Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 148, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1915 — Dark Hollow [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Dark Hollow

By Anna Katharine Green

flkistreftiorvs C. D T3toclgs OOPYRIOMT 1914- DODD.AVEAD Of COMB-iT'CS/'

CHAPTER XV—Continued. “Tweaty-Eve miles and over a Tory tough mountain road. Did I not confidently expect to find Oliver there. 1 rd not let you undertake this ride. the Inquiries I have just made lead me to hope for the best results ” • ••see* "What's that?" "That's the cry of a loon." "Hour awful! Do they often cry like dhatr "Not often in the nighttime" Reuther shuddered. Mr. Black regarded her anxiously. Rad he done wrong to let her Join him In this strange ride? "Shall we go back and wait for broad daylight?" he asked. "No. no. I could not bear the sunprase of wondering whether all was going well and the opportunity being given you of seeing and speaking to him. We have taken such precautions —chosen so late (or should I say so early) a start —that I'm sure we have outwitted the man who is so watchful of ua But If we go back, we cannot slip away from him again; and Oliver will have to submit to a humiliation it is our duty to spare him. And the good judge, too. I don't care if the loons do cry; the night is beautiful." And it was, had their hearts been in tune to enjoy it A gibbous moon had risen, and. Inefficient aa It was to light up the recesses of the forest it illumined the treetops and brought out the difference between earth and sky. The road, known to the horses, if not to themselves, extended like a black ribbon under their eyes, but the patches of light which fell across it at intervals took from it the uninterrupted gloom It must have otherwise had. Mr. Sloan, who was at once their guide and host, promised that dawn would be upon them before they reached the huge gully which was the one dangerous feature of the road. Their guide had prophesied truly. Heralded by that long cry of the loon, the dawn began to reveal itself and the everyday world of the mighty forest was upon them with its night mystery gone. But not the romance of their errand, or the anxiety which both felt as to its fulfillment Full sight brought full realisation. However they might seek to cloak the fact, they could no longer disguise from themselves that the object of their journey might not be acceptable to the man in hiding at Tempest lodge. Reuther’s faith in him was strong, but even her courage faltered as she thought of the disgrace awaiting him whatever the circumstances or however he might look upon his father’s Imperative command to return. But she did not draw rein, and the three continued to ride up and on. Suddenly, however, Mr. Sloan was seen to turn his head sharply, and in another moment his two companions beard him say: "We are followed. Ride on and leave me to take a look." Instinctively they also glanced back before obeying. They were just rounding the top of an abrupt hill, and expected to have an uninterrupted view of the road behind. But the masses of foliage were as yet too thick for them to see much but the autumnal red and yellow spread out below them. "1 hear them; I do not see them,” remarked their guide. “Two horses are approaching.” “How far are we now from the lodge?" "▲ half-hour’s ride. We are just at the opening of the gully.” “You will join us soon ?" "As quickly as 1 make out who are on the horses behind us.” Reuther and the lawyer rode on. Her cheeks had gained a alight flush, but otherwise she looked unmoved. He was leas at ease than she; for he had less to sustain him. The gully, when they came to it, proved to be a formidable one. It was not only deep hat precipitous, and for the two miles they rode along its edge they saw no let-up in the steepness on one aide or of the almost equally abrupt rise of towering rock on the other. It was Reuther’s first experience of so precipitous a climb, and, under other circumstances she might have been timid; but In her present heroic mood, it was ail a part of her gxeet adventure, and as such accepted. The lawyer eyed her with growing admiration. He had not miscalculated ber pluck. Aa they were making a turn to gain the summit, they heard Mr. Sloan’s -voice behind them. Drawing In their borsea. they greeted him eagerly when be appeared. "Were yon right? Are we followed?" "That’s as may be. I didn’t hear or pee anything more. I waited, but nothing happened, so I came on." Hie words wort surly and his looks eour; they, therefore, forbore to question him further, especially as their bswirst Interest ley ahead, rather behind them. They were nearing Tempest lodge. As It broke upon their view, perched like an eagle’s eyrie on "the crest at a rising peak, liar dxew rein, and. after a short eon-

