Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-16

demmed haunted house Pen was talk |
ing about
But re Iights?'' queried the count
Ghosts
Lets get out of this place" said |
Lord BazeIhurst. moving toward the
door Its that beastly Renwood
house. They say he comes back and
murders her every night or So"
Mon DieuT'
Penelope isn't here. Let's move on"
agreed tie duke readily. But even
fear of the supernatural was Tot
strong enough to drive them out into
the binding storm. Il say, look ahead,
there's Shaw's placer
Peering through the door they saw
for the first time the many lights in
Shaw's windows, scarce a quarter OF
a mile away. For a long time they
stood and gazed at the distant win
dows. Dejectedly they sat down. backs
10 the wall and waited for the storm
TO spend its fury. Wet. cold and tired.
they finally dozed 1t was Lord Cecil
who first saw the signs of dawn. The
rain storm had come to q mysterious
end, but a heavy fog in its stead loom
ed up he aroused his companions
and with many groans Of anguish they
prepared to venture forth into the
white wall beyond
Just as they were taking last look
about the wretched cellar something
happened that would have brought ter
ror to the stoutest heart. A wild, ap-
palling shrek came from somewhere
above. the cry of a mortal soul in
agony.
The next instant three human forms
shot through the narrow door and out
into the fog. hair on end. eyes bullying.
but sightless; legs travelling ike the
wind and as purposeless. 1t mattered
not that the way was hidden; 1t mat
tered less that weeds. brush and
stumps lurked in ambush for unwary
feet. They fed into the foggy dan
gers without a thought Of what lay
before them. only OF what stalked be-
hind them.
Upstairs Randolph Shaw lay back
against the wall and shook with laugh
ter. Penelope's convulsed face was
glued to the kitchen window. her eyes
peering into the fog beyond. Shadowy
figures leaped into the white mantle:
the crash of brush came back to her
ears. and then. like the barking of a
dog. there arose from the mystic gray
the fast diminishing cry:
"HelpI Help! Helpr' Growing
fainter and sharper. the cry at last
! was lost in the phantom desert
They stood at the window and
watched the fog lift gray and forbid
ding. until the trees and road were
/ discernibIe. Then arm in arm they
| set forth across the wet way toward
Shaw's cottage.
Poor Cecilr' she sighed. 1T was
/ cruel of you" In the roadway they
| found hat which she at once identi-
/ fed as the counts Farther on there
was a carriage lamp and later a mack
intosh. which had been cast aside as
an impeachment "Oh. it was cruelr'
She smiled. however. in retrospection.
III were only sure that nothing
serious had happened to Cecil" she
murmured anXiously.
I'm sorry. dear. for that screech Of
mine" he apolOGiZed
/ Suddenly he started and gazed in.
tently In the direction OF the haunted
house. mana sorry fgure-was
slowly. painfully approaching from the
edge of the wood scarce a hundred
yards away In his hand he carried a
stick TO which was attached a white
/ cloth-doubtleSS a handkerchief ae
was hatless and limped perceptibly.
ITS Cecilr whispered Penelope In
horror struck tones Good heaven
Randolph. go to him, he is hurt"
1t was Lord RazeIhurst As Shaw
hurried down the drive to meet him. &c
thought Of the feud in mind. two be
ings even more hOpelessly dilapidatec
ventured from the wood and hobbe &c
up behind the truce bearer. who haC
now paused 70 lift his shoulders into 6
position of dignity ana defiance
Shaw's heart was touched The spec
tacle was enough To melt the prejudice
of any adversary. Lord CeciFs knee.
trembled His hand shook as II in {
chill. Mud covered. water soaked anC
bruised, their clothes rent in MANI
places. their hats gone and their hal
matted. their legs wabOly. the trio Ger
tainly inspired pity. not mirth no
sCorn.
One moment. sir" called his lord
ship, with a feeble attempt at severity
His voice was hoerse and shaky wv
do not come as friends. dem you l.
my sister hereY'
She is, Lord Bazelhurst Wen tall
this over later on said Shaw in hi
friendliest way. You are worn on
and done up, I'm sure-you and you
friends. Come; I'm not as bad as yoi
think. I've changed my mind since
saw you last Let's see If we can
come to an amicable understanding
Miss Drake is waiting up there Break
fast sOon will be ready-hot coffee ant
all that Permit nae. gentlemen. to In
vite you to partake OF what we have
What say you"
"Confound you. SIR! IT. But hi
brave effort failed him. BE staggere
and would have fallen had not tn
duke caught him from behind
Thanks, old chap" said Barminste