The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-07-17
CHAPTER KIN.

I-----r--a----& lContinuedls :.
mo. YOU mustn't Don't come uo
Won hear? Wait until call you" Inc
drv tension In her voice was not a
thing 10 disregard blindly. waiteu
with INV foot on the lowest STEP my
heart staggering In my ears. "niie
she sped above out OF sight. Inc
screams had broken into cnokins
wall of utter terror. A door slammed
sheila's strong voice rang out angrNl
then sank under a broken clamor Oh
stumbling steps. A man leaped rough
| ly down the first few stairs. stopped
and turned as bent forward JUST
enough TO get a half glimpse OF coarse
clothes and clumsy feet. and sprang
back again. trampling across the up'
per hall. hesitated An instant, "a.
followed him three steps AZ s.riue,
Whatever happened. l would not leass
the three women alone with MN.
In the hall l paused, lot ~ was
empty. From the front ROOM wnicn =
tok to be Mrs. Tabors, came voices
Lady's full and sweet. her motner .
frightened and childish. and the reson'
ant whisper of Mrs. Carucci. :.
"He was here, tell you. Lazy
Mrs. Tabor's treble rose above the
murmur. and as suddenly ceased.
looked about me, uncertain.
only been above stairs once Deiore,
and then at night. My room then nau
lbeen at the rear OF the house, Win
the whole length OF hall between IL
and Mrs. Tabor's; and the stairhea
where | now stood was an even mi.
way between the two. / felt vaguely
in at ease. I knew that should look
for the intruder. and look for MIN upon
the instant: but something held me
back-perhaps a feeling that had
little right to blunder about upon this
floor. to stumble perhaps into Lady
own room. an intruder upon her init
mate privacy. This, however, was
no time for doubtful sentiment.
Minutes were passing, and the
man must be found. I was sure that
he was still In the house. Very care
fully I tiptoed down the hall TOWARD
! the room that had occupied. aFte
might grant that he was hidden there,
land so | should have to search only
where had already seen. But before
I reached my door. paused before an
other. 1t was slightly ajar; and hall
linstinctively pushed II 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. a little table with book face-down
upon Il. A dress Of some filmy blue
stun lay across the foot of the bed
and from beneath peeped pair Of lit
tie slippers. My face burned at my
intrusion, but held my ground. The
sunlight 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 cariessiy
across Il; and remembered absentiy
that the Tabors had no horses.
stepped within, and cautiously closed
the door behind me. Then I knew
There was some one else In the room
Il was unmistakable, this feeling of Q
presence. listened closely, but there
was not a sound. The skin crawlec
at my temples, and I could feel the
stir Of hair upon my scalp, the strange
primal bristling that has stirred mar
| CONSCIOUS VI tuc unbcCns blhOC lhC w
ginning OF time. For a heartbeat,
stood there with much OF the clutch
ing terror of child, child willing
enough to face a fight, but hesitatinl
before the sudden mystery OF place
; that he must pass. Then l got holc
Of myself, and crossed over to the bed
knew that he was not under Il: but
I 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 a circle of bronze with tiny
bronze pendants shaped like birds and
FISH and leaves swinging from II or
silken threads-such thing as the
japanese hang above the bed OF q
child to ward on evil and to chime
with every breath Of air. I glanced
uneasily at the closed door and win
dows as started across the room
Upon the big central table before me
lay thin Aim Of dust, invisible save
! for the contrast of a streak across iti
edge where something had brushed
along. Tiptoeing around II, glanced
down at the little desk and the half
written sheet upon It. Lady, dear
est. II began; and gripped my hands