sultation, Mr. Sloan wended his way up alone. He was a well-known man throughout the whole region, and would be likely to gain admittance if anyone could. But all wished the hour had been leas early. However, somebody was up in the picturesque place. A small trail of smoke could be seen hovering above its single chimney, and promptly upon Mr. Sloan’s approach, a rear door swung back and an old man showed himself, but with no hospitable intent. On the contrary, he motioned the intruder back, and shouting out some very decided words, resolutely banged the door abut. Mr. Sloan turned slowly about. “Bad luck,” he commented, upon Joining his companions. “That was Deaf Dan. He’i got a warm nest here, and he’s determined to keep it 'No' visitors wanted,* was what he shouted, and he didn’t even hold out his baud when I offered him the letter.” “Give me the letter,” said Reuther. "He won’t leave a lady standing out in the cold." Mr. Sloan handed over the judge’s message, and helped her down, and she in turn began to approach the place. Aa she did so, she eyed it with the curiosity of a hungry heart It waa a compact structure of closely cemented stone, built to resist gales and harbor a would-be recluse, even in an Adirondack winter. Mr. Sloan had been repulsed from the west door; she would try the east Oliver (if Oliver it were) was probably asleep; but she would knock, and knock, and knock; and if Deaf Dan did not open, bis master soon would. But when she found herself in face of this simple barrier and was lifting her hand to the door it suddenly flew opep and a man appeared before her. >, CHAPTER XVI. Pound and Lott It was Oliver. Oliver unkempt and with signs upon him of a night’s work of study or writing; but Oliver!—her lover once, but now just a stranger into whose hand she must put this letter. She tried to stammer out her errand; but the sudden pallor, the starting eyes—the whole shocked, almost terrified appearance of the man she was facing, stopped her. She forgot the surprise, the incredulity of mind with which he would naturally hall her presence at his door in a place so remote and of such Inaccessibility. She only saw that his hands had gone up and out at sight of her, and to her sensitive soul, this looked like a rebuff which, while expected, choked back her words and turned her faintly flushing cheek scarlet “It is not I,” burst from her lips in Incoherent disclaimer of his possible thought “I’m Jußt a messenger. Your father—" “It Is you!" Quickly his hands passed across his eyes. “How—" Then his glance, following hers, fell on the letter which she now remembered to hold out “It’s the copy of a telegram.” she tremblingly explained, as he continued to gaxe at it without reaching to take it “You could not be found in Detroit and a 8 it was important that you should receive this word from your father, I undertook to deliver it I remembered your fondness for this place and how you once said that this is where you would like to write your books, and so I came on a venture — but not alone —Mr. Black is with me and —" “Mr. Black! Who? What?" He waa still staring at his father's letter; and still had made no offer to take it “Read this first,” said she. Then he woke to the situation. He took the letter, and drawing her inside, shut the door while he read it She. trembling very much, did not dare to lift her eyes to watch its effect hut she was conscious that hia back and not his face was turned her way. and that-the moment waa the stillest one of her whole life. Then there came a rattling noise as he crushed the letter in his hand. "Tell me what this means," said he, but he did not turn his bead aa he made this request “Your father must do that” was her gentle reply. "I was only to deliver the letter. I came —we came —thus early, because we thought—we feared we should get no opportunity later to find you here alone. There seem to be people on the road —whom — whom you might feel obliged to entertain and as your father cannot wait —” He had wheeled about Hia face confronted hers. It wore a look she did not understand and which made atm seem a stranger to her. Involuntarily she took a step back. "I must be going now," said she, and fell—her physical weakness triumphing at last over her will power. • • • • • • • “Oliver? Where is Oliver?” These were Reuther’s first words, u, coming to herself, she perceived Mr. Black bending helplessly over her. The answer was brief, almost indlf ferent Alanaon Black was coning

himself for allowing her to come to this house alone. “He was here a moment ago. When he raw you begin to give signs of life, he slid out How do you feel, my—my dear? What will your mother say?" "But Oliver?” She waa on her feet now; she had been lying on some sort of couch. "He must —Oh, l remember now. Mr. Black, we must go. 1 have given him his father's letter.” “We are not going till you have something to eat Not a word. I'll —” Why did his 6ye wander to the nearest window, and his words trail away into silence? Reuther turned about to see. Oliver was in front, conversing earnestly with Mr. Sloan. Aa they looked, he dashed back into the rear of the house, and they heard hia voice rise once or twice in some ineffectual commands to his deaf servant, then there came a clatter and a rush from the direction of the stable, and they saw him flash by on a gaunt but fiery horse, and take with long bounds the road up which they had Just labored. He bad stopped to equip himself in some measure for his ride, but not the horse, which was without saddle or any sort of bridle but a halter strung about his neck. This was flight; or so it appeared to Mr. Sloan, as he watched the young man disappear over the brow of the hill. Wnkt Mr. Black thought was not so apparent. He had no wißh to discourage Reuther whose feeling was one of relief as her first word showed. “Oliver is gone. We shall not have to hurry now and perhaps if 1 had a few minutes in which to rest —” She waa on the verge of fainting again. And then Alanson Black showed of what stuff be was made. In ten minutes he had bustled about the half-de-serted building, and with the aid of the daxed and uncomprehending deafmute, managed to prepare a cup of hot tea and a plate of steaming eggs for the weary girl. After such an effort, Reuther felt obliged to eat, and she did; seeing which, the lawyer left her for a moment and went out to question their guide. “Where’s the young lady?” This from Mr. Sloan. “Eating something. Come in and have a bite, and let the horses eat. too. The young fellow went off pretty quick, eh?” “Ya-aB.” The drawl was one of doubt “But quickness don’t count

