The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-10-31

little fellow. has walked up and is call
ing me. Good-by. If you have a mo-
ment before dinner, call me up again.
Only half treasured, l plunged into
the business in hand, and was not able
to go to the telephone again until after
eight O'Clock. l had to call long
time
Hello, hcllo!" called. why don't
you answer, Louise? What is the
mattor?"
"corne.hing we did not expect this
afternoon. The shutters had been
fastened the dogs united, and Nanette
hSd bat ~ Il bed for Blaise in the hall,
in CT Ger to save us the terrors of last
night. which, a bog from the village
orous 1T Il note for Dlaise. His moth
e. has suddenly been taken very i'll,
ard sic wanted him to come to her i'm
mcdatciy. The boy, whom we had
never seen before, went away again as
soon as he had delivered the note,
without giving us any further infOrma-
tion. Blaise. who adores his mother
was quite upset He did not want to
leave us alone before daylight, but his
sorrowful face told how dearly the de-
lay would cost him. l thought that If
this woman dies tonight, l shall have
prevented poor Blaise from receiving
her last blessing. So / overcame my
scruples and made him go. He prom
sed to return this evening, and to save
time he will drive back. l have Just
bolted the doors after him. That is
why kept you waiting. Now how is
that business affair getting along?"
Very well, but let us talk about
yourself. You should not have left
Blaise go. Even if he drives back, he
cannot return before ten or eleven
O'Clock. My sole confidence was in
knowing that he was near you, and
now he has gone. And then that bow
who ran away before you had time to
think of making sure his news was
true! At any rate Blaise has left you
the two dogs and the gun, has he
not?"
'vrbe two doris are asleep on
the porch. AS for the gun, Blaise
must have left it in the hall.
l shall go and make sure. Can
you hear Marcel? He Is sitting In
my lap and is saying goodnight to
You. Listen!"
Goodnight, papa, goodnight"
Goodnight, my darlings. l must
get Il bite of dinner now and then l
will call you again"
Once outside | felt oppressed with
dissimulated my own anxiety in order
not to add to her fears, But that I'M
easincss, which had hardly been quiz
ctcd by the first conversation, now
FAXED stronger at the thought of this
strange, incredible letter which had
aiken away my wife's one defender,
The only man in the house. My
thoughts took so dark turn
mat by the time l reached the
hotel, could not swallow
mouthful. left the table to return to
the telephone office, but my agent
found me and laid before me a lot of
details which were essential to the
success OF my venture l could not
dismiss him Immediately, and it was
late when | re-entered the telephone
office. My heart throbbed with impa-
thence. and my hand trembled SO that
could scarcely hold the receiver to
my ear. 1t was some seconds before |
could hear anything.
Hello, Louise, hello!" cried. "Are
you there? Answer mel"
AT last | heard her voice, but 1t was
low, oppressed, filled with terror.
oh, it's you at last. For the last
hour | have been nearly crazed. 1
could not find the gun-that boy must
have stolen it when he went away.
Blaise has not come back. they must
have got him out of the way on pur-
pose. Oh am losing my head, can
scarcely breathe for terror think 1
he2r-in the garden-far away-Wait
while listen,"
Clutching at the box for support I
could only cry:
Louise. beg Of you. DO not leave
me in this sllence-what do you
hear?"
The dogs are growling-now they
are Notwithstanding furiously. They
have run to the bottom of the garden
now, suddenly they are still-there is
u deathly silence! But-yes, 1t sounds
like mufiled footsteps on the pebbled
walk as if someone were coming to-
ward the house"
GO on, speak, Louise! am strang-
ling. l shall go mad! What do you
hear?-what do you hear now"
Nothing. now-almost nothing
yes. there is gentle, steady, grating
sound, as II chisel were being slipped
under a shutter to force 1.-THE sash
gives way-a window Is broken-oh, l
am terrified"
Il shook the telephone box in my
agony. Telephone to Marseilles." l
cried, Ito warn the police."
How can I?-the city is three
leagues away-they would come too
late-and l can not-Oh, l am going
mad
Call for help or hide yourself-yes,
that's it. Take the little one and
hide"
Il can not. I have no strength left
they are coming, the stairs creak-
they are in the hall-they are feeling
along the wall they try the door
Marcel. My Gcd-help he'll"