Show A Y 4 1 A X GEORGE ETHELBERT VM WALSH CHAPTER I 1 I 1 was lost in the dismal old ol 01 swamp and night was coming it had been such a wild goose chase that I 1 almost doubted my san ity I 1 had come secretly to swamp swami hollow to meet old abner Lo Longwo oc and here I 1 was bogged and lost los in a morass of watery waste that thai completely bewildered me it was all on account of nancy nanc lee and a spirit of adventure nancy and I 1 had chummed together starved together and laughed together at the pranks fate played on us but when nancy had been laid up in a hospital as the result of an accident I 1 had undertaken to salvage a part of the longwood fortune that belonged to her efrom m what nancy had told me acle abner was a special kind of scoundrel who would rob the living and the dead and to try to obtain restitution from him now after the lapse of so many years was like seeking gold from the sea but I 1 had undertaken the mission for nancys sake with the result that I 1 found myself in a predicament that terrified me her uncle abner had brought on a family quarrel and driven her mother away from her home in wildwood where she had lost caste through a mistake or as the result of mischief makers to begin a life in the city and there she had remained until something had broken and nancy had been left an orphan among strange people not satisfied with this abner longwood had appropriated to his own use all that belonged to nancy robbing her of her inheritance through legal technicalities there had been a considerable fortune that th the dallas sisters had inherited from old judge dallas but the management of the estate had fallen into hands and when he had married janice the older of the two sisters he had had everything his own way when I 1 had learned the sordid details of nancys early life I 1 had bad tried to induce her to go to law about it but she had refused to do anything she would not even write to demand her mothers share in a moment of misdirected en I 1 had volunteered to un take the mission I 1 had decided anoll to go glo to wildwood and try by force persuasion or flattery to induce the old man to consider nancys needs abner longwood lived a silent sullen recluse with not even a servant in the very heart of the dismal swamp when I 1 had learned of this I 1 had been certain I 1 could frig frighten liten or cajole him into parting with some of his stolen possessions strangers meet ajeet in the swamp the man I 1 had reasoned was suffering from the torn torments lents of an uneasy conscience but I 1 had not bargained on getting lost in the swamp with night caching oa ching I 1 had halted finally IX L the banks of a dark pool of mud te sad slime completely submerged in the shadows of the swamp when I 1 heard a splash and the welcome sound of a human voice Hel hello lol it called there was a young man as mud spattered as I 1 was gazing across the treacherous pool at me I 1 was so relieved by the sight of him as a possible rescuer that I 1 smiled and exclaimed oh im so glad to see youl you 1 I guess its mutual he laughed good 1 I was hoping to see gee some one but I 1 expect to find a water nymph bogged in this awful hole may I 1 come across 1 I prevent you it if 1 I wanted to which I 1 dont I 1 answered with so much relief in my voice that he noticed it lost he added a few moments later when he stood before me there was blood on his hands and clothes which I 1 could not fail to observe and his face was rough and bristly with a two days beard but for all that it was handsome why should you think that I 1 asked smiling do I 1 look so forlorn yes I 1 think you do he nodded after a moments keen scrutiny and I 1 im lost too that is a little turned around I 1 wont say actually lost I 1 suppose any one could find his way out of this dismal hole if he kept going straight in any one direction yes I 1 nodded but to prevent you from wandering around and around in a circle ive heard that lost people do that in a thick woods or swamp 1 I dont believe it he declared its a bogey old gossips tell to frighten children he looked at the dark pool at my feet and then at his hands hand and clothes both mud spattered and bloodstained blood stained ill wash up ke he said in a mat ter of fact voice I 1 watched him go through his ablutions washing his hands and face by throwing the water up and swishing it around making a great time of it sp splashing lashin and snorting and finally fl flirting irLing his head like a shaggy dog to clear his eyes and hair when he came to cleaning the blood from his shirt sleeve my curiosity was aroused he had betrayed no cut or scratch to account for the blood youve scratched yourself I 1 said yes no he stammered in contusion confusion why yes I 1 suppose I 1 have and youre cut and scratched look at the blood on your arms its nothing I 1 murmured faintly 1 I fell and cut myself let me see it he added masterfully ter fully taking the arm and examining it ill wash it for you he was much gentler this time almost tender in the way he washed the dirt out of the scratch once or twice he paused to look at it and then at me he shook his head finally and said you dont live around here no and you he laughed pleasantly and admitted im a stranger too we sat and smiled appraising each other frankly and not out of the corners of our eyes we were not children we had both passed that period when a chance meeting tempts one to flirt or make believe we were neither bashful nor awkward in each others society although we were alone and lost in the heart of a great swamp we were frankly sophisticated and because we recognized kindred spirits we felt at ease and liked each other all the more for it you told me yet he added after a long pause smiling