Fast or slow, he’s on his way to capture —if that’s what you want to know.” “What? We are followed, then?” “There are men on the road; two, as I told you before. He can’t get by them—if that’s what he wants to do.” “But I thought they fell back. We didn’t hear them after you joined ua.” “No; they didn’t come on. They didn’t have to. This is the only road down the mountain, and it’s one you’ve got to follow or go tumbling over the precipice. All they’ve got to do is to wait for him; and that’s what I tried to tell him, but he just shook his suro at me and rode on. He might better have waited —for company." Mr. Black cast a glance behind him. saw that the door of the house waa almost closed and ventured to put another question. “What did he ask you when he came out here?" “Why we had chosen such an early hour to bring him his father’s message.” Sloan replied. “And what did you say?" “Wa al, 1 said that there waa another fellow down my way awful eager to see him, too; and that you were mortal anxious to get to him first. That was about it wasn’t it sir?" "Yes. And how did he take that?” “He turned white, and asked me Just what I meant Then I said that some one wanted him pretty bad, for, early as it waa. this stranger wag up as soon as you. and had followed os into the mountains and might show up any time on the road. At which he gave me a stare, then plunged back into the house to get his hat and trot out his horse. I never saw quicker work. But it’a no use; he can’t escape those men. They know it. or they wouldn’t hare stopped where they did. waiting tor him.” Mr.' Black recalled the aspect of the golly, and decided that Mr. Sloan was

right There could be bat one end to this adventure. Oliver would be caaght in a manifest effort to eacapp. and the Judge’s cup of sorrow and humiliation would be full. He felt the shame of it himself, also the folly of his own methods and of the part he had allowed Reuther to play. Beckoning to his host to follow him, he turned toward the house. “Don’t mention your fears to the young lady ," said he. “At least, not till we are well past the gully." , “1 shan’t mention anything. Don’t you be afeared of that.’’ And with a simultaneous effort difficult for both, they assumed a more cheerful air. and briskly entered the house It was ne until they were well upon the road back that Reuther ventured to speak of Oliver. She was riding as far from the edge of the precipice as possible. In descent it looked very formidable to her unaccustomed eye. “This is a dangerous road for a man to ride bareback," she remarked. “I’m terrified when I think of it. Mr. Black. Why did he go off quite so suddenly? Is there a train he is anxious to reach? Mr. Sloan, is there a train?” “Yes, miss, there is a train.” “Which he can get by riding fast?” "I’ve known It done!" ‘Then he is excusable." Yet her anxious glance stole ever and again to the dizzy verge toward which she now unconsciously urged her own horse till Mr. Black drew her aside. A half-hour’s further descent, then a quick turn and Mr. Sloan, who had ridden on before them, came galloping hastily back. Mr. Black hastened to meet their guide. “What now?”lie asked. “Have {hey come together? Have the detectives got him?” “No. not him; only his horse. The animal has just trotted up—riderless. “Good God! The child’s instinct was true. He has been thrown “No.” Mr. Sloan’s mouth was close to the lawyer’s ear. “There’s another explanation. If the fellow 4s game, and anxious enough to reach the train to risk his neck for it. there’s a path he could have taken which would get him there without his coming round this turn.” Then as Reuther came ambling up: “Young lady, don’t let me scare you, but it looks now as if the young man had taken a short cut to the station. Look back along the edge of the precipice for about half a mile, and you will see Bhooting up from the gully a solitary tree whose topmost branch reaches within a few feet of the road above.” “Yes,” she suddenly replied, as her glance fell on the one red splash showing against the dull gray of the Cliff. a - “A leap from the road, if well-timed, would land a man among some very stalwart branches.” “But^r-but —if he didn’t reach—didn’t catch —” “Young lady, he’s a man in a thousand. If you want the proof, look over there.” (TO BE CONTINUED.)

A Small Trail of Smoke Hovering Above Its Single Chimney.