Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-09-02
CHAPTER VII.
In WhIsh ! ohost Trsspas.ss.


R~1HE impulse which drove Pencil
ope out for the second time
that night may be readily ap-
~ preciated. Its foundation was
fear. Its subordinate emotions were
shame, self pity and consciousness Of
her real feeling toward the man OF the
house. The true spirit Of womanhood
revolted with its usual waywardness.
She was flying down the stony road,
some distance from the cottage, IN the
very face Of the coming tornado. her
heart beating ike a triphammer, her
eyes bent on the little light up the
mountain side, before Il occurred to
her that this last flight was not only
genseless but perilous. She even laugh
ed at herself for n fool as she recalled
the telltale hand bag on the porch and
the damnlng presence Of a Bazelhurst
lantern IN the hallway.
The storm which had been raging
farther down the valley was at last
whifling up TO the hilltops, long delay
cd as II IN gleeful anticipation Of
catching her alone and unprotected.
The little electric saddle lamp thot she
carried gave out a feeble glow, scarce
opening the way in the darkness more
than ten feet ahead. Rough and irk-
some was the road, most stubborn the
wall Of wind. The second threat OF
tho storm was more terrifying than
the first At any instant It was likely
TO break forth in oil It's slashing fury,
apd she knew not whittier she went.
Even as she lost heart and was
ready to turn wildly back in an effort
10 reach Shaw's home before the
deluge the lightning flashes revealed
to her the presence OF a dwelling just
or the road not 200 feet ahead. She
stumbled forward, crying like fright
ened child. There were no lights. The
house looked dark, bleak. unfrlendly.
Farther up the hillside stlll cleaned
the little light that WA meant to keep
RenwOod's ghost from disturbing the
slumbers OF old man Grimes and his
wife. She could not reach that light,
that much she knew. Her feet were
like hundredwelghts, her limbs almost
6eyold Of power Grimes hut appear
ed 10 be couple Of miles away.
with last. breathl9ss effort she turn
ed on the road and n,rndered through
weeds and brush unth she came to
what proved TO be the rear OF the
darkened house. Long, low, rangy, Il
reached of into the shadows, chilling
IN rs loneliness There was no time
left for her TO climb the flight OF steps
and pound on the back door The rain
was swIshlng In the trees with a hiss
that forbade delay.
She threw herself. painting and ter
ror stricken, into the cavellke opening
under the porch. her knees giving way
after the supreme effort The great
storm broke as she crouched far back
against the wall. her hands over her
ears. her eyes tightly closed. She WI
safe from wind and rain, but not from
the sounds OF that awful conflict The
lnntorn lay ut her feet, sending It's ray
out into the storm with the senseless
fldellly OF u beacon light
Penelope" came voice through
the storm. and a second later man
plunged into the recess, crashing
against the wall beside her Something
told her who Il was even before he
dropped beside her and threw bis
BtTOng arm about her shoulders.
lie was crying something into her
eur wild. incoherent words that seem
cd to have the power TO quiet the
storm. And she was responding-she
knew that eager words were falling
from her lips. but she never knew
what they were-respondlng with a
fervor that was overwhelming her with
JOY. Lips met again and again. and
there was no thought Of the night OF
the feud. the escapade, the Renwood
ghost. or OF aught save the two warm
living human bodies that had found
each other.
The storm. swerving with the capri
flflut iuOuulutu MluN1s ouAAthiy eWNlN
their refuge with sheets OF water. Ran
dolph shaw threw the raincoats over
his companion and both laughed hys'
terlralIy at their plight suddenly re-
memhered.
I'VE can't stay herew he shouted.
I'VE can't 20 out into It." she cried.
where are wei"
"Renwood's," he called back. Their
neirion was untenable. He was
drenchrd; the ralncoats protected her
ns she crouched back into the most re-
mote corner Looking about ho dis
.overcd small door leading to the eel
lar. II opened the instant he touched
the latch. Come. quick" he cried, llft-
ing her to her feet. In here-stoopl !
have the light This is the cellar. III
have TO break -doMn-a . door leadinG 70