Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-24
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APPIFESSORS
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Copyright, 1911, TIE Bot
(CHAPTER XIII.-Continued.)
'He was here, tell you, Lady," Mrs.
Tabor's treble rose above the murmur,
and as suddenly ceased. looked
about me, uncertain. I had only been
above stairs once before, and then at
night. My room then had been at the
rear of the house, with the whole
length OF hail between IT ami Mrs.
Tabors; and the stair-head where
now stood was even midway between
the two. felt vaguely i'll az ease.
knew that I should look for the in
truder, and look for him upon the in
slant; but something held me back
perhaps feeling that had little right
to blunder about upon this floor, to
stumble perhaps into Lady's own room
an intruder upon her intimate privacy.
This, however, was no time for doubA-
full sentiment. Minutes were passing,
and the man must be found. l was
sure that he was still in the house.
Very carefully tiptoed down the hall
toward the room that had occupied.
Fate might grant that he was hidden
there, and so should have to search
only where I had already seen. But
before reached my door. paused be-
fore another. 1t was slightly ajar; and
half instinctively l pushed 1t open.
In the doorway stood looking about
me. This was Lady's room, after all.
A deep bed stood in the corner against
the outer wall to my left; and close
by, little table with a book face-dowI
upon It, A dress of some f1lmy blue
stuff lay across the foot Of the bed,
and from beneath peered pair Of little
slippers, My face burned at my intru-
sion, but held my ground. The sun
light fell heavily through the two
closed windows, across the wide rug.
and almost TO my feet. In the outer
right-hand corner was small desk.
A low table, piled with dainty feminine
miscellany, stood in the center Of the
room. A riding-crop lay carelessly
across it.; and 1 remembered absently
that the Tabors had no horses.
stepped within. and cautiously closed
the door behind me. Then l knew.
There was some one in the room. 1t
was unmistakable, this feeling Of a
presence. Listened closely, but there
was not a sound. The skin crawled
at my temples, and l could feel the
stir Of hair upon my scalp. the strange
primal bristling that has stirred man
conscious of the unseen, since the be-
ginning Ct time. For a heartbeat.
stood there with much OF the ciutching
terror of a child, child willing enough,
to face fight, but hesitating before
the sudden mystery Of place that he
must pass Then got hold of myself.
and crossed over to the bed. knew
that he was not under It; but looked
to see. Behind me something tinkled
sweetly, and sprang to my feet with
every muscle tense. Across the room
and above the little desk, hung circle
Of bronze with tiny bronze pendants
shaped like birds and fish and leaves
swinging from 1t on silken threads
such thing as the Japanese hang
above the bed of child to ward ,ff
evil and to chime with every br ath
Of air. I glanced uneasily at closed
door and windows as started across
the room. Upon the big central table
before me lay thin film Of dust, In
visible save for the contrast OF streak
across its edge where something had
brushed along. Tiptceing around it.
glanced down at the little desk an the
half written sheet upon 1t. Lady
dearest" it began, and l gripped
my hands at my sides. This
was not Lady's room, but One OF the
long. outer curtains of the window
shivered-s humanity with
trembling behind it; and reached out
my hand to grip through the folG the
solid shoulder Of man.
In a sudden warm hush of relief. l
struck at him savagely through the
curtain. shouting as struck. T en-
gripped the curtain about. throwing all
my weight against him and crushing
him back against the side of the en-
brasure. He grrnted, and an arm
tore itself free from the folds above
my bent head Then there was
splash Of light and curious sharp
smell thu. seemed to come from inside
my own Lrain. And then nothing.
knew thct had not lain there long
when opened my eyes. Lady was
kneeling on the floor beside me, very
white and piteously lovely. AS my
mind grew clearer the color seemed
to come back into her face.
"Mr. Crosby she said. Il aske. you
not to come upstairs at all. want
to be able to trust you. What has
happened"
''Happened?" repeated dizzily
"Why. I had to come up. chased the
man no here. and then saw this door
open and came in, and felt as IL there
was some ore in here-and there was
some one. there behind that curtain.
/ tackled him, and he hit me-" I.raised
my head sharply: "Listen-the fell
low is here vet"
Lady pointed to the window behind
me. 81 think not" she said.
But tell you he's still in the
room"
she smiled 4 little "You are dizzy
vet Come here and look, and you
will see what l mean" The window
was flung wide. and beneath at the
foot of the wall syringa bush lay.
broken.
ut looks as if you were right" said
as she carefully closed the window. Il
4l.n1. mi scout around q little O,,f cid q