The Red Cloud chief., 1909-09-02

unknown tcrrors that lurked in tho
blaCkncss above her. II was as II,
rendered representative by strain and
excitement. the Quivcring filamCnts OF
her suhconsCiOusncss. like spiritual
tcntaclcs feeling ahead of her, had
encountered and rcCoiled from shape
Of evil a spcctcr of horror obscene and
malign, crouchinG, ready to spring.
there. In the shadow OF night
And her breath was smotherod 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 NJ nothingncss, until the
night seemed pricked with cvauescent
periods of dim fire. peoplcd with mon.
strous and terrible shadows closing
about her.
Yeti was absurd, She must not
yield to such pucrile supcrstltions.
There was nothing there.
There was something there d.
something that like an incarnation of
hatred was stalking her.
If only she dared scream! II only
she dared turn and fly. back to the
comfort uf light and human com
pany!
There arose a tramplnC OF feet In
! the hallway, and she heard Mnitland's
voice like u far echo. "a he bado the
police good night. And distant and
! mrcachahlc rs he seemed tho sound
If 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 Cahman, her fright of that I'M
| spcakahlC and inCorporcal menace
| Hooded her consciousness like a great
wave. sweeping hcr-mctaphorica lily
| or her feet And indeed, for the time
she felt rs II drowning overwhelmed
| In vast waters, sinking, sinking into
! The black abyss Of syncope.
Then. rs "A drowning person we're
| 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 10 the cabman, think
! ing Of her, providing for her escape!
! COnsldcrate and foreslGhtcd as al.
ways! How she could have thanked
| litni Tho u M pratifnIp that
! cnvelOped her almost unncryed her;
she was put To II TO restrain her i'm.
| pulse 20 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-
ccive her protestations in skeptic spir.
It. Heaven knew he had cause to!
Dared she . To be repulscd!
But no. He had provided this means
for flight. she would advantage her
self of Il and and thank him
| by letter Best so: for he must ever
think the worst OF her; she could
never uudeccivc him-pridc restrain
| ing anu upnOlulnS Hcl.
Better so: she would go, go quickly
before he discovered her absence from
the fiat.
And incOntinCntly she swung about
and flew down the stairs. silently
trcading 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 flight, 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 walt moment, a,
least, lest he should be surprised a,
the quickncss with which his employ
ar found work for him; paused and on
some mysterious impulse half turned
glanclng back mp the stairs.
Not thought too soon; another In
stants hesitation and she had beer
caught, Some one-a man--was de
scending; and rapidly. Maitland
Even In her bfIef glance she saw tn,
white shield of n shirt bosom CLEAN
dull against the shadows. Maitland
was in evening dress Could 1t b,
| possible =?
No time now for conjecture, tim,
now only for action. She sprang FOL
the door. had It open in trice, anC
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 of. at Oncei Please-oh
| please"
SEEKING reins and whip, he jerkeC
the startled animal between the shafts
out of its abstraction and
Il say. cabby! One moment"
The cabman turned; the figure or
the stOOp of the house was undOubted