Evening star., 1932-03-08

lTy 10 warn JneTn! judy uuIlE
it over her shoulder and ran from the
rom, not even bothering to slam the
door behind her.
Her heart was a terrified thing
pounding her on This was like some
dreadful dream, when no matter how
she hurried, she did not seem to make
headway.
But she was in her car. which she
had left parked at the curb. She was
slamming in gears, driving as fast as
she dared through the traffic. without
being entirely clear as to what she in
tended to do.
At least she was driving-on he1
way to warn them-if it wasn't too late
Not standing still like dumb creature
wringing her hands.
Out of the traffic-driving along the
Great Highway-the ocean rolling
bluely to her right.
Out alcng the Skyline Boulevard.
the sunny little spot where she had
parked this morning. This morning
God! That seemed a thousand years
ago, in some tabled time of peace!
A thousand years that she had been
driving like this. holding the wheel
to steady so. Racing with death. .
What was the use-what was the
use-a mocking voice seemed speaking
within her Wilson had the start. He
was doubtless driving quite fast. . .
He would get there first. She couldn't
pass him on the grade.
The grade-there was only one way
to reach the house. The breath-taking
grade which had always frightened her
No other road led to that coast coun-
try This was the road Wilson was
taking This was the road She
had to follow. No short cut. L. .
Short cut. Short cut. The
words echoed drearily in her mind.
The old railroad had been a short
cut. 1t had followed the level shore
line-darting around the indentations
of the coast. The old railroad. l.. .
Judy's mind seized on the idea
though her hands mechanically turned
the wheel of the car
The highway-that steep highway
which she had always followed, turned
away from the coast and darted inland
climbing a torturous way over the range
of high hills, stretched like a barrier
across the path. The railroad hac
plunged boldly into the sea end OF
the hills, reaching the other side
through a tunnel. That very tunne
where she and Nick had stood two
years ago on that peaceful Christina.
day.
The railroad was a short cut. Il
avoided the winding grade. If SHIT
could follow it, she might beat Free
Wilson to the house. The ties were
up-Judy remembered. 1t would bt
possible to drive along the cid right
Of way around the point. But the tun'
nel-blocking the way. She
couldn't get through the tunnel.
And then her heart had leaped The
blood seemed pouring back into hel
heart from her face, leaving her cole
with fearful relief.
No. She couldn't get through tht
tunnel with the car but If sht
could get through on foot. {.
And once again she seemed trans.
ported back to that Christmas day
She was standing in the chill din
mouth of the tunnel with Nick. Sht
watched, in memory, Nick wet his
flnger-hold it aloft and nod. a
draught there's clear passage O.
meant that there was a space not fillet
with earth. A space where slim
body could perhaps wriggle through Il
She hardly dared to think She wa
seeming to turn of its own volition.
She had left the highway. She wa
driving over the bumpy right of way
tears of excitement and fright rollins
| down her face. Now and then, wher
| they clouded her vision too greatly Shl
| impatiently dashed them away with tn,
! backs of her hands.
| Dumping over ill-kept roads that lee
through artichoke farms. Portuguese,
laborer in the field Strengthened up t.
look at her in amazement as she pass.
ed him.
Now the right of way again. Desert.
ed country-rolling hills and a sheel
cliff, dropping to laundering ocean
Deserted rocky point where white
| breakers snarled. The very edge of th<
| coast.
Dumping over the swells in the
ground where the ties had rested e.
The yawning black mouth of The
Judy jammed on the brake anc
jumped from the car-leaving the dool
swinging loosely on its hinges. She
| did not even know that she was crying
out loud until she had run a way into
the tunnel and her own voice wakenec
| echoes in the cavernlike space
Then she hushed abruptly. Shiver.
| ing, but silent.
The ground under foot was spongy
from moisture. 1t squaShed unpleas.
| antly under foot. A damp, earthly smell
| caused by Winter seepage, it smellec
| like a grave.
Rotting timbers overhead We
/ black earth under foot Chill anC
creepy. Even through her ex
element she felt the dead chill of it
Running lifetime she had beer
running like this fingers feverishl,
! gripping the flashlight she had taker
| frcm The car.
The yellow spot of light danced Jerk
lily ahead CT her as she ran-showin,
the damp timbered sides of the tun
nel-the spongy ground under foot.
The tunnel curved midway curv,
| which shut out the diminishing 500
of daylight behind, which meant tn
| entrance.
Now it was dark with the exception
| OF her flash. Dark and earthy-lik
being buried alive
Fear was lashing her on-fear TO
Stan and Eunice-a fear which was ius
a little greater than the supernatura
fear born CT these surroundings
A draught on her face-like an ic,
| breath. The draught which Nick hat
felt that long ago Christmas