The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-18

crescent moon and hiding the countryside beneath pail of blackness, which was forked at intervals by flashes of lightning.
 The darkness was so impenetrable, and he fury of the storm so fierce that Harry Marsland pulled his hat we'll over his eyes and bent over his horses neck to shield his face from the driving rain, trusting to the animals sagacity and sure-footedaess to take him safely down the cliff road in the darkness, where a slip might plunge them into the breakers which he could hear ing at the foot of the cliffs
 Hardly had Marsland done so when his horse swerved violently right across the oad-fortunately to the side opposite the edge of the cliffs-slipped and almost fell, but recovered itself and then stood still snorting and trembling with fear.
 He patted and spoke to the horse, won dering what had frightened it. He had seen nor heard nothing, but the darkness of the night and the roar of the gale would have prevented him, even if his face had not been almost buried in his horses's neck. However, the rain, beating with sharp per sistence on his face and through his clothes, reminded him that he was some miles from shelter on lonely country road, with only a vague idea of his whereabouts. So, with few more soothing words, he urged his horse onward again. The animal responded willingly enough, but as soon asi moved Marsland discovered to his dismay that it was lame in the off hind leg. The rider was quick to realize that it must have sprained itself in swerving
 He slipped out of his saddle and endeav- ored to feel the extent of the horses injury, but the animal had not entirely recovered from it's fright, and snorted as it's master touched it. Marsland desisted, and gently pulled at the bridie.
 The horse struggled onward few paces, but it was badly famed, and could not be ridden. It thrust timd muzzle against it's masters breast as though seeking refuge from it's fears and the fury of the storm. Marsland patted it's head caressingly, and facing the unpleasant fact that he was on an unknown lonely road with lame horse in the worst storm he had ever seen, drew the bridle over his arm and started to walk forward
 He found it difficult to make progress in the teeth of the gale but he realized that It would be useless to retrace his steps with the wind at his back, for only the bleak bare downs he had ridden over that afternoon lay behind, and the only house he had seen was a shepherds cottage on the hillside, where he had stopped to inquire his way before the storm came on. There was noth- ing to be done but face the gale and go forward following thee Tiff road which skirted the downs, or to seek shelter for himself and his horse at the wayside house until the fury of the storm had abated. Prudence and consideration for his horse dictated the latter course, but in the black ness of the night-which hung before him like a cloud--he was unable to discern a twinkle of light denoting human habitation.
 The storm seemed to gather fresh force, rushing in from the sea with such fury that Marsland was compelled to stand still and seek shelter besoide his horse. As he stood thus, waiting for it to abate, vivid flash of lightning across the western sky, revealing vividly the storm clouds through the heavens, the mountainous yellow crested sea, and the desolate, rain-beaten downs; but it revealed, also farmhouse standing in the valley below, little way back from the road which wound> down to- ward it from where Marsland stood.
 The lightning died away, the scene it had illuminated disappeared, and clap of of relief. He judged that the house was less than half-mile down the hill large, gaunt, three-storied stone building, with