bluntly 1T
is nothing more nor less than a moi
some pest-hole. It's very presence
there, after all that she has suffered.
Is a menace 10 Lady Dominey'a
nerves. am determined to sweep 1t
from the face of the earth"
The forced respect was already be-
ginning to disappear from her man.
ner
There's evil Will come to you if
you do Sir Everard," she declared.
doggedly
PLENTY OF evil has come to me
from that wood as it is" he re-
minded her.
You are asking for the evil
things" she warned him.
BE assured" Dominey answered,
that II they come 1 shall know how
to deal with them"
Dominey found Rosamund and Doc
tor Harrison, who had walked over
from the village, lingering on the ter
race. He welcomed the latter warm
ly. ~
You are godsend, Doctor 4
declared Il have been obliged N
leave my port untasted for want on
companion. You will excuse us for
moment. Rosamund?"
She nodded pleasantly, and the doc
tor followed his host into the dining
room and took his seat at the table
where the dessert still remained.
Old woman threatening mischief,
en-" the latter asked, with a keen
glance from under his shaggy grey
eyebrows.
Il think she means it." Dominev
replied, as he filled his guests glass
Personally" he went on, after a
moments pause, the present situa
tion Is beginning to confirm an old
suspicion of mine. i am a hard and
fast materialist, you know, doctor, i'm
certain matters, and / have not the
slightest faith in the yindictiya
mother, terrified to death lest the
razng of wood of unwholesone
character should turn out into the
cold world the spirit of her angel
What do YOU believed" the doctor
asked bluntly.
Il would rather not tell you at the
present moment" Dominey answered.
1t would sound too fantastic"
Your note this afternoon spoke OF
urgency" the doctor observed,
The matter is urgent. L want YOU
to do me great favor-to remain
here all night"
You are expecting something to
II wish, at any rate to be pre-
pared"
III stay, with pleasure" the doc
tor promised. You can lend me some
paraphernaIia, suppose? And give.
mo a shake-down somewhere ne9lr
Lady Dominey's. By-theLby," he be-
gan, and hesitated.
| Il have followed your advice, or
rather your orders" Dominey inter
rupted, a little harshly. 1T has not
always been easy, especially in Lon
don, where Rosamund is away from
these associations. 1 am hoping great
night, or very soon"
The doctor nodded sympathetically.
| I shouldn't wonder II you weren't
on the right track" he declared.
| hosamund came in through tho
window to them and seated herself By
Dominey's side.
why are you two whispering like
conspirators?" she demanded.
Because we are conspirators," he
Doctor Harrison to stay the might.
He would like a room In our wing,
VIII you let the maids know, dear?"
She nodded thoughtfully.
Il or course! There are several
rooms quite ready Mrs Midreley
thought that we might be bringing
down some guests. I am quite sure
that we can make Doctor Harrison
mo doubt about that. LADY Dom e.
ney," the doctor declared. SIet me
be as near to your apartments as nos
sIble." '0'
Dominey, changed into ordinary
morning clothes, with a thick cord
} tied round his body a revolver in
his pocket and loaded stick in his
hand, spent the remainder OF that
night and part OF the early morn
ing concealed behind a great clums
OF rhododendrons, his eyes fixed 1iry
on the shadowNy stretch OF MARI
which lay between the house ana
= the Black Wood. The night was
moonless but clear, and when mis-
eyes were once accustomed 10 thu
phe out SoInbre twilight, the whole
landscape and the moving objects
upon 1t were dimly visible. The habits
OF his years OF bush life seemed in,
stinctively, in those few hours Of
waiting. to have re- estabIished them
selves Every sense was strained
! and active; every night SOUNDED
, which the hooting Of some owls, dis
tlfrbed from their lurking place IN
: the Black Wood was predominant
! heard and accounted for. And then
just as he had glanced at his watci
and found that Il was close uDon
o'clock, came the first real intima
lon that something was likely I,
= happen. Moving across the park 70
! ward him he heard the sound of
faint pater, curious and irregular II
= rhythm, which came from behind
: range OF low hillocks. lie raised him
= self on his hands and knees TO watch
! His eyes were fastened upon a CT
: tain spot,-a stretch OF the open D. p
between himself and the hIilocks.
,. (RSad To-MOrrow'S Exoltihp install.
. mou4l