The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-03-20


spoke some words to allay our alarm
Nothing to be frightened about. H
would soon be caught. They were nov
securing the country side in search o
him
But nevertheless it was some time be
fore the more nervous members OF oul
circle quite recovered their equaninity
and when the time came for retiring L
oress for dinner that lunatic was still
the leading topic Of conversation.
~ ell, have you prepared your program
for tonight, Mrs. SterIing?r Charlie Fleet
| wood asked when we met in the dining
| room
Don't ask questionsY I answered
| Let it be a pleasant surprise for you"
Afterward both question and answer
| proved to have a strange Significance.
We were sitting in the drawing-roon
| after dinner. Felix was talking TO the
| blonde widow about a curious book OF
| heTaldry he had been reaoing. He said
| he would show her the volume in ques-
! ton, and rose TO go to the library To
| fetc hit.
Now, "inston Lodge. which we have
| been accustomed to take each year for
| the shooting season, consists of an i'm
/ posing central pile, with two long wings
| extending east and west. The house was
| too big for our requirements; conse-
quently we only occupied the center and
| the west wing. But it was into the east
wing that my husband had now gone.
the library being situated there.
He had scarcely lett the room when I
recognized that the book he wanted was
not IN the library at ALL and. to save
him the futile task OF looking for it, 1 ran
after him.
I crossed the hall and plunged down the
narrow, oak-paneled corridor leading to
the east wing. Ny course was unhlu-
mined, save for the dim moonlight that
penetrated the mullioned windows, but
knew my way well enough, and march
ed along without hesitation.
Suddenly. as 1 was cropping my way
along, 1 saw a slight movement in front
of me, and there, but a few feet away,
stood a gray, silent human figure.
Felix, is that you?" / said. And
won't be positive that there was not
the suspicion OF a quiver in my voice.
There came no answer to the question,
and the figure commenced to glide away
down the passage.
Without waiting to get thoroughly
frightened L followed it, Quickening my
pace a little. The mysterious form did
the same
Along anu along we went, twisting and
turning among the labyrinth of passages,
and then at last, coming round a sharp
corner, there was a shaft of light through
,
where my husband was.
l darted forward, feeling quite brave,
now that l was in the vicinity Of Felix
But I was too late. The form glided
into the room, silently closing the door,
and heard the key turning in the lock.
1 stood there for a moment or two
puzzled. doubtful alarmed. All at once
there rushed upon me a horrible present
iment of impending doom, and with it
wild, irresistible desire to learn what was
going on in that room.
tried the door. II was securely lock-
ed. A few yards down the passage, high
up in the wall, was small window look
ing into the library. Directly underneath
1t was a heavy oak table. Onto that
table / scrambled and gued my eyes to
the dust-dimmed pane,
Felix! Felix, turn round. Look"
Those were the words I shrieked IS
dashed my bare hand through the win
dow and withdrew it, bleeding.
And my warning was not a moment too
soon. AS my husband knelt IN a corner
over a pile of books, the taH, white
haired figure was already close on him,
an upraised weighted stick in his hand.
the raging FIRE Of insanity cleaning IN
his eyes
But 1 was just in time. On hearing my
voice my husband sprang round. caught
the descending stick on his arm, and
closed with his adversary in a fearful
life and death struggle.
Thank heaven. 1 was not entirely I'm
potent. With a cry OF encouragement 20
my husband I sprang Gown, pushed up
my skirts, and raced back along the pas
sage. I ran as I never had run before
i knocked afainst furniture In the dark
ness, L stumbled and fell; out still. i'm
PEELED as by supernatural force. rush
ed on.
-I'l,ro,,et, ~. -,f,+,,-, r-,s7---- T -.
down the second corridor, across the hall. |
into the drawing-roon-
I must have looked a remarkable figure /
as / rushed in among my guests. Ny I
hand was bleeding and the blood had
stained ms white evening gown. Ny hair !
was half down. my dress was tora But I
what did appearances matter 10 rasT
The madmanF gasped. painting for I
breath. The escaped madmani He has /
got into the east wing. and Felix-my I
husband-we must burst the door open
Comel Gomez
All eyes we're turned upo1 ne, but not /
a soul offered TO move
Don't you understand ne?" I cried. 4
my hand0 IN my impauence /
mere is not moment % lose Ny 4
husband Is fighting for his life, Why
don you Gomez Mr. 4 fleetwood YOU
bear me. Have piry-have pity.
You VIII he TOO Iates ] screamed IN +
p perfect frenzy. Felix VIII be dead
5trangled ty that mailman fingers
stransled. strangled.
il was the sound q hands cfaprsnE IA
applause. They thought ! was aetingt
4 storUe0 and raves and shr.eke3 as
zurcIv I'D actress could or would el-
reated and lmpiored- and struggled the
ThI.e with the feeling q fa5ntusss and
lunbness shat was stealing over uaa.
And tasu. at length. seeing that my sf-
.oTts o make them understand we're Ut-
eTly useless. 7 suddenly stopped ard
summoned Up smile as I listened - {
heir applause ard congratulations
somehow CT ether I f11ace5 them -
CHOW ne from 1hs room. telling tcsu /
hat had soEethl1g u sh1w theU IL
he east wt1E-a further eurer-a t-zr-le-t
shlch ny husband and I had prepared
heir curiosity was whetts3 ard thsv
llseuted ~ Gawdse a-uug aehln1 rua
angling and chatting Ise while
lrlF Nhsu the hoard tnst last DESPAIR
1r cry ~ Esl11 1.8 FleetEeo1 an1 ons
r tHo - thz etheT E1en begin q gain
4l1u1er o. the LrGth- rs was Hsta eeeg-
acreas1E alarm that they hnTrsa1 for
yard a-o1 trsed 10 force Tie lo-ary deer
nd lzaltT 2s4lna t1e cat taese as
am 1Erst e 1reE
Lar hanpeaeed whez 1 Ess ts 4 aez Z
o1xf-E lrte tAe Fnam AL aeelzr severat
arr-s tAege. ard ssruEz5s Eos1E ga
can recall the s-Eas @ EsElE r-1aies Z (
lL pass and sl-HnE ssst smE sass
{ bis n1ltinE eat Ms asrzs 20 Ee- Il