Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-07-19

AhN OAAShNai DOntd ylACH ohpPSN
away. He went just like a shadow.
He found a raincoat in the hall, and
in an instant he was out in the flood
of rain.
Hayward put on his W overcoat,
and started out after him. The rain
and the darkness swallowed them
both.
A window had been left just be-
side the fireplace, and through it we
could ordinarily see the garage. Err
nest and | gazed through that wind
ow. Ahmad was evidently having a
difficult time in beating his way
through the storm. 1t was a long
time before we saw an indication that
he had reached the garage.
We were were barely able to make
them out, although it vas plain that
the garage door was open and they
were shining directly toward us. OF
course the distance was far; and the
piercing rays could hardly penetrate
the wall of rain. The lightning had
entirely ceased. We couldn't hear
the roar of the engine at all. Then
we. saw quite plainly, the track OF
the lights as the car sped about the
shoulder of the hill.
Perhaps, in all, the walk to the
garage and the starting of the car
had taken four minutes. The walk
to the base of the hill, where the
postern path met the driveway, took
ordinarily two minutes. 1t was
straight downhill, and if Hayward
had walked swiftly at all, he would
certainly have two minutes to wait.
The car came slowly, and still we
could see the faint luster in the rain
that was its lights.
They curved on to the base of the
hill. Then Ernest uttered a sylla-
BILE of exclamation. Hes driving
past the point" he said.
Possibly Hayward has walked on
a few feet" / suggested.
The car slowed up and stopped for
a single instant, then started SLOW
ly on. 1t was hard to believe that
It halted long enough to permit the
portly form of Hayward to enter.
1t loked to us as if Ahmad were try
ing to throw the car lights onto the
side of the road. Then, to our vast
amazement, we saw him turn around,
The car headed back, just as SLOW
ly, and circled about to the garage.
The servant stopped the a in the
rain; and we waited a long three
| minutes for him to drive on again,
We only knew he was standing still
from the faint blur of the lights in
the downpour. ! don't remember that
| we three men talked at all. Possibly
there were one or two wondering re-
| marks-as to what was the cause of
their delay.
And just then the dark form of the
Hindu came into the hall. The look
of question on his face seemed very
| real indeed. | remembered it after
ward, as did all the rest of us.
"Where," he asked, sis Hayward
Sahib?"
"You mean Vilas?" Southley ask
ed.
1.-THE elder Hayward, whom was
to drive to the station"
"For Gods sake, Ahmad! Did you
| miss him? He started out in the
rain, and was going to meet you at
| the foot of the path. Didn't you I'M
derstand?"
81 looked-but he wasn't there
Then / thought | had misunder-
| stood, and drove back to the garage.
| He wasn't there either"
,"Good Lord, he'll be drenched. &c
down the path and find him."
YES, SdnlD-
NV eyes were upon Ernest's face.
| and suddenly his gaze met mine.
think that we had the same thought
"Wait a minute, Ahmad," he said
quietly. keep the door shut" Then
he turned to his father, and stood fol-
a long instant as if in thought. GA
| Their, | think that we'd all better &c
and look for Hayward"
We saw no sign of Hayward at
first. We got down to the drive
| way, and flashed our lanterns all a
long it. We looked up and down the
path. w tried to call in the beat OF
the rain.
GOOD Lordl" Southley cried. "He
couldn't have got down into the riv-
err and drowned"
We scattered about, and began to
climb over the hillside. The rain
the bobbing lantern, the echo of the
catastrophe, the dark house behind
US and the gathering lakes in front,
gave the scene a singular dream-like
quality. Then Ahmed, who walked
close beside me, tripped and fell over
something on the ground.