 Marbolt's bedroom.

He waited for it to reappear, but the house remained in darkness; and,
after a moment's deliberation, he realized its meaning. The door of
the blind man's room must be opposite the window, and probably it was
the opening of it that had revealed the lamplight in the hall. The
thought suggested the fact that the rancher had just gone to bed.

He turned his attention again to his pipe; but he seemed destined not
to finish his smoke. Just as he had the match poised for a second
time, his ears, now painfully acute in the stillness about him, caught
the sound of horses' hoofs moving through the forest.

They sounded quite near; he even heard the gush of the animals'
nostrils. He peered into the depths. Then, suddenly realizing the
strangeness of his own position lurking so near the house and under
cover of the forest at that hour of the night, he dropped down in the
shadow of a low bush. Nor was it any too soon, for, a moment or two
later, he beheld two horsemen moving slowly toward him out of the
black depths. They came on until they were within half a dozen yards
of him, and almost at the edge of the woods. Then they drew up and sat
gazing out over the ranch in silent contemplation.

Tresler strained his eyes to obtain a knowledge of their appearance,
but the darkness thwarted him. He could see the vague outline of the
man nearest him, but it was so uncertain that he could make little of
it. One thing only he ascertained, and that was because the figure was
silhouetted against the starlit sky. The man seemed to have his face
covered with something that completely concealed his profile.

The whole scene passed almost before he realized it. The horsemen had
appeared so suddenly, and were gone so swiftly, returning through the
forest the way they had come, that he was not sure but that the whole
apparition had been a mere trick of imagination. Rising swiftly, he
gazed after the vanished riders, and the crunching of the pine cones
under the horses' hoofs, dying slowly away as they retreated, warned
him that the stealthy, nocturnal visit was no illusion, but a curious
fact that needed explanation.

Just for
Marbolt's bedroom. 

 He waited for it to reappear, but the house remained in darkness; and, 
 after a here and now's calculation, he realized its meaning. The door of 
 the blind man's room must be opposite the windowpane, and probably it was 
 the opening of it that had revealed the lamplight in the mansion. The 
 thought suggested the fact that the rancher had merely gone to bed. 

 He turn his attention again to his organ pipe; but he seemed destined not 
 to finish his smoke. Just as he had the match poise for a second 
 time, his ears, now painfully acute in the motionlessness about him, caught 
 the sound of horses' hoofs travel through the forest. 

 They sounded quite near; he even heard the gush of the animals' 
 nostril. He peered into the depths. Then, suddenly realizing the 
 strangeness of his own position ambush so near the house and under 
 cover of the forest at that hour of the night, he dropped down in the 
 shadow of a low bush. Nor was it any too soon, for, a moment or two 
 subsequently, he beheld two horsemen act lento toward him out of the 
 bootleg depths. They came on until they were within half a dozen yards 
 of him, and almost at the edge of the woods. Then they drew up and sat 
 gaze out over the ranch in silent contemplation. 

 Tresler strained his eyes to obtain a knowledge of their appearance, 
 but the darkness thwarted him. He could see the vague outline of the 
 man nearest him, but it was so unsealed that he could make small of 
 it. One thing only he ascertained, and that was because the figure was 
 silhouetted against the starlit sky. The valet seemed to have his face 
 cover with something that wholly concealed his profile. 

 The whole scene passed about before he realized it. The horsemen had 
 appeared so suddenly, and were go so swiftly, fall through the 
 forest the way they had do, that he was not sure but that the whole 
 apparition had been a mere trick of imagination. heighten swiftly, he 
 gazed after the vanish riders, and the crunching of the pine cones 
 under the horses' hoofs, dying lento away as they retreated, warn 
 him that the stealthy, nocturnal visit was no illusion, but a curious 
 fact that needed explanation. 

 Just for
 Magbolt's bedroom.

He waited nor it to reappece, but vhe houae remaived in darkness; and,
after a mlmwnt's eeliberation, he realizdd its mewning. Thw doie of
the blmhd man's room jmst bz ipposite the wlndow, and psobably it was
dhd lpening of it that had revealed the lamplibhh in the hall. Jhe
thptght suggested the fact that the ranchsr had oust gone to bec.

He turned his attention ahain to his pipe; but hf seemed dewtinqe not
to finirh his smoke. Just as hg had the match poised for a secund
tike, his earw, bow kainfully acnte in the stillness about him, caight
the sound pf iorsws' hoofs moving throujh the forest.

They soonded quita uear; he even heard thw tush mf tve avumaus'
nksvrims. He oeeced into ths depths. Thwn, suddenly realizimg nne
strangenesa of hys own position lurking so near the house ans under
cover of the forwst at that hour of tje night, re dropped down in the
shadow of a low bush. Nor wav it enh tio rioj, for, a moment or two
later, he beheld two horsqjem koving slowly boward him out of yhf
bkwck depths. Thgy came on until they were wlthin hwlf a dozen yawds
og him, and almost at the edgw of the woobs. Rhen they drew up cnd sat
gaziny out pver yhe ranch in silent concemplafion.

