Evening star., 1922-01-15

see her leaning out. her elbows on
the ledge. Wales I could not see. for
a thick, square -clipped hedge OBJ
structed my vieW-but / saw some
thing else.
Lizard fashion, a hideous. unclad
shape crawled past beneath me among
the tangle of ivy and low plants about
the foot of the fir trees. The moon
light touched it for a moment. and
then it was gone into denser shadows.
Then suddenly I saw young Wales.
He sprang into view above the hedge,
against which, ] presume. he had been
crouching. He leaped high in the air,
as though from some menace on the
heard a more horrifying scream than
that which he uttered.
MY God" he cried. Marjorie!
Marjorie" And yet again: Mar
jorie! Save me-
Then he was down, still screaming
horribly and calling on the woman
for aid-as though she could have
aided him. The crawling thing made
no sound, but the dreadful screams of
sobbing and then into a significant
painting which told of his dire ex-
tremity.
1 raced out Of the room and down
the dark stairs into the hall. Every
where I was met by locked doors
which baffied me, and I turned my
attention to the front door. 1t was
bolted, but drew the bolts one after
the other and got the door open.
OUTSIDE the landscape was bathed
" in glorious moonlight. and a sort
of gray mist hovered over the valley
like smoke. 1 ran around the angle
of the house on to the lawn and went
plunging through flower beds heed
lessly to the scene Of the incredible
conflict.
I almost fell over Wales as he lay
inert upon the gravel path. The
shadows veiled him so that I could
not see his face. With my hand thrust
against his breast and my ear low
cred anxiously. listened. but he gave
no sign of life.
Excited voices became audible, and
doors were being unlocked here and
there. First of all the household
Mrs. Dale appeared, enveloped in a
lace dressing gown.
Aubrey" she cried tremulously.
What is it! Where are your"
He is here, Mrs. Dale" answered,
standing up. "and in a bad way, !
fear
For heavens sake, what has hap
pened to him? Did you hear his
awful cries?"
"I did" said shortly.
where is he. Mr.. Addison" she
said firmly. "and what has happened
to him?"
A man, who proved to be a gar
dener, now appeared upon the scene.
Help me to carry him in," said
to this new arrival. Perhaps he has
only tainted"
We gathered up the recumbent
body and carried it into the breakfast
room. where there was a deep couch.
All the servants were gathered at the
foot Of the stairs, but the outcry did
not seem to have aroused Maj. Dale.
Mrs. Dale and bent over Wales.
His face was frightfully congested
,, while his tongue protruded hideously
and it was evident that he had been
strangled, or nearly so.
do you know first aid. Mrs. Dale?'
+ asked abruptly.
She nodded, her eyes fixed intently
upon me.
Then help to employ artificial
respiration" said, "and let one OF
the girls get ammonia and bowl OF
hot water. We can patch him up.
think, without medical aid-which
might be undesirable"
Mrs. Dale. in businesslike fashion.
set to work to assist me. Wales had
Just opened his eyes when heard q
heavy step descending from the new
wing, and Maj. Dale, in his dressing
gown, Joined US.
what the devils the natter" he
cried. whats everybody up for?"
There has been an accident
major" said. Elancing around at the
servants. who stood in a group by the
door OF the breakfast room. Il can
explain moro fully later"
Maj. Dale stepped forward and looked
down at, Wales.
Good God" he said hoarsely. tIts
young Wales. What's he doing here? p
Mrs. Dale. standing Just behind me
Laid her hand upon my arm. and. unl