Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1911-09-16


tentacles feeling ahead of her, had
encountered and recoiled from a shape
of evil, specter Of horror obscene and
malign. crouching, ready to spring.
there, in the shadow of night.
And her breath was smothered in
her throat and her heart smote so
madly against the frail walls of its
cage that they seemed like to burst,
while she stood transfixed, frozen In
inaction, limbs stiffening, roots OF her
hair stirring fingers gripping the ban
lister rail until they panied her; and
with eyes that stared wide into the
black heart of nothingness, until the
night seemed pricked with evanescent
periods OF dim fire, peopled with mon
strous and terrible shadows closing
about her. =.
Yeti was absurdl She must not
yield to such puerile superstitions.
There was nothing there.
There was something there :.
something that like an incarnation of
hatred was stalking her.
If only she dared screami II only
she dared turn and fly, back to the
comfort Of light and human com
panyl
There arose trampling of feet In
the hallway; and she heard Maitland's
voice like far echo, as he bads the
police good night And distant and
unreachable as he seemed, the sound
OF his words brought her strength and
some reinsurance, and she grew
slightly more composed. Yet, the In
slant that he had turned away to talk
to the cabman, her fright of that uu-
speakable and incorporeal menace
flooded her consciousness like a great
wave, sweeping ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
off her feet. And indeed, for the time,
she felt as II drowning, overwhelmed
in vast waters, sinking, sinking into
the black abyss of syncope.
Then, as a drowning person-we'rs
told-clutches at straws, she grasped
again at the vibrations of his voice.
81. What was he saying?
you will wait outside. please, until
l come out or send somebody, whom
you will take wherever directed. :"
speaking to the eabman, think
ing of her, providing for her escaped
Considerable and foresighted as al.
ways! How she could have thanked
himi The warmth of gratitude that
enveloped her almost unnerved her;
she was put to it to restrain her i'm
pulse to rush down the stairs and
But no; she must not risk the
chance OF rebuff. How could she fore
telf what was in his mind and heart,
how probe the depths of his feeling
toward her? Perhaps he would re-
ceive her protestations in skeptic spir-
it. Heaven knew he had cause toi
Dared she =. To be repulsedi
But no. He had provided this means
for flight; she would advantage her.
self of it and and thank him
by letter. Best so; for he must ever
think the worst of her; she could
never undeceive him-pride restrain,
ing and upholding her.
Better so;;' she would go. go quickly
before he discovered her absence from
the fiat. -.
And incontinently she swung about
and flew down the stairs, silently
treading- as lightly on the heavily
padded steps as though she had been
thistledown whirled adrift by the
Wind, altogether needless of the
creeping terror she had sensed on the
upper flight. careless of all save hei
immediate need to reach that cab be
fore Maitland should discover that she
had escaped.
The door was just closing behind
the cabby as she reached the bottom
step; and she paused, considering that
1t were best to wait a moment, al
least, lest he should be surprised al
the Quickness with which his employ
err found work for him; paused and OIL
some mysterious impulse half turned
glancing back up the stairs. :.
Not thought too soon; another In
stant's hesitation and she had beer
caught, Some one-a man-was de
scending; and rapidly. Maitland
Even in her brief glance she saw ths
white shield of shirt bosom CLEAN
dull against the shadows. Maitland
was in evening dress. Could 1t BIZ
possible ~. -?
No time now for conjecture, time
now only for action. She sprang fei
the door, had it open in a trice, and
before the cabby was really en-
throned upon his lofty box, the CIR
was on the step. fair troubled facs
upturned to him in wild entreaty
Hurry "'- she cried, distracted
Drive off, at oncel Please-oh
pleased"
Seizing reins and whip, he jerkeG
the startled animal between the shafts
out Of its abstraction and ''i
y say. cabby! One moment"
The, cabman turned; the figure OF
the stoop- of the house was undopbted
ly Observation-Disclosures as he had JUS
seen him, with the addition of a hat
As he looked the man was at ths
wheel, clambering in.