Evening star., 1925-04-19
PICHARD BRYAN was a stolid.

RICHARD BRYAN was q stolid, IN
imaginative young man. Yet, as
he stood there he had a queer feeling
of insecurity, a nervous dread of
penetrating further into this partially
occupied house.
Much obIige, sir" he said, but
there's no need for me to keep you.
l didn't think this was the right road,
somehow. I'll just step back to the
crossroads"
"Ill show you your exact route on
my map" the Older man replied,
throwing open the door.
The traveller had not the courage
to yield to the one nervous instinct of
his life. He crossed the threshold of
the room-a very large and lofty
apartment, with couches, easy chairs,
a multitude of books and a great
cheerful log fire. Lying on the hearth
rug before it, half risen now at his
entrance. was a woman who, even in
that light, seemed to him more than
ordinarily beautiful, a woman dressed
in a dull green teagown, who looked
at him with strange eyes.
Gentleman lost his way motoring,
my dear" his companion explained,
cheerfully. 'Sit down for moment,
sir. while I get my map. VIII you
have a whisky and soda?"
This was an invitation which Rich
ard Bryan seldom refused and which
he had never felt less inclined to re-
fuse than at the present moment. He
sat on the edge of his chair and
watched the tenant of the house mix
his drink at the sideboard. He found
it impossible to think of anything to
say to the woman.
TS 1rix Ct yaI
softly.
Bitterly. ma'am," he answered
I've crossed the plain good many
times in the way of business. and
when this north wind blows it fairly
goes through you"
Come nearer to the fire." she in
vited. "If you have crossed the plain
so often how is it that you have lost
your way"
That's what l can't quite figure
out myself" he acknowledged. II was
going on all right until the sign point
ing down this road for Bruntingford
Here's good health, ma am and SIR"
he added, raising the glass which had
just been brought to him to his lips.
Good health to you, Sir" was the
courteous rejoinder.
The traveller drank and set his glass
down empty. All the time he fancied
that he could see the woman's eyes
glowing as she watched him, and he
was conscious of queer sensation of
excitement. Surely the whisky must
have been very strongl 1t was absurd
but the strength seemed to be going
from his legs. He tried TO speak and
found 1t difficult. The other man had
opened a cupboard and returned with
a smelling salts bottle. He took out
the stopper carefully and held it for
a moment TO Richard Bryan's nos
trils.
"A very ordinary type" the woman
murmured.
Naturally, my dear" the man
agreed. "A traveller, no doubt, ped
ding between the villages
You had better go and see to
things" she enjoined. 'I will watch
him. 1t amuses me when he tries to
talk
He nodded assent and left the room.
He put on an overcoat and made his
way out through the windy darkness
to where the car was standing. He
mounted to the drivers seat and drove
her on the reverse until there was
room to turn.
Then he made his way back to the
main road, turned a little to he left
and drove a short distance along to a
rise in the road. which left the pas
ture four or five yards below. He
drove the car to within an inch of the
bank, descended, put her in first
speed, turned the wheel slightly, and
leaning over, pressed the acceIerator
The car started with a jerk, turned
over and over and lay at the bottom
of the bank upside down, half way
across a small stream
He turned and retraced his steps,
pausing at the signpost to swing it
back TO its proper position, and re.
turned to his house. Richard Bryan
was still seated in his chair, swayins
1 little and mastering to himself. The