Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-04-04
lowed him as IL fascinated toward tka

lowed MIN as IL FASCINATED toward Cls
door that showed dinghy conspicuous
in the light Of an unshadcd gas jet
Almost ut the moment that she reach
ed his side he extended his hand to-
ward the door. The action was deci-
sivc and hurried as though he feared
TO trust himself.
For space he fumblcd with The
lock. And Eve, standing close behind
him, heard the handle creak and turn
under his pressure. Then he shook the
door
At last, slowly, almost reluctantly,
pe turned round. I'm afraid things
aren't quite-quite right" he said in
can sec no light"
She raised her eyes quickly. Put
yon have key?' she whispered.
"IIavcn't you got key" 1t was OBJ
vious that to both the unexpected check
to their designs was fraught with dan
ger
"Yes, bur lie looked toward the
door. Yes, have a key. Yes. you're
right he added quickly "I'll use it,
Wait while go inside"
Filled with a new nervousness. op-
pressed by the loneliness. the silence
about her. Eve drew back obedently.
The sense OF mystery conveyed by the
closed door weighed upon her. Her
susceptibilities were tcnscly alert as
she watched I.oder search for his key
and insert II In the lock. With min
gled dread and curiosity she saw the
door yield and cape open like black
cash in the dingy wall and with n sud
den sense of desertion she saw him
pass through thc aperture and heard
him strike a match.
The wait that followed seemed ex-
traordinarily long. Listening intcntly.
she heard him move softly from one
room to the other. And ut last. to her
acutely nervous susccptlbilities, 1t
seemed that he paused in absolute 81
lence. IN the intensity Of listening
she heard her own faint, Irregular
breathing, and the sound filled her with
panic The quiet, the solitude, the
vague, instructive apprehension, be-
came suddenly uncomfortable. Then all
at once the tension was relieved. Loder
reappeared.
He paused for Il second in the shad-
Owy doorway; then he turned unsteadi-
ly. drew the door to and locked 1t.
Eve stepped forward Her glimpse
of him had been momentary--and she
had not heard his voice yet the con
sciouSncss of his bearing filed her with
instructive alarm. Abruptly and with
out reason her hands turned cold. her
heart began to beat violently. John -
she said below her breath
For answer he moved toward her.
His face was bercft of color there was
look Of CONSERVATION In his eyes.
Come" he said. Come at once.
must take you home" He spoke in a
shaken, uneven voice.
Eve. looking M at him caught his
hand. why? Whyf' she questioned
Her tone was low and scared.
Without replying he drew her i'm
peratively toward the stairs. go very
softly" he commanded. "No one must
see you here
In the first moment she obeycd him
instinctvcly; then, reaching the head
of the stairs she stopped. With one
hand still clasping his, the other cling
ing nervously TO the banister, she re
fused TO descend. John she whis
| pered Yin not a child. What IS It.
What has happened? l must know"
For moment Ioder looked at hel
uncertainty; then, reading the expires
sion in her eyes, he yielded to her de
maud
Hes dead" he said in very loN
| voice. "Chilcote is dead"