Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-26

Whats that?" says he in a second.
was tired-tired to death.
Nothing" says I. Nothing but some dog
barking somewheres"
mo, but harki"
WELI, had to listen. BY and by it come
to me there was more dogsn one, and
that they wasn't barking like farm dogs. They
was baying. Same you'll hear the surf way
of on an outside beach. That's how hear
threshing at the edge of the cornfield. and
mems voices.
WELL" says quiet. 81 guess We'll CO."
Lester looked at me and at him. eye for
eye. He'd gone deathly white.
Lester" said I, you remember what told
you?"
He give me no answer, and when got up and
walked off along the row making toward the
mountainside. he followed, STOPPING same's
did. close behind. The sound of the dogs and
men seem to grow louder 1t had got hot there
under the corn; my tongue was dry and sweat
run down into my eyes. And the darkness that
come was surprising. started to run, but
Lester had hold of me-
John!" he beg me. John, for PHYS sake!"
"3e quiet. Lester" I shook off his hand.
"You just stick with me- and you'll be all right.
They won't catch U.S."
He had hold of me again, nor he wouldn't
leave go.
"3ue-John!"
With that I seen what he meant There
come a FASH and then beyond the men ana
dogs there come another sound rolling up all
along the yalley--thunder. That sudden dark
ness was a tempest cloud
had to stop. Even with them dogs coming,
had to take minutes time. The only thing
I could think to do was slap his face. I wish
you could've seen the expression that come into
his eyes-like relief. Yes sir, like relief
Didn't tell you," says I, that I'd taken
that all onto me?"
His look was so funny had to clap him on
the back.
Lester, you'll live to laugh at all this some
day. Now come on"
We come out of the corn and into the free
air underneath the trees where the mountain
went up. peeked through the trees, and I
seen the men coming across the field, just their
heads showing. like they was swimming in the
corn All behind 'em across the valley 1t was
dark. what with that cloud and the dusk
making.
Night come fast then. We hadn't gone much
over hundred yards, climbing I'D amongst
the roots and moss and stones, before it come
on dead blind dark
Now, leme tell you, it was strange, and it
was awful. It was strange because the rain
wouldn't come. I never seen rain hang off SO
long after thunder. and tell you I'd hundred
times rather have it pour down buckets than
like 1t was, still as death between the bolts and
hard and dry and airless. And that lghtningi
I'd never minded lightning. But I wonder
II you ever been under thick woods in a flash
OF lightning. Well, it's queer enough All the
streaks and shadows take dart as the light
passes over. and you see 'em jump at YOU
But what was queerer was Lester Lester
seem to know when they was coming, and he
seem to know just where I was, too, for each
time. when seen him, he was standing stock
still with his eyes glued on me- tell you it
was ghostly. For though his face was white
yet there wasn't no more expression on it than
you'd find on q stone. And his mouth tight
shut.
He made me nervous hailed him in one
of the flashes
Lester" says I, cant you believe me-it's
all sright?'
If he changed expression can't say, for 1t
was dark again. and II he answered me the
thunder drowned 1t out. Anyhow, for some
reason r other, got more and more nervous.
turn and start to walk toward where I'd seen
him.