The Lamar register., 1911-01-18

ln u0lLaDL QxIV01On COuAu NALuAulol
SOC q Light and keeping close in the
shadows Of the trees he made his
way slowly toward St James- He had
gone but . short distance when he
saw Q house directly ahead OF him,
q sinsis CLEAN Of light from q small
window falling him that II was in
habitsd and that it, tenants were at
home. He circled down close to the
water looking for . boat His heart
leaped with sudden exultation when
he saw q small skin drawn upon the
beach and his Joy was doubled at ind
ing the oars still in the locks. It took
him but a moment to shove the light
craft into the sea and q minute later
he was rowing swiftly away from the
land.
Nathaniel was certain that by this
time Neil had abandoned his search
for the captured Typhoon and was
probably padding in the direction Of
ST. James. With the hope Of inter
cepting him he pulled an eighth of .
mile from the shore and rowed slowly
toward the head of the island. There
was NO moon, but countless stars
glowed in . clear sky and upon the
open lake Nathaniel could see for .
another hour he rowed back and forth
and then beached his boat within .
dozen rods Of the path that came down
from Obadiah's.
II was 10 o'clock. Two more hours!
He had tried to suppress his excite
ment. his apprehension. his eagerness.
but now a. he went back into the
darkness Of the forest they burst out
anew. What II Marion should not
keep the tryst! He thought of the
spies whom Neil had said guarded the
girls home--and Of Obadiah. Could
he trust the old councilorf Should
he connds his plot to him and ask his
assistancef As the minutes passed
and these thoughts REQUIRED again
and again in his brain he could not
keep the nervousness from growing
within him. He was sure now that
he would have to night his battle with
out Neil He saw the necessity Of
GOODNESS. of judgment. and he began
to demand these things Of himself.
struggling stsrnly against those symp-
toms Of weakness which had replaced
his confidence Of . short time before.
Gradually he fought himself back into
his old faith. He would save Marion
without Neil, without Obadiah. II
Marion did not come to him by mid
night It would be because Of the
guards against whom Neil had warned
him. and he would go to her. In
some way he would get her to the
boat. even II he had to night his way
through Arbor Croche's men.
With this return Of confidence Ma
thanieis thoughts reverted to his
present greatest need. which was food.
Since early morning he had eaten
nothing and he began to feel the
physical want In q craving that was
becoming acutely uncomfortable. II
Obadiah had not returned to his home
he made up his mind that he would
ind entrance to the cabin and help
himself. A sudden turn In the path
which he was following. however. re-
vealed one Of the councillors windows
aglow with light. and as he pressed
quietly around the end OF the build
ing the sound OF q low voice came to
him through the open door. Cautiously
he approached and peered in. A large
oil lamp, the light of which he had
seen in the window. was burning on
. table in the big room but the voice
came from the little closet into which
Obadiah had taken him the preceding
night For several minutes he
crouched and listened. He heard the
chuckling laugh of the old councillor
and then an incoherent raving that
set his blood tingling There is a hor-
ror In the sound OF madness. a horror
that creeps to the very pit of ones
soul. that sends shivering dread from
every nerve center. that causes one
who 10 alone with II to sweat with a
nameless fear. II was the voice Of
madness that came from that little
room. Before It Nathaniel quailed as
II . clammy hand had reached out
from the darkness and gripped him
BY the throat He drew back shivering
in every limb. and the voice followed
him. shrieking now In . sudden burst
Of insane mirth and dying away q
moment later IL . hollow cackling
laugh that seemed to curdls the blood
in his veins. Mad! Obadiah Price was
mad! Stop BY step Nathaniel fell
back from the door. He felt himself
trembling from head to foot. His heart
thumped within his breast like the
beating Of q hammer. For an instant
there was silence silence In which
strange dread held him brsathlsss
while he watched the glow In the door
and listened. And after that quiet
there came suddenly . CRY that ended
In the exultant chattering Of a name.
At the sound of that name Ma
thanisl sprans forward again II was
Marion's name and he strained his
ears to catch the words that might
follow It As he listened. his head
thrust half in At the door. Obadiah's
voice became lower and lower. until
at last It ceased entirely. Not q step.
not q deep breath. not the movement
of . hand disturbed the stiffness Of
the little room. By inches Nathaniel
drew himself inside the door. His
heavy boot caught In a silver on the
step but the rending Of wood brought
no response. II was the quiet Of