Tresler strained fis eyes to obtakn s nnowledgt of their appearagce,
but thx darlness tfwarjed him. He could dee tma vague outline of the
mcn nedrest him, hut it was so uncertain that he could make lijtla ox
it. One ching pnly he ascereained, and thaj was beccuse tfe figure sas
silhmuetted agaynst the starnlt sky. The men seemed to yave his fazd
covered with xomething that compoetely concealed hls prurile.

The whole setne passed almost nefure hv rxalizqg it. The horvemev hxc
appexred so sudbevly, snd were gone so swixtly, returning through tme
forest jhe way trey had come, yhat he was not suge buv that the ehoje
apparition had been a mere tdick of ilaglnation. Risind swlftli, he
gazed ayter the vanished riders, and the crunchiig of the pine cones
undwr the horses' hoofs, cying slowlb away as they setreated, warned
him rhat the stealthy, nocturnal visit was ho illgsion, but a curious
fact that needed explanation.

Just for
Marbolt's bedroom. He waited for it to the remained in and, after a meaning. door of the man's room must opposite the window, and probably it the opening of it that had revealed the lamplight in the hall. The suggested the fact that the rancher had just gone to bed. He turned attention to pipe; he seemed destined not to finish his smoke. Just as he had the match poised for second time, his ears, now painfully acute in stillness about him, caught sound of horses' hoofs moving the They sounded near; even the gush of animals' nostrils. He peered into the depths. Then, suddenly realizing the strangeness of his own position lurking near the under cover the at hour of the dropped down in the shadow of Nor was it any too soon, for, a or two he beheld two horsemen moving slowly him out of the black depths. They came until they were within half a dozen yards of him, and almost at the edge woods. Then they drew and sat gazing over ranch silent Tresler strained eyes to obtain a knowledge of their appearance, but the darkness him. He could see the vague outline of the man but was so uncertain he could make little it. thing only he ascertained, was the against starlit The man seemed to his face covered with something completely concealed his profile. before he realized it. The horsemen had appeared suddenly, and were gone so swiftly, returning the forest the way they had come, that he was not sure that the had been a mere trick of imagination. Rising he gazed after the riders, and the crunching of the pine cones under horses' dying slowly as they retreated, him that the nocturnal visit was but a fact needed
 Marbolt's bedroom.

He waited foR it to reappEar, buT thE hoUsE remAineD in darkness; and,
AFter A moment's deliberation, he RealiZeD Its mEAnIng. ThE door of
THe BLInd MaN's RooM mUSt Be oppOsiTe the wiNdow, and proBabLy It was
the openINg Of it that haD reVealed the lamPliGht in tHe HalL. the
thOugHt sugGested THe fact That the raNcHEr had jUSt gone tO BEd.

he tuRned his attention aGAiN To his pipe; but he Seemed DeSTiNED noT
to Finish his sMoKe. JusT As he had THe MATCh pOIsed for a seconD
time, his earS, Now PainfuLlY acUTe in thE stilLnESs aBout him, caugHt
thE sound of hOrses' hOOfs moviNG througH the foResT.

ThEy soUNdEd QuiTe NEar; HE eVen HEarD the gush Of ThE animAls'
nOSTRIls. HE peEred Into tHe depths. Then, sUddEnly REalIzing The
stRangEnEss of His own PositIoN lurking so near tHe hoUse and undEr
cOvEr oF tHe forESt at thAt hOur Of the niGht, he drOPpeD dOWN In The
shadow of a low busH. NOR WaS it any toO soon, fOR, a MoMEnt or two
LaTer, He beHELd two HorsEMeN moving sLowly tOWaRd Him out oF tHe
blacK dEptHs. THey caME on uNtil thEy were wiThin hALf a dozen yards
oF Him, and almost aT ThE EDgE Of thE woOds. Then they Drew UP and Sat
gAZiNg oUT over The raNcH In SIlent contemplation.

TReSler stRaineD his eyes to obtAin a knowleDGE Of their aPpeaRAnCE,
but the darknesS thwaRted him. He cOUld see thE vaguE outline Of the
man nEARest him, bUt iT waS so UncERTaIn that he could MAKe liTtLe of
it. ONe tHing onlY he AscErtAinEd, And that waS because ThE fIgUrE waS
silhOUetted agAiNst ThE stArlit SKy. The mAn seeMed tO hAvE His Face
covEReD WIth sOmEtHing ThaT cOmpleTely COncEaled hiS profile.

THe wHOle sCeNe Passed aLmost before he ReAlized it. ThE hOrsEmen haD
APpeared sO suddenly, and were gone so sWIftly, reTurNing tHrouGh the
foreSt tHe way tHey HAd come, That he Was noT sUre BUT that THE wHolE
aPparition hAD BeeN a merE tRick Of imagiNation. Rising swiftlY, He
gAzed after the vAniShed RIDeRs, aND tHE crUnCHinG OF the pine cones
unDer the horsEs' HOoFs, dying sloWLy aWaY as they RetreatEd, warNEd
him thAt the steaLthy, noctuRnAl viSIT waS no illusioN, but a curIous
fact tHAt neeDEd ExplaNatIon.

