Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-12-07
RIDDLE IN RED

ly-a sim BlfllSn inquire on a
galloping horse. 1t looked to me
as if horse and rider were travel
ing toward us at an impossible,
nightmare speed--like the mount
ed heroine of horror tale flee
ing some modern incarnation of
the Baskervilles' hound.
The thump of galloping hoofs
on the gravel was distorted by
some strange echo. 1t didn't
sound real. The girl on horse
back charged up the drive closer
and closer to the second pair Of
shining trees.
Karen's fingers tightened their
grip on my arm.
Normal" The word came
sharp and harsh. Norma, you
idiot Watch out! Not so fast"
Norma had almost reached the
twinkling trees when it happened.
shall never forget that mo-
ment One second the girl and
the horse were careering forward.
The next second they stopped
with jerk, as if they had run
headlong into an invisible wall.
The horse reared, whinnying
shrilly, staggering. For one
paralyzing instant the girls
figure was visible half-tilted
backward on the saddle Then
there was a single scream, a
high. scarcely human scream.
And Norma toppled from the
saddle backards. doWnWards, out
of sight, into the murky dark
ness.
Another scream this time from
the direction of the house.
Karen started running blindly
forward | ran too. vaguely con-
scious of hoarse, anxious voices
from the house, and then foot
steps scurrying on the gravel be-
hind us.
The horse. still whinnying like
a possessed thing, had galloped
precipitously away Karen was
ahead of me- She passed the
lighted trees and reached the
spot where her sister had fallen.
She was bending down l came
up TO her. l dropped TO my knees
The light from the trees
stretched that far shining with
bizarre pink and blue radiance on
the limp figure Of the girl
sprawled there That's why 1
could see her so plainly, see the
white. drawn face, lolling at an
ominously unnatural angle. the
red hair streaking back, the
crumpfed body in the green shirt
and spattered jodhpurs
Karen gave a little stifled sob
and buried her face in her hands.
a figure ran up from the direc-
ton Of the drive gates. IT was
Oliver Church, his face white and
haggard.
Doctor, is she badly hurt ?"
He SHE'D" Karen breathed
Monarch SHE'D at the lights "
THE others were crow ding
around US I had confused
i'm press ION Of their faces
macabre in the colored light, and
their quick, anxious questions
glanced at Oliver Church.
Get over TO my house Quick.
My daughters somewhere around
get her TO show you the way.
And bring my medical kit Quick"
He melted away into the
shadows I hurriedly passed my
hands over the PROSTATE girl.
There seemed 10 be no obvious
fractures. but felt sure her
injuries were very serious And
il was hopeless trying 10 examine
her in that light ] slipped nay
arm under her limp body Her
heau dropped sideways like
broken flower.
Someone | think it was David
Rowley. gently lifted her legs.
And together we started 10 carry
her TO the house, the others
following as white and Silent.
We reached the house and
paused for a moment by the
front door For no particular rea-
son ! turned and glanced over
my shoulder down the long drive.
That's how I happened TO see
that thing which ! would never
have seen otherwise. that thing
which suddenly changed that
cruel but standard tragedy into
something grotesque, with in
finite and sinister overtones.
saw it only dimly and for a
brief moment But | saw il
clearly enough TO feel once again
that taut stirring of the hair at
the back of my neck,
There, still and shadowy.