The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1911-09-07

BY JAMES OLIVER
tslHlInIanGgnRmmmnp
CHAPTER XIV.
IN TUE pEpRooM CHAMBER.

/
!, jam Of door. and he held his breath
when his fingers incautiously ratified
the steel OF latch. In another mo
e ment he passed on three paces-four-
along the platform, at last sinking on
80 his knees I'm the snow close under the
window. His eyes searched the lighted
room an inch Mt time. He saw a
section OF wall at first dlmly illumi-
mated then small table near the
window covered with books and maya
zines and beside II reclining chair
buried thick under a great white bear
robe On the table. but beyond his
vision. was the lamp. He drew him
self few inches more through the
snow. leaning still farther ahead. until
he saw The foot Of n white bed A lit
tie more and he stopped. his white
face close TO the window pane.
on the bed. facing him, sat Mcleese.
Her chin was buried I'm the cup of her
hands. aud he noticed that she was in
a dressing gown and that her beauti
FIJI hair was loosed and flowing in
plistening waves about her. as though
she had Just brushed II for the night.
A movement. slight shifting Of her
eyes. and she would have seen him.
He was filled with an almost master
| ing impulse 10 press his face closer,
to tap on the window. 90 draw her
/ eyes to him. hut even as his hand rose
/ TO do the bidding of that impulse
something restrained him. Slowly the
girl lifted her head. and he was thrill
ed TO find that another impulse drew
him back until his ghostly face was n
part of the elusive snow gloom. He
watched her as she turned from him
and threw back the glory of her hair
until It half hid her I'm mass of cop
per and gold From his distance he
still gazed at her. choking and unde-
cidcd. while she gathered II In three |
heavy strands and plated 1t into a
shining braid.
For nm instant his eyes wandered. |
Beyond her presence the room was
empty. He saw door and observed
that II opened into another room,
which In turn could be entered through
the platform door behind him. With
his old exactness for detail he leaped
W utllIllt NbuNluNlOls MISE WIFI
Meleese's apartments at the post,
separated from all others. and Meleese
was preparing to retire for the night.
II the outer door was not locked aud
he entered. what danger could there
be OF Interruption IL was late. The
post was asleep. He had seen no light
but that In the window through which
he was staring.
The thought was scarcely born be-
fore he was at the platform door. The
latch clicked gently under his fingers.
he pushed the door inward
and thrust in his head and shoulders.
He was IN narrow corridor. Ahead
OF him there shone a thin ray of light
from under the door that opened into
Meleese's room. Nerving himself for
the last move, he went boldly TO the
door. Knocked lightly 10 give some
warning OF his presence and entered.
Meleese was gone. Then at the far
end of the room he saw curtain. I'M
dulating slightly as II from the move
ment OF a person on the other side of
t.
htlttNts ut Nhiltu Htltl.
White and dripping with snow. his
face bloodless In the tense excitement
)f the moment. he stood with his arms
half reaching out when the curtain
was thrust aside and the girl stood be-
fore him. At first she did not recog-
liZe him IN his ghostly storm covered
iisguise. But before the startled cry
haf Inc
he fear that had blanched her face
ave place 10 swift sweeping flood
Il color. For n space there was no
word between them as they stood sep
rated by the breadth OF the room.
Rowland with his arms held out 10
Ter In pleading silence. Meleese with
Ter hands clutched TO her bosom. her II
hroat a-trembe with strange sobbing "
totes that made no more sound than W
he tiuttering OF birds wing.
And Rowland as he came across the ="
DOM 10 her found no words to say,
one of the things that he had meant III
D whisper TO her. but drew her 10
i'm and crushed her close 10 his u
reast, knowing that in this moment NJ
othing could tell her more eloquently ~
han the throbbing Of his own heart, OF
he passionate pressure Of his face to tr
Ter face. of his great love. which as
eemed to stir into life the very ST. pa
,nce that encompassed them Ia
IT was silence broken after mo be
lent 10y q short choking cry, the quick IN
reathing terror of face turned sud tn
emily up TO him robbed of its flush yo
nd quiyering with fear that still an
)und no voice in words He felt the ar
iris arms struining against him for ov
'eedom. Her eyes were filed with
airing. questioning horror as though WI
Is presence had grown into thing wi
which she was afraid. The change we
as tonic to him. This was what he tel
nd expected-the first terror at his IL
the struggle against his will WI
and there surged back over him the go
'rces he had reserved for this mo- mt
ent. lie opened his arms, and Me WI
csc slipped from them, her hands ms
utched again in the clinging drapery to-
her bosom. en-
II have come for you, Meleese," he