halt half humorously why you happen to be alone in this dismal old hole its the last place in the world one would expect to find find he paused to glance at me questioningly before finishing well to find a young lady of your quality he was grave and sincere even though his eyes twinkled quality I 1 said is so indefinite if said beautiful id understand der stand 1 I came near saying it he be laughed most women like to be I 1 called beautiful do they are you sure that a conceit of yours handed down from others it original no ill admit that but you satisfied my curiosity yet are you going to A warning Is issued there was really no reason why I 1 should not explain and as I 1 might need his assistance I 1 decided to be frank and drop all circumlocution 1 I was on my way up to swamp hollow when I 1 got lost he started and frowned giving me a quick inquiring glance we both remained silent a mo S k A I 1 I 1 ilk A I 1 rc there was a young man as mud spattered as I 1 was gazing across the treacherous pool at me ment gazing at the pool he very grave and motionless I 1 curious and vaguely apprehensive swamp hollow he began after a lengthy pause is seldom visited its a lonely place do you know anything about it A little A little linow knowledge ledge is sometimes dangerous he quoted smiling again if I 1 were you I 1 go on why not I 1 asked sharply because because he stammered and then came toan to an abrupt stop 1 I cant tell you he added later but take my advice dont gol go come with me I 1 was on my way out but of the swamp together we we can and find a trail I 1 shook my head stubbornly im going on I 1 said if you know the way to the house help me after another pause he shook his head slowly 0 no I 1 shant do that you must go out with me his calm assurance that I 1 would obey him piqued me I 1 was not accustomed to being dictated to I 1 smiled and shook my head ill find it alone it if you wont go with me I 1 rose from the log and stood before him my dear young lady he began rising also if you will be stubborn you must take the conse quen ces ive warned you and ive said I 1 guide you now if you persist it must be at your own risk thank you I 1 retorted ill take the risk and absolve e you of all blame I 1 moved away chin in the air determined to find my way and not let him think I 1 was dependent upon his help he neither moved nor spoke I 1 hesitated for a second hoping that he would relent and then finding him as stubborn as myself I 1 plunged blindly into the thick bushes not knowing which way I 1 was going or where I 1 would land it was a foolish thing to do tor for I 1 was as much lost as ever and the way did not improve any but there still lurked back in my mind a suspicion or at least a hope that he would follow and either renew his persuasion or meekly submit and show me the way it was quite feminine to appear perverse under such circumstances but even more so to show disappointment and chagrin at the outcome I 1 was piqued and irritated but not once did I 1 turn my head I 1 would not give him the satisfaction of guessing that I 1 already regretted my act I 1 plunged blindly forward and as if that might excite his sympathy I 1 chose the very worst tearing through a wall of vines that threatened to shred me of all outer garments and splashing in pools of muddy water that sucked and gurgled horribly all around me not for worlds would I 1 have weakened when he did not come to my rescue like a bird caught in a snare I 1 struggled desperately onward until the dark dank pool was left far behind I 1 was not immediately conscious of it but dusk was gathering in the swamp and when it dawned upon me that night was approaching I 1 experienced a new panicky je feeling eling it was bad enough to be lost in such a place in broad daylight but to spend the night there was a thing too dreadful to face I 1 grew suddenly frightened and the reaction left me weak and trembling in the midst ot of my fright a vivid flash of lightning followed by an earsplitting ear splitting crash of thunder brought me to my feet with a jump A storm had been brewing and the dark clouds obscuring the sun were more responsible tor for the awl twilight than the approaching night there was little consolation in this for of the two the storm was hardly less desirable I 1 screamed and closed my ears and eyes as the second crash reverberated ver berated among the hills and came booming and rolling down into the valley the wind suddenly rose with violence bending the treetops and whipping the underbrush as it rushed through them lite literally rally tearing and twisting off leaves and branches blowing down huge rotten trunks that fell with dull crashing thuds that startled the birds from their nests and filled the whole swamp with terrifying sounds I 1 the storm breaks in all its fury I 1 huddled in silent terror beneath a huge oak forgetting in my panic that tha t a tree in a thunderstorm is a poor refuge and listening with beating heart to the warring of the elements for a time there was no rain it was a wind storm which in a woods or swamp is even more dangerous and awe inspiring than rain jF falling alling branches and trees crashed around me how soon one would find me out and strike me to earth seemed only a matter of moments to my excited imagination the very demons of the swamp had risen in their fury to punish me for invading their home my senses reeled under the impact of the violent sensations and when the rain came in sheets and torrents it had hardly any further effect than to increase my trembling I 1 was wet through in a minute drenched to the skin the tree offered no more shelter than a storm riddled umbrella the water poured through its leafy canopy in spouting streams TO BE CONTINUED |