New-York tribune., 1911-02-12
Chapter XXXIII. A Still Alarm

Chapter XXXIII. Still Alarm
A r one o'clock with the storm increasing 10 fury and
n threatening 20 become a blizzard, Alice Van Kirk
was already impatient and blaming herself for having
permitted Thurley TO respond reckessy person %
the needs Of her unfortunate cousin.
She remembered the dread with which she had Def
mtted Thurley's visit to the place the former occa
sion. With a sense Of uneasiness and indc.raJe pre-
monition expanding in her more subconscio. self. as
she thought Of the weather Of Thureys ur .rJtectet
condition, and her beauty that marked her once for
attention she rebuked herself anew for perm ing the
girl to undertake another Of these doubtful .cursion
alone.
She stood by the window commanding a r.w Of the
avenue as well as the cross street running eagerly
scanning every carriage that might contain PM.
cess" Countless important trifes were neg cd She
owned herself frankly worried, even before might in
reason have expected Thurley home.
BY half past one, with the avenue all but erted, in
the fury Of the gale and driving snow, Alice as hdget.
ing feverish, and thoroughly distressed Size felt 50
utterly helpless She aggravated by tho .n0wedge
that the house where Edith lived was a h.-1d place
without a telephone and without proper heat for such
a day. Thurley would be certain TO contra. cold Il
nothing worse occurred TO make this advene the last
of its kind that should ever be permitted
Alone with her servants, Alice felt more han ever
isolated and haunted by multiplying fear At two
o'clock unable TO endure the uncertainty ger and
roSSessed of all manner of suggestions am lspiConS
She ordered one of the servants TO 60 az once with the
car to the place of Ediths residence and aeternne
what had happened
"'Phone me at once, before starting home she in.
structed concealing her agitation as best be might
and insist that Miss Thurley return without delay
even though her task is unfinished
She was certain Thurley would come be.- the man
could reach the house She told herself she relieved
now that something had been done. Neyer..e.e she
oscillated back 10 the window times intlmeraole.
strainng her eyes 70 peer far down the avenue gloom
dotect form lanes and the dark
carriage.
When the phone bell finally tangled ,s demand for
attention her nerves we're all on edge. She ,ened 70
wei! Hello! Hello Is that you, John, You're
Like the voice OF ghost, hard riding on -ae storm.
the hollow reply came back. u couIdnt in- nothnk
of 'er. Ma'am. Not there Ma am. The ou.o "ls hap
parently hempty, Ma ammo one to hopcn ,.- loo'-
nothink alive about the place. Ma am.
Alice felt sudden overwhelming conflrma'.n Of her
nebulous fears Something sank in her bosom denly.
"Are you sure you had the right number, Jo.nt and
she gave it again with most distinct particularly
There could be no doubt that John had applied Tor
admission TO the house that Edith had name.
Alice all but moaned. But, she demande1. where
is James,"
''Dnvink up and down, Ma am, TO keep is or from
freezing. He 'aSnt seen nothnk Of Miss Thur... Is
stoppink where she posted i'm, Ma am, 70 wa'..
Alice hesitated. a settled conviction OF DIS Ter !"
Thurlev taking unoppOSed possession OF her benz.
- John" she called why didn't you ask at the other
houses near? Go and DO 50 at once-and then phone
again. .,
80 did Ma am" John replied across the wiz i
knocked up three OF the neighbors, and two kno no.
think at ALL MAJ am, and the third old person .s al.
the parties in the ouse | referred 20 moved oi ana
went away this morning Maam, takn' a sick on with
them, and goin in a car.
"When?" cried Alice sharply. Was it atte- Miss
Thurley arrived"
The old party didn't say, Maam, not avns 5een