Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-12
THE ISLE OF WHISPERS
TALE OF THE NEW ENGLAND SEAS
8. LAWRENCE DUDLEY
toppfgh By HenyH 4 COZ

Copyright. 1910, BY Henry Holt 4 Co.,

the Jury or t1gress: Gomez. she COM
handed
I followed meel1ly In her tracks
Stumbling along the. treacherous path.
we skirted the waters edge for some
twenty PAGES. Then she swung sharply
to the right, and, hating before a broad
out of the solid wall Of rock, she waved
her hand for me to precede her.
Again I hesitated. Where does this
lead to-"
The house. Be careful now-not a
| sound"
She gave me an admonitory push from
behind ] plunged into the inky darkness.
| The tunnel. straight and well paved under
| foot, sloped gently upward in what con-
ceived to be a ENTHUSIASTICALLY direction,
and as 1 went / began to realize how the
men had gained the boat without my
knowledge Why had I not thought of a
trick was ludicrous-so ludicrous that 1
grunted audibly. The woman tapped me
| on the shoulder.
| Not Sound!
| I nodded. and for few seconds we stole
| onward in silence. Then, as we crept
around a sharp ANGLE she leaned over me
suddenly and struck my arm singing
blow. The candle. dropping from my fin
gers, went out with sputter. I turned
| upon her angrily.
! Look" she gasped, her voice shaking
| with a newborn fear.
| / peered into the darkness. A pale, yell
low glow grew slowly out Of the gloom
ahead, flickered for an instant against the
| gliStening rocks, then frightened into q
steady light as its unseen bearer came to-
ward u.s.
With q cautious hand I drew the woman
behind the shelter of the angle. Her OBJ
lstinacy-her wild bravado-had fed. Like
a terror-stricken child. she sank trem-
bling at my feet, as though 1 were her
last refuge. We waited in GREATNESS
silence.
Inch by inch the weak rays broadened
into a path along the ground, and out of
the stiffness there rose the sound Of
stealthy footsteps. Measuring their ap-
proach with my ear, 1 leaned forward,
ready to spring. Then, as a tall white
figure rounded the corner, l drew back
with sob Of relief.
Miss Hayward"
But the girls eyes were fixed on the
miserable figure at my side. What are
you doing here ?" she said almost roughly.
pleading whine. began a long. rambling
explanation. Sylvia cut her short.
THAT can wait. You must come with
me now. And Mr.. Renfrew. too" she
added, with a sarcastic smile, 'since he
has constituted. himself your escort
Stung by her words. / would have re-
torted. But she turned her head with a
careless toss, and. without a single back
ward glance began to retrace her steps.
We stumbled slowly after her.
The passage, ascending in a straight
line for some hundred yards, bent sharp
ly to the right and ran up to an open
doorway. A dim light shone in the room
beyond, and, as we emerged from the
tunnel, / saw that we were In a part of
the house which was new to me. Cases
and packing boxes stood ranged along
the walls; pictures. furniture, clothing,
bric-a-brac and knickknacks of every kind
and description, were piled up In untidy
heaps upon the floor. and in one corner
the metal face Of a large safe cleaned
DULY. 1t was evidently the storeroom-
Or rather, the treasure chamber-of the
| Haywards.
A lamp was burning low on a side table,
and. as we paused at the door, the elderly
serving maid, appearing from the shadow
behind 1t, ran toward US.
THANK heaven, Miss Sylvia" she cried,
fervently, and then, drawing the passive
woman beside me into her motherly en-
brace: Come, my lady-my poor lady,
she crooned- I'VE must go to bed.
mustn't we? It's SO late-so very late"
To my surprise the woman gave in with
out word. Sylvia and 1 watched them
as they crossed the room and disappeared
through an opposite doorway. Then the
girl turned upon me with a frowning
glance.
plain what you two We're doing In the
passage"
I'VE were making use Of It." returned.
coldly. 1T happens to be the shortest
Tho cave7" Her brows lifted. How
did you come to be there?''
That's my own business, Miss Hay
ward
II think not It's mine. too. If it's in
any way connected with-her.'
Your interest comes rather late" l
said, sarcastically. You should have
shown it an hour ago-before she got
away"
The girls lips frightened. Its not for
YOU to criticise.
IT'S not for me to be SILENT" 1 re-
torted, with kindling anger. when that
poor creature is suffering. Why don't
you send her back to her friends on Shore
ment2 Why do you lock her up like a
common criminal-torture her with hor-
rors-drive her to the verge of despair?
can imagine the fendish delight your
Stop" Her face had gone white. and
jher eyes were flashing dangerously. How
dare you speak Of him in that way-you
above all p
| II have certainly no reason to speak
otherwise Of him.
you haven't? When he has taken you
in and protected you-a theft"
She spoke the word with sneering con-
| tempt. l laughed harshly.
! so you believe that, toO?'
why shouldn't I? It's the truth. isn't
n?''
mo. And you'll never hear the truth
as long as it's to your fathers inter-
est
But she cut me short with a passionate
gesture. Co" she commanded, pointing
a shaking finger at the doorway. Col
| 1 obeyed with a careless shrug, though
I was raging inwardly. AS 1 reached the
| threshold she called to me to stop.
"A moment Mr.. Renfrew." And now
her voice had sunk to an icy calmness
| you've accused us of holding woman
here against her will, of keeping her from
her friends on shore-of treating her with
cruelty. Perhaps you may change your
| opinion when you know of whom you
speak-that woman is my mother"
Go be continued tomorrow.)