Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-04-02

noise and walked Elizabeth. and We
both listened. 1t was in the dining
room, and oh. Elise"
Lady Edith's pearls." finished in
an awed whisper, adding as an after
thought: Where is Elizabeth"
Gone to wake Mary Anne. Do get
up and put on your wrapper; we
might as well be prepared
l have since asked Gabrielle If she
thought 1t unconventional to receive
burglars in robe de mutt: at that time.
however, / did not question the motive
of her command. but reached obedient-
ly for my slippers. and was enveloped
in my pink kimono when Elizabeth ap-
peared in her blue one.
Elizabeth was very pale and looked
as though she had encountered a regi-
ment of ghosts, as she collapsed in a
crumpled heap on the foot of my bed.
She wasn't there" she said, in a
frightened whisper: her bed had not
been touched, and-oh, I'm afraid"
We all were. for that matter, and
huddled close together, listening in
tently. Mary Anne. tower of
strength in any emergency, had failed
us in our hour of need, and we felt
weakly incompetent as well as
alarmed.
We listened with strained attention
and every sense alert, dreading the
unknown, yet still more fearful Of the
silence which enveloped the house like
pail We heard nothing. however,
except the sound of the waves, usually
soothing in its regularity. but tonight
accompanied with an overpowering
sense Of loneliness and a realization
of our helplessness and complete iso-
lation. @.
But as the slow moments passed
and nothing happened we grew gradu.
ally calmer. and even ventured to
creep noiselessly into the hall and
lean over the banisters, ready for in
slant flight back to my room at the
first suspicion of a movement below
there to barricade the door and in
sure personal safety II possible. Again
we listened. and again nothing hap
pened.
Would you be afraid to go down.
stairs?" suggested Gabrielle, always
the most valiant. 1T seems all right"
we "efe aIIdiu, anu salu SO EN-
phaticaIly.
'of course" said Elizabeth. after an.
other period OF silence. I'VE might
have been mistaken about the noise.
But. then, there's Mary Anne-what
of herr"
Gabrielle sat fiat upon the floor,
mingled relief and dismay in her face.
That's just IT." she exclaimed
1T was Mary Anne"
What do you mean?"
THE noise-it was Mary Anne.
Don't you see? She has been deceiv.
ing us about her son: he Is still hang.
Ing about somewhere, and she goes
out at night and meets him. so 1t is
no wonder she was not in her room"
why. of course''-Elizabeth &C.
cepted the theory without question.
while | maintained an uneasy silence.
I'm so relieved-but I'm sorry. too. /
hate to think she has deceived us
again
Gabrielle snuiIed the wick of her
candle and rose to the occasion. for,
as she said afterward. she felt herself
more than equal to Mary Anne, al.
though she might perhaps funk a
masked burglar.
Now. I'll tell you our best plan,'
she said. decidedly. Wen go down.
stairs and see II she has left a door
or window open (as. of course. she
musD. and then we will lock It and
wait until We hear her coming, and
then
Well" I inquired. as she paused ir.
resoIutely "what then7''
why. then well confront her"
Gabrielle spoke firmly. and we felt
as though the act OF confronting must
be in the nature of the ancient ordeal
Of red-hot ploughshares.
Let us go right down." she contin.
ned. before she has n chance to come
In. Both OF you get candles and
come on
Il don't quite like it." demurred
Elizabeth. Suppose she brings that
man with her? He might not object to
three other murders IL he thought Il
necessary"
] got my candle in puzzled silence
Gabrielle's explanation was very prob.
able. and I fervently hoped It might
prove to be true. but had a mental
vision Of the figures at the door OF the
boathouse, and my heart sank with
in me.
CTo BE CoNTINUEDJ
Shopper Got the 8est