Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-09-09

malign, crouching, ready to spring.
there, in the shadow of night.
And her breath was smothered in
her throat and her heart smote so
madly against the frail walls OF its
cage that they seemed like to burst
while she stood transfixed, frozen in
inaction, limbs stiffening, roots of her
hair stirring, fingers gripping the ban
lister rail until they panied her; and
with eyes that stared wide into the
black heart of nothingness, until the
night seemed pricked with evanescent
periods of dim fire, peopled with mon.
strous and terrible shadows closing
about her. ..
Yeti was absurd! She must not
yield to such puerile superstitions.
There was nothing there. :.
There was something there /.
something that like an incarnation of
hatred was stalking her.
If only she dared scream! If only
she dared turn and fly, back to the
comfort of light and human com
There arose a trampling of feet in
the hallway; and she heard Maitland's
voice like a far echo, as he bade the
police good night. And distant and
unreachable as he seemed, the sound
of his words brought her strength and
some reinsurance, and she grew
slightly more composed. Yet, the in
slant that he had turned away to talk
to the cabman, her fright of that I'M
speakable and incOrporeal menace
flooded her consciousness like a great
wave, sweeping her-metaphorically-
off her feet And indeed, for the time,
she felt as il drowning, overwhelmed
in vast waters, sinking, sinking into
the black abyss of syncope.
Then, as a drowning person-we're
told-clutches at straws, she grasped
again at the vibrations of his voice.
What was he saying?
"You will wait outside, please, until
| come out or send somebody, whom
you will take wherever directed. . -
Speaking to the cabman, think
ing of her. providing for her escape!
Considerable and foresighted as al
ways! How she could have thanked
him! The warmth of gratitude that
envelOped her almost unnerVed her;
she was put to it to restrain her i'm
pulse to rush down the stairs and .
But no; she must not risk the
chance of rebuff. How could she fore
tell what was in his mind and heart,
how probe the depths of his feeling
toward her? Perhaps he would re-
ceive her protestations in skeptic spir-
it. Heaven knew he had cause to-!
Dared she :. To be repulSed! .
But no. He had provided this means
for flight; she would advantage her
self of it and and thank him
by letter. Best so; for he must ever
think the worst of her; she could
never undeceive him-pride restrain.
ing and upholding her.
Better so; she would go. go quickly,
before he discovered her absence from
the fiat.
And incontinently she swung about
and flew down the stairs. silently,
treading as lightly on the heavily
padded steps as though she had been
thistledown whirled adrift by the
wind, altogether needless of the
creeping terror she had sensed on the
| upper fight, careless of all save her
| immediate need to reach that cab be,
| fore Maitland should discover that she
! had escaped.
The door was just closing behind
| the cabby as she reached the bottom
step; and she paused, considering that
| it were best to wait a moment. at
least lest he should be surprised at
the quickness with which his employ
err found work for him; paused and on
| some mysterious impulse half turned
glancing back up the stairs.
Not a thought too soon; another in
| stant's hesitation and she had been
! caught, Some one-a man-WaS de
scending: and rapidly. Maitland?
Even in her brief glance she saw the
white shield of shirt bosom CLEAN
dull against the shadows. Maitland
was in evening dress. Could it be
possible =?
No time now for conjecture, time
now only for action. She sprang fol
the door, had it open in a trice, ant
before the cabby was really en-
throned upon his lofty box, the CIR
was on the step, fair troubled face
upturned to him in wild entreaty.
Hurry" she cried, distracted
Drive off, at once! Please-oh
please!"
Selling reins and whip, he jerke(
the startled animal between the shafts
out of it's abstraction and
81 say, cabby. One moment"
The cabman turned; the figure OIL
the stoop of the house was undoubted
ly Maitland 's-Maitland as he had jus
seen him. with the addition Of hat
As he looked the man was at thu
wheel. clambering in.
Changed my mind-Tm cominj
along. cabby." he said cheerfully
Drive us to the st. Luke building
please and-hurry!"
'Yessir!"
CTo BE CoNTINUEDD