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

any specific injury beyond a slight swelling, though the horse winced restively as he touched it.
 tentedly at it's food, shut the door of the storehouse to prevent the animal wandering away, and set out for the house. The ligh. of the lantern showed him a path branch ing off the drive. He followed it till the outline of the house loomed before him out of the darkness.
 The path led across the front of the house, but Marsland looked in vain for ray of light in the upper stories which would indicate that one of the inmates was awake. He walked on till the path turned abruptly into a large porch, and he knew he had reached the front door. Instead of knock ing, he walked past the porch in order to see if there was any light visible on the far side of the house. It was with pleasure that he observed light glimmering through the second window on the ground floor. JuGg- ing by the position of the window, it be- longed to the room immediately behind the front room on the right side of the house.
 Marsland returned to the porch and wig orously piled the knocker on the door, so that the sound should be heard above the storm. He listened anxiously for approach ing footsteps of heavily shod feet, but the first sound he heard was that of the bolt being drawn back.
 Where have you been?" exclaimed : feminine voice. "I have been wondering what could have happened to you"
 The girl who had opened the door to him had candle in her hand. As she spoke, she shielded the light with her other hand and lifted it to his face. She uttered a startled exclamation.
 T beg your pardon,'' said Marsland, in an ingratiating tone. "I have lost my way and my horse has gone lame. 1 have taken the liberty of putting him in the outbuild- ings before coming to ask you for shelter from the storm"
 "To ask mel" she repeated. "Oh, of course. Please come in."
 Marsland closed the door and followed her into the dark and silent hall. She led the way into the room where he had seen the light, placed the candle on the table, and retreated to chair which was in the shadow. It occurred to him that she was anxious to study him without being exposed to his scrutiny. But he had noticed that she was wearing a hat and dark cloak. These things suggested to him that she had been on the point of going out when the storm came on. The mistaken way in which She had greeted him on oper ng the door seemed to show that she had been waiting for. someone who was to have accompanied her. Apparently she was alone in the house when he had knocked.
 "I am sorry to have intruded on you in this unceremonious way" he said reviving his apology with the object of enabling her to dismiss any fears at her own unprotected state. "I am completely lost, and when I saw this house I thought the best thing could do was to seek shelter"
 "You are not intruding upon me-" she said coldly. "The house is not mine-I do not live here. l saw the storm coming on, and, like you, thought it was good idea to seek shelter"
 It was apparent to him th,t her greeting had been intended for someone who had accompanied her to the house and had gone to one of the farm buildings for some pur- pose. He noted that her manner of speak ing was that of well-bred young lady rather than of farmers daughter
 The room in which they were sitting was evidently used as a parlor and was somberly furnished in an old-fashioned way There was a horse-hair suite, and in the middle of the room a large round table. Glancing about him into the dark corners of the room which the feeble lig:t of the can-