Avon Fantasy Reader No. 13 — page 100: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

She: House of Shadows Here is one of those delightful little stories with which sion lore abounds—one of those anecdotes, told with a tear in the eye, a touch of pathos, and a stinging little shock at the end. mamas” [iE TRAIN pulled up with a noisy jerk and wheeze, and I peered out into the semi-gloom of dusk at the little depot. What was the place?— “Oak Grove.” I could read dimly the sign on the station’s roof. I sighed wearily. Three er on the train! Lord, I was tired of the lurching roll, the cinders, the scenery flying past my window! I came to a sudden decision and hurried down the aisle to where the conductor was helping an old lady off. “How long do we stop here?” I asked him quickly. “About ten minutes, ma’am,” he said, and I stepped from the train to the smooth sand in front of the station. So pleasant to walk on firm ground again! I breathed deeply of the spicy winter air, and strolled to the far side of the station. A brisk little wind was whipping my skirts about my legs and blowing wisps of hair into my eyes. I looked idly about at what I could see.of Oak Grove. It was a typical small town—a little sleepier than some, a little prettier than most. I wandered.a block or two toward the business district, glancing nervously at my watch from time to time. My ten minutes threat- ened to be up, when I came upon two dogs trying to tear a small kitten to ieces. . I dived into the fray and rescued the kitten, not without a few bites and scratches in the way of service wounds, and put the little animal inside a store doorway. At that moment a long-drawn, it seemed to me derisive, whistle from my train rent the quiet, and as I tore back toward the station I heard it chugging away. I reached the tracks just in time to see the caboose rattling away into the night, What should I do? Oh, why had I jumped off at this accursed little sta- tion? My luggage, everything I possessed except my purse, was on that van- ished train, and here I was, marooned in a village I had never heard of before! Or had I? “Oak Grove” ... the name had a familiar ring. Oak Grove 98 COMicOOX<S. CO —