Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1922-11-24

/ The Blade Giittereo; but Linda Was
Afraid to Look at 1t Closely.
4 afraid to look at 1t closely "You
might need that, too," the old woman
! said. 1T may be wet-I can't remem-
her. But take it, anyway"
Linda hardly heard She thrust the
/ blade into the leather of the saddle
then swung on the horse.
She rode swiftly until she began to
/ fear Simon might hear the hoof beat
of her mount then she drew up to
walk And when she had crested
the Hill and had followed down It's
long slope into the glen, the moon
/ went under the clouds for the first
| time.
She lost sight of Simon at once.
! Seemingly her effort to save Bruce had
come to nothing after ALL But she
didn't turn back. There were light
patches in the sky and the moon
might shine forth again.
She followed down the trail toward
! the cleared lands that the Turner'S cul-
!
| 1t was rather high point, so she
waited here for the moon to emerge
! again. Never, it seemed to her, had 1t
| moved so slowly. But all at once its
light flowed forth over the land.
Her eyes searched the distant
! spaces, but she could catch no glimpse
of Simon between the trees. Evi
| tn fhn
direction of the house. Then she looked
out over the titled lands.
Almost a quarter of a mile away
she saw the flicker of miniature
shadow Only the vivid quality of the
moonlight, against which any shadow
was clear-cut and sharp, enabled her to
discern it at all. 1t was Simon, and
evidently his business had taken him
into the meadows. Feeling that she
was on the right track at last, she
urged her horse forward again, keep
ing to the shadow Of the timber at
first.
Simon walked almost parallel to the
dark fringe for nearly a mile; then
turned off into the titled lands. She
rode opposite him and reined In the
horse TO watch.
When the distance had almost OBJ
scured him, she saw him stop. He
waited long time, then turned back
The moon went in and out of the
clouds Then, trusting to the distance
to conceal her, Linda rode slowly out
into the clearing.
Simon re-entered the timber, his In
spection seemingly done, and Linda
still rode in the general direction he
had gone. A curious sense of I'M
pending events came over her as she
headed on toward the distant wall OF
forest beyond.
Then, the clouds slowly dimming un-
der the moon, the light grew with al
most imperceptible.e e.encroachments. AT
first II was only bright enough to
show her own dim shadow on the
grass. The utter gloom that was over
the fields lessened and drew away like
receding curtains; her vision reached
ever farther the shadows grew more
clearly outlined and distinct. Then
the moon rolled forth into wholly
open patch of sky-a white sphere
with sprinkling Of vivid stars around
it-and the silver radiance poured
| down.
1t was like the breaking Of dawn.
The fields stretched to incredible dis
tances about her. The forest beyond
emerged In distinct outline; she could
see every irregularity in the plain.
And in one instant's glance she knew
that she had found Bruce.
His situation went home to her in
one sweep OF the eyes. Bruce was
not alone. Even now great, tower
ing figure was creeping toward him
from the forest. Linda cried out,
and with the long strap of her rein
lashed her horse into the fastest pace
1t knew.
Bruce did not hear her come. He
lay in the soft grass, waiting for
death A great calm had come upon
him; a strange, quiet strength that the
pines themselves might have lent to
him; and he made no cry. In this
dreadful last moment of despair the
worst Of his terror had gone and left
his thoughts singularly clear. And
| hut one desire was left to him: that
tie Killer might be merciful and end
lis existence with one blow.