The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-10-31

Joan, who had witnessed his pres
ence with CONSERVATION, now felt
sudden reaction from her fears. OF
course, Myers explanation made the
situation ineligible.
She bowed. and he turned to the
boy. "You can take Miss Wentworth
up." he said. "I'll find buggy some
where"
AS there was only room for two In
the buggy, Joan did not demur to the
proposition. She stepped in. the
young man holding out his hand to
guard her dress from the Wheel Joan
glanced at the man with momentary
interest. He had the appearance of a
gentleman, and the manners of one.
There was no hint of either seryility
or presumption, and yet there was
sort of independence about the man
which fitted him admirably. He
flicked the horse, and the buggy began
to crawl out of the station yard along
the single street Of a tiny village,
struggling uphill. 1t was white viii
lage. but clusters of shanties a little
back among. the pines betrayed the
presence Of the black element. There
was a store or two. their fronts plas-
tered with tobacco and baking powder
advertisements, and in front Of each
stood gaunt, yellow-faced hillman.
chewing and gazing after the buggy
with unanimated face.
This is lancaster" asked Joan.
Eyes, Miss Wentworth"
"The people here look depressed"
There's a good deal Of sickness,
Miss Wentworth. Hookworm, and
what they used to call malaria. But
there isn't any malaria here; it's bad
diet-salt pork and soda biscuits. And
there's pellagra it's been here for gen.
erations, but it wasn't till last year
that the medical commission discov-
cred it."
The coachman's knowledge might
have been ludicrous in most men of
his class, but there was nothing ridic-
ulous in the grave, refined face of the
young mountaineer. He must have
picked up some knowledge at the in
stitute, thought Joan.
Z But it's healthy up in the hills,
Miss Wentworth" he added. "This
village is Millville, They used to grow
cotton in the valley over yonder, but
the frost killed the crops three years
ago. and the mill fell into ruin. Quite
little water power in that stream"
The buggy assembled sleeper
grade, the horse breaking into a short
gallop near every summit, and then
resuming its leisurely crawl.
"That's the institute. Miss Went
WORTH" the coachman continued,
pointing toward struggling building
on little plateau. 1t had the appear
ance of large but rather dilapidated
farmhouse. Its three miles by the
road" he added, but less than mile
over the hills"
The horse had stopped to gain
breath again. Looking back. Joan
saw white line that crept upward
over the rocky. slopes almost direct
from the station to the building. Half
way up was little speck Of black
that seemed to move. Joan knew it
was Myers hard hat. his body being
hidden from view among the bushes.
She shuddered slightly; the man was
very repugnant to her.
The horse went on again, the road
winding uphill through pastures gay
with buttercups and white with little
branched asters. 1t dipped between
hedgerows pink with meadowsweet.
The sun had set, but its light still
gilded the hills. The scene was very
peaceful. Now the institute seemed
to swing out from among the undula-
tons of the mountain TANKS imme-
diately in front of them.
The buggy came to standstill be-
fore the long wooden building. which
was Of unshingled boards and very
much the worse for weather. 1t had
not been painted for years, and two
windows in one wing were broken. A
patch of weedy, unknown lawn extend
ed between what had once been
hedges. but were now mere tangles of
underground. Nearby was a large
inclosure in which were a few chick
ems. picking for grains of corn. and
COW at pasture turned her head and
gazed at them placidly.
The door opened and a pleasant
looking woman came forward.
How do you do, Miss Wentworth"
she said. II am the matron. Mrs.
Fraser Doctor Lancaster telegraphed
about your coming. I'll show you
your room, and your supper will be
ready in few minutes"
Joan descended. The driver, who
had leaped to the ground. held his
hand over the wheel, but did not offer
it to her. Then he re-entered the bug
gy. and. rather to Joan's surprise,
drove of along the road by which
they had assembled.
II The mystery deepens, with
Myers the secretary Of the insti-