Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-05-23
STRANGE ADVENTURE
Continued.

Matters went on in this way for
several Weeks-pOverty and mystery
poverty and mystery. | could have
made up my mind to the first, but the
second | diSliked. 1t went against
my English grain. The visits of the
stranger continued, and always, as it
seemed, interfered with our domestic
peace. | became more and more con-
WINGED that Nine Won Halle was rem
dered exceedingly unhappy by them.
And This reused not only my intensest
sympathy on her account, but in
creased my feeling Of devotion to her.
well, 70 hasten on to the culmin-
ating point. one evening | turned nv
key in the latch and entered the house.
and came upon a scene which flashed
upon my brain and lies there still as
ipdelible and vivid as though | had but
beheld it yesterday. The door OF the
back SItting-rOOm was wide open. |
heard Nine. Won Halle cry out. and
l saw confused group Of men grap-
ping, as it were, one with another.
There were four men. There were
Won Halle, Rudolf, the MOngol, and a
strange man whose face ! did not see
at all. What | did see was that con-
fused, horrible rush and the CLEAN of
knife savagely uplifted in the air
Whose hand held THAT knife l do not
know. Whether Rudolf Won HalIe's
or the MongOIS, | am utterly unable to
judge. 1t was just Il flash, no more.
Then came heavy fall, a CHASTITY cry,
the door was banged to, and Mme-vOn
Halle came flying along the passage to
fall half fainting into my arms. | had
not time to speak, to utter one word
of the amazement and beWiIderment in
which | STOOD before she slipped from
me, and casting herself at my feet,
claSped my knees with her arms, and
cried to me in i piercing whisper:
Save us, Hubert! Save us all!
For mercy'S sake, save u.s.
'AIistaking her meaning, l attempted
to push past her and to rush to the
back sittingroOm, surprising my as
sistance was III some way required.
But she seized me and hung with all
her weight upon me.
Not there, Hubert! Not there! she
cried
And just then l heard the key
turned in the door and l knew l was
purpoSeIy locked out. Nine. Won Halle
rose to her feet and tottered to the
room, | following. Again | was about
to speak, when she rushed forward
and laid her hand upon my mouth.
Not Il word, Hubertr she wills
percd. Not Il word! Sit by me and
listen. Don't speak,
Pulling me to Il seat by her side,
and us far from the wall of Uhe other
room rs possible she looked into my
eyes with the most passionate entreaty
| have ever seen in a human face.
do you love me, HubertT She
asked.
Indeed, madame" | fIltered, in the
same low whisper.
IF | were in difficulty, in despair,
would you save and help me-
Il could only answer by pressing the
hand which was to me as my mothers.
win you do what | tell you now,
do it, and trust me"
Il vowed | would with an intensity
Of emotion.
You have rich friends. Hubert.
Get me money. Ten pounds will be
enough. Get me money to escape. ASK
no questions, out 90 and do it, Creep
out Of this house now and never re
turn to it, AS YOU love me, promise
me that will pack your things and
have them conveyed to that house
close by. in the next street, where You
once thought Of taking Il room. There
l will meet YOU tomorrow morning for
the money. AfterWard get 4 lodging
as far away from this neighborhood rs
YOU cam You hear me, Hubert: You
understand? And remember YOU have
promised. For me, it is Il matter Of
life and dcnthr
''AIl this She had whispered into my
ear with an intensity Of utterance
which | cannot describe. Even as she
spoke the impossihility of the task
she had imposed upon me had risen to
my mind. But such was her will, her
impetuosity. her distress, that l could
not have uttered a word Of hesitation
had | wished it. There was the task.
| must so and perform it. | rose to
my feet in silence.
Just then the dead hush III the next
ItOul VIZ lunch ~ a f7CNLANt' L AAN''' -
the cautious trampling of feet and the
cautious slow drag of something
heavy across the floor. \ sickening
horror seized upon me. Something of
it may have shown itself in my face.
At any rate, Mime. Won Halle hurried
me to the door, aud with one last i'm
perious whisper Of For my sake!
pushed me over the threshold and out
into the street.
"Once out i'll the open air, confused
and Mortified though l was, my mind
fixed itself upon the thing to be done
for the sake of Nine. Won Halle, with
reSolute exclusion of any too search
ing thought upon that event But
how to proceed? Nine Won Halle haC
spoken Of my rich friends. Yes; hat
rich friends. l had my uncle and MS
circle. But my Old home was on the
eastern side of Yorkshire, and wha
| had to accomplish had to be done be
fore morning. Moreover, l was with
out money; 1 lad not siXpenc'
about me.
Il began to wander on through the
streets. my head down, and m!
thoughts absorbed in agOnized Schem
ing And while each plan in turn was