Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-02-23
The Dark House
c. MANVnLE FENN

could not move from his position. If
he stood aside she would pass him,
and fasten him In the room.
He listened in the intense darkness,
and could just detect the short hur-
ried breathing Of one who was eX-
cited by dread.
But as he listened in the darkness,
clear now of the heavy curtain, he
heard another sound--a peculiar scrap
ing sound, that seemed to come from
outside the window.
1t was that which had alarmed
Katrine, and made her eXtinguish the
light.
The noise ceased. Then It was re-
pcated; and directly after, sounding
mufIled by the heavy curtain, the
/ window ratified a little in It's frame, as
If shaken or pressed upon by some
one outside,
The painting grew louder, there was
a warm breath upon Capel's cheek,
and the next moment he held Katrine
in his arms.
She uttered low cry Of fear and
struggle to escape
"Hush!" he whispered. "You have
nothing to fear Are you awaken"
There was no answer; only vigor-
GUS thrust from the hands placed upon
his chest and he felt that she was try
ing to open the door. trembling vio-
lontly the while.
"Katrlne," he whispered, why do
you not trust me? Wake up. There is
Nothing to fear"
He tried to clasp her In his arms
again, but with quick movement she
Cluded him; and as he caught Mt her
again, 1t seemed as If the great cur
lain had been thrust into his arms,
for he grasped that: and MS he flung
1t away. the door struck him In the
)lce and then closed He heard it
bcked. and the key withdrawn.
Then he stood listening, for the
'indow ratified again, and he wondered
lint the noise he had made In his
slight struggle with Katrinc had not
been heard by whoever was on the sill
There was a bell somewhere in the
room; but If he rang and reused up
the butler, the man would be Mortified
ut hearing his old masters bedroom
bell ringing in the dead OF the night.
Even II that had not been the case
what excuse could he make? And
could he explain his position to Mr.
Critic without making him the CON
lldant Of all that had passed? And
how could he relate to any one that
Katrine had been wandering about
the house In the middle OF the night?
What would Mr.. Critic say? Would he
think It was somnambulism
No; he could not ring 1t was I'M
possible; and all the while there was
that strange noise outside. mufIlcd by
the curtain.
lie walked cautiously through the in
tense darkness toward the window, TIL
he could touch the curtain. and then,
passing to the left. he softly drew 1t n
little inward, and looked out.
Ii was almost ns dark out there as
in; but there was n faint glow from
the lamps beyond the tall houses that
closed in the back. and against this
he could dimly see the figure Of "A man
standing on the sill while moro indis.
tinctly and quite low down there were
the heads and shoulders OF two more,
1t seemed to him that the man
standing on the sill was trying to pass
some instrument through between the
two sashos so as to force back the
window catch.
What should he do?
Give the alarm down stairs he could
not, without compromising Katrine.
Alarm the nocturnal visitors?
That would be to give up n chance
of getting told OF the clew,
What should he do
He coward or. now that the OPP
partunity had como, make bold ef.
fort to capture these intruders?
Three to one. Yes: but he was In
the fort. and they had to attack: and,
could he secure one. bribery or pun
iahment would make him tell all.
There was tho sound going on ut ,Ae
window, which was resisting the eff
forts, and with palpitating heart and
heavy breathing. Capel asked himself
the questions again, should he be
cowardly. or brave, and make daring
effort to gain that which was his from
the information those people could
glvcp
There was a grating aud clicking
still going on us he stepped cautiously
across the room the sound guiding
him to the stand whore his uncle's
old East India uniform and accounter.
mcnts were grouped. and the next
minute his hands rested upon a pistol.
Useless, for 1t was old-fashoned ana
unchanged.
That was better! His hand touched
the ivory hilt of the curved saber.
For time the blade refused to leave
its sheath; then 1t gave way little,
and then he drew II forth, laid the
scabbard on the door. passed his hand
through the wristknot, and thought
that he would have to strike hard, for
a cavalry saher Is generally round
edged and blunt.