Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-08-15

! The House of The Wolf,,,,,s:
Y BY STANLEY j. WEYMAN


SO stealthy that her footsteps made no
sound. Her dark shadow moving ahead
of her across the floor. was not more
to make a noise, to give the alarm,
seized me.
Half way across the floor She stopped
to listen, and looked around, startled
herself, l think, by the silence. She
could not see her sister, whose
figure was blurred by the outlines of
the curtain; and no doubt she was puz-
zled to think what had become of her.
The suspense which 1 felt, but did not
understand, was so great that at last
L moved, and the bed creakcd.
In Il moment her face was turned our
way, and she glided forwards. her fcn-
lures still hidden by the hood of her
cloak. She Was close to us now, bend
ing over us She raised her hand to her
head-to shade her eyes, as she looked
more closely, | supposed. and | was
wondering whether she saw us-whcth-
er she took the shape!eSsness in the
shadow of the curtain for her sister %.
could not make it OUT was thinking
how we could best apprise her of our
presence without alarming her4wlen
5Croisette dashed my thoughts To the
winds. Croisette with, a tremendous
whoop and crash, bounded over me
on to the floor
She uttered a gasping cry-a cry of
intense. awful fear. have the sound
in my ears even now With that She
staggered back clutching the air.
heard the metallic clang and ring of
something falling on the floor heard
an answering cry of alarm from the
window; and then Mime. de Pavanncs
ran forward and caught her in he.
arms.
1t was strange to find the room late
~ so silent become at once alive With
whispering forms, as we came hastily
to light. | cursed Croisette for his fol-
~, and was immeasurably angry with
him, but had no time to waste words
on him then. | hurried to the door to
guard 1t. ! opened it hands breath
and listened. All was quiet below; the
house still. ! took the key out of the
lock and put 1t in my pocket and went
back. Marie and Croisette We're stand
ing a little apart from Mime de Pa
vannes, who, hanging over her sister,
was by turns bathing her face and
explaining our presence.
In very few minutes Nine 40
seemed to recover, and sat up. The
first shock of deadly terror had passed,
but she was still pale. She still trenl-
bled and shrank from meeting our eyes
though saw her, when our attention
was apparently directed clscwhere
glance at one and another of us with
q strange intentness, 81 shuddering GU
riositY. No wonder, ! thought. She
must have had a terrible fright--one
that might have killed a more tinld
woman.
What on earth did you do that for?.'
asked Croisette. presently, my anger
certainly not decreasing the more
looked at her beautiful face. You
might have killed her.
In charity | supposed his nerves had
Failed him, for he could not even now
give me straightforward answer. His
only reply was: Let us get away from
this horrible house, and this he kept
repeating. with a shudder, as he moved
restlessly to and fro.
With all my heart!" | answered..
looking at him with some contempt.
That Is exactly what we are going to
do!''
But all the same his words reminded
me of something which In the excite
ment of the scene had momentari,y
forgotten. and that was our duty Pa
vannes must be saved. though not for
Kit; rather to answer to us for his sims.
But he must be saved, And now that
the road was open. every minute lost
roughly, my thoughts turned into.
more rugged channel. you are right
This is no time for nursing. We must
be going. Mime de Pavannes. | went
on. addressing myself to her, you
know the way home from hereto your
house?"
ooh. yes." She cried.
will start. Your sister is su,lciently
recovered now, think And we viii
not risk any further delay"
l did not tell her of her husbands
danger. or that we suspected him Of
wronglng her. and being, in fact tho
cause Of her detention. wanted Her
services as a guide. That was the main
point. though was glad TO be abic 10
put her in place of safety at the same
time that we fulfilled our own mission.
She rose eagerly. You are s,re tlaat
we can get out?" she said
Sure" ] replied, with brcvitv
worthy of Beers himself
And | was right. We trooped down
stairs, making as little noise Us posi-
BILE; with the result that Mirepox only
took the alarm, and came upon us
when we We're ut The outer door. bung-
ling with the lock. Then / made short
work of him. checking his scared words
of remonstrance by flashing my dagger.
before his eyes. j induced him il. The
same fashion-he was fairly taken by
surprise-to undo the fastenings him
self; and so. bidding him follow us at
his peril. we slipped out one by one We
softly closed the door behind us A,d
10. we were at last free--free and ia
the streets of Parts. with the cool night
air tanning our brows. A church hard
by tolled the hour of two; and the
strokes We're echoed, before we la.i
gone many steps along the ill-pavctl
way, by the solemn tones OF the BEN
of Notre Dame.
We were free and in the streets. with
guide who knew the way If Bezers
had not gone straight from us to his
vengeance, we might thwart him yet
strobe along quickly Mime do by
my side, the others Il little way in front.
Here and there an oil lamp swinging
from pulley in the middle of the road
enabled us to AVOID some obstacles
;nore foul than usual, or to leap over
pool which had formed in the Kennel!
Even In my excitement my country
bred senses rebelled against the sighta.
and smells. the noisome air and oppres-
sive closeness of the streets.
The town was quiet, and very dark
where the smoky lamps were not hang
ing. Yet wondered If it ever slept,
for more than once we had to stand
aside to give passage to a party of
men. hurrying along with links and
arms. Several tilnes, too, especially
| towards the end OF our walk. / was
surprised by the flashing of bright
lights in court yard, the door of which
I .Seo|d iie1iA opSIi W IleLl OI lell. once
saw the glow OF torches reflected
ruddily in the windows OF a tall and
splendid mansion. a little Withdrawn
| from the street The source of the light
vas in the forecouri, hidden from US
by low wall, but ! caught the muir
lnur of voices and stir of many feet
once gate was stealthily opened and
TWO armed men looked out. the act and
their manner of doing 1t. reminded me
on the instant OF those who had pecped