Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-12-20

/, AMe ram was falling, and she could
naroiy drag her feet along. The month
was November, and the dusk was al
ready creeping on. When, after going up
one street and down another, making in
Vulnerable inquiries and taking MANY
wrong turnings, she at length stood be-
fore the house, she was too much ex-
hausted to go step further.
The house proved to be one in a row.
with shabby pretentiousness of aspect
that struck cold on Nest, weary as she
was The bell sounded loud and echo
ing, and brought no response. She no.
tlced now for the first time that
the blinds Were down in the SNOWY bow
windows, and chill of terror overpow-
cred her. She rang again desperately.
and a sob burst from her as far away a
shutting step was heard coming ND from
some distant region. Surely her quest
was over and relief at hand.
Some one approached the door and a
chain clanked. The person whitman
Old man, she thought-peered out
through an inch or two of space.
lis Mrs. Simpson Thompson at home ?
| am Miss Percival, the new governess.
Can you let rue in?"
mo, can't. She amt at home. She
went away yesterday, and won't be back
for q week"
Pray, pray unchain the door, and let
me In! | am tired-I have come long
way have nowhere else TO CO."
how do / know anything about YOU
There is no one here but me. Most like
you are tramp or bad character of
some sort. Be off"
"Oh, for the love of HeavenID cried
Nest in az agonized voice. But the old
man, muttering incoherently, shut the
door in her face. She could hear the kew
turn and the footsteps shuttle away until
they We're lost in the distance.
Ill and dizzy she leant against the
doorpost. Her money was gone. her
strength exhausted; she had no means
OF returning to London, even if she was
sure of being received there; no possible
way of communicating her plight to Ere
do or Godfrey. A horror of despair
seized. She had read of homeless crea-
lures forced to wander all night. ex.
posed to nameless dangers, but she had
never dreamed that she should be one of
their number. The faintness was in.
creaslng; IN another moment she would
DC unable to stand, and would be found
oy some stranger dead, huddled on the
doorstep where she he'd been denied shell
| ter.
The street was private one, and in
the cold drizzle of rain few persons we've
abroad. mans step was heard coming
IN her direction, and Nest, through whose
brain foated halfforgotten stories Of
the arrest of Migrants by stern police
men, of their being dragged to prison
and locked up with felons, reused herself
from her torpor and made an effort at
escape. She darted from the door and
crouched in the shelter of shrub which
overshadowed the shabby grass plot in
front of the villa, waiting in a GREATNESS
panic until the steps should pass by.
They came nearer and nearer, paused
at the gate; she heard the click of the
latch; they passed close by her hiding
place and went up to the door. There
was pause and vigorous ring, fol-
lowed by several Others in quick success
sion. Nest scarcely dared to breathe as
she waited. At length the distant shut
fling of feet was heard, the clank of the
chain, the slow turning of the key in the
lock, and the old mans mumbling ard
querulous accents.
What in all the world do you want
a-ringing and a-ringing when you see the
blinds down and know there amt any
one in the house? This is the second
time you have come disturbing me. I
tell you I won't let you in!"
Il don't want to get in" said voice,
which Nest, il her terror, recognized as
Prof. Volkmarr'o. 1T is the last thing
desire. Is the door wide enough open to
admit half CROWN There, / see vou
have got it. Now answer a few ones
tions There has been a young lady here,
hasn't thereT'
Eyes, while ago mebbe, a quarter
of an hour"
where is she now?"
"How should / know? | thought she
was one of the begging kind, and shut
the door on her; / want no tramps
about"
did she ask to get inn"
Eyes, but she had to stay out. know
nought else. Have you any more ques-
tons to ask rs
no. my friend. You may retire to
your rerose."
The door was sfrut and locked The foot
steps retreated, and there was silence.
1 Prof Jolkmarr remained standing on the
doorstep and Nest crouched lower in the
damp darkness. Then he turned, slowly
passing her hiding place, and paused an
other moment at the gate. Finally he
went away at quick pace.
The moment his steps were no longer
\ heard Nest crawled forth, staggering to
\ her feet, and rushed in an opposite di-
reetion-arywhere, anywhere to escape
hfn. If she did not find some hiding
place she might fall into his power. She
ran wildly on until turning a corner she
came suddenly into collision with a man.
1t was too dark to see his features, but
at her cry his hand grasped her arm, and.
certain that it was the professor, her
powers of endurance gave way and she
| tainted.
When she recovered consciousness she
was lying on a couch and woman was
bending over her. A voice, with kindly
but rough accent, said:
"She Is coming TO. 1t is all right. You
may leave her 10 me. She will be recov
cred enough in the morning to 60 with
you. and ] will have her ready. Good
night, sir, and thank you'll"