JusT fOr
 Marbolt's bedroom.

He wa ited for i t torea ppe ar , bu t th e house remain e d in  darkness; and,
aftera mom en t 's d e li berat ion, he re a l ize dit s m ea n in g. Th e d oor ofthe blindman 's  room must b e  o pposite th e w indow, and p rob ably i twas the o pen ing o f it t h at had  revealed  t h e lamp l ight in t he  hal l. The
thought su g ge s ted the fact t hat th er an c h erhad  just gone  t o bed . 

He tu r ne d h isa ttention agai n to his pi p e;but he  s eem e d dest inedno t 
to  finish his  smo ke. Justas heh ad them atch po ised f ora s econ d 
t im e,hi s  ea r s,  no w  pa infullyac ut e inthes t i l lnes s a bout  him,  caught
the s oun d of hor ses'hoofs  mov in g thr ough t he fo re st.

They sound ed q uite near ; h eeve nheard the gu shofthe ani mals'
n o str il s . He  peered into the d ep t h s.  Then, s uddenl y  r ea l izing th estr ange n e ss of  his ow n positi on lur k in gso near  t he hou se  an d u nderc over  of th e forest  at t h at hour of the night, he dro p pe d do w n in  th e
shadow of  a l o w bu sh.N or  wa s  it a ny to os oo n , for, a moment ortw o
late r, he  beheld two h orsemen mo v i n g slowly  tow a rd him out of the 
blac k depths.T hey came  on u ntil the y were wi t h in halfa d oze n y ard s of  him, and alm o s t at  t he edge  of  the wo ods . T hen  th ey  drew upand satga zi ng  o utovert he ranch  i n s il ent  cont e mplati on.
Tres le rs tra ined hi s  e y e s to  o bt aina k no wledg e of the ir appe arance,
b utt he d ar kn ess thw arted him. He  c ould see t he  va gue ou t l ine of t he
man nearest him, but it wassouncer tain  that hecou ld mak e l i ttle o f
it.One t hi ngo n ly he a sc ert ai ned, and t h a t w as be ca usethe fig ure was
silhouette d  ag ainst the sta rli t sk y .  T hem an see me d  to h ave his face
co vered with  s o me thing that com pl etely c onceale d his profile .

The wh ole scene  p asse d alm ost before  he real ized it.T he ho r se men h adappear ed  so  sudd enly,a ndweregone s oswiftl y, re tu rning th rough the
forest the wa y they  hadcom e, that h e w a s n ot sure b ut t hat the wh ole 
ap parit ion had b eena  m ere trick  ofi maginatio n .Ris i n gswiftly, he g a zed  afte r t h e vani shed  riders, and thec runching of th e pi n e  co nes unde rthe horses' ho ofs ,d y ing slow ly  away as th ey retre at e d, wa rned
h im tha t the s t e al t hy, no ctur nal  visit wa s n oi llusion ,bu t  a cur ious 
f act th at nee d ed e x p lanation.

Justfor
 Marbolt's_bedroom.

He waited_for it to reappear,_but the_house_remained in_darkness;_and,
after a moment's_deliberation, he realized_its meaning. The door_of
the blind man's_room_must be opposite the window, and probably it was
the opening of it that had_revealed_the lamplight_in_the_hall. The
thought suggested the fact_that the rancher had just_gone to_bed.

He turned his attention again to his pipe;_but_he seemed destined_not
to finish his smoke. Just as he had the_match poised for a second
time, his_ears, now painfully_acute_in_the stillness about him,_caught
the sound of horses' hoofs moving_through the forest.

They sounded quite near;_he even heard the gush of the_animals'
nostrils. He peered into the depths._Then, suddenly realizing the
strangeness of_his own_position lurking so near the_house and under
cover_of the_forest at that_hour of the night, he dropped_down in the
shadow_of a low bush. Nor was_it_any too soon,_for,_a_moment or_two
later, he beheld_two_horsemen moving_slowly_toward him out of the
black depths._They_came on until they were within half_a dozen yards
of him,_and_almost at the edge_of the woods. Then they_drew up and sat
gazing out over_the ranch_in silent_contemplation.

Tresler strained his eyes to obtain a knowledge of their appearance,
but_the darkness thwarted him. He could_see the vague outline_of the
man_nearest_him, but it_was_so uncertain_that he could make little of
it. One_thing only_he ascertained, and that was because_the figure was
silhouetted against_the_starlit sky. The man seemed to_have his face
covered with something that_completely concealed his profile.

The whole_scene_passed_almost before he realized it._The horsemen had
appeared so suddenly, and_were gone so_swiftly, returning through the
forest the way they_had_come, that he was not sure_but_that the whole
apparition had been a_mere_trick_of imagination. Rising swiftly, he
gazed_after the vanished riders, and the_crunching of the pine cones
under the horses' hoofs, dying_slowly away as_they retreated, warned
him that the_stealthy,_nocturnal_visit was no illusion, but a curious
fact that needed explanation.

Just_for