, 1912-12-05

q and she was beginning to believe.
From that moment her courage be
gan to fail. The glow from her Ian
tern was a menace instead or a help.
A sweet timorousness enveloped her
and something t~ingled-she knew not
what.
SCATTERING ~raindrops whizzed in her
face. ominous ~forernnners from the
inky sky The wind was whistling
With shrill glee In the treetops and
the treetops tried to flee before 1t. A
mile n a half lay between her and
the big cottage on the hillside-the
most arduous part Of the journey by
far. She walked and ran as though
pursued. scudding over the road with
q swiftness that would have amazed
another. but which seemed the essence
Of slowness to her. Thoughts of rob-
beers, tramps and wild beasts assailed
her with intermittent terrors. but all
served to diminish the feeling of shy
ness that had been Interfering with
her determination.
Past Renwood's cottage she sped,
shuddering as she recognized the stone
steps and path that ran up the hillside
to the haunted house. Ghosts. witches
and hobgoblins fell into the procession
of pursuers. cheered on by the shrek
ing wind that grew more noisome as
her feet carried her higher up the
mountain. Now she was on new
ground. She had never before explor-
ed 80 far as this. The hill was steep
and the road had black abysses out
beyond its eedgs.
She was breathless, half dead from
fatigue and terror, when at last her
feet stumbled up the broad steps lead
ing to his porch. Trembling, she a
into the rustic bench that stood against
the wall. The lantern clattered to her
feet, and the bag with her jewels, her
letter Of credit and her curling irons
slid to the floor behind the bench. Here
was his home! What cared she for the
storm?
Even as she lay there gasping for
breath, her eyes on the shadowy moon
that was breaking its way through the
clouds, three men raced from the sta
bles Mt Bazelhurst Villa. bent on find
ing the mad young person who had fed
the place. Scarcely knowing what d.
rection he took, Lord Bazelhurst led
the way, followed by the duke and the
count, all of them supplied with car
rage lamps. which at any other time
would have been s~ickening in their
obtrusiveness. Except for Lady Eve
Ign the rest of the house slept the sleep
of ease.
Gradually Penelope recovered from
the effects of the mad race up the hill.
The sputtering flame in the lantern
called her into action. Clutching 1t
from the foor of the porch, she softly
began a tour Of inspection. first look
ing at her watch t. find that it was
the unholy hour of 2. Had some one
yelled "Boor she would have swoon-
ed, SO tense vas every nerve. Now
that she was here, what was she to dol
Her heart anne to her mouth, her
hand shook; but not with fear; a nerv.
GUS smile tried to wreak disaster to
the concern In her eyes.
The house was dark and still. No
one vas stirring. The porch was lit.
tered with rugs and cushions, while
on a small table near the end stood q
decanter. a siphon and two glasses.
Two2 He had said he vas alone ex-
cept for the housekeeper and the serv-
ants. A visitor, then. This was no
what she had expected. Her heart
sank. 1t would be hard to face the
master Of the house, but-a stranger
Cigarette stubs mel her bewildered.
troubled gaze-many Of them. Deduc.
ton was easy out there In the lonely
night. 1t was easy to see that SHAY
and his companion sat up SO late that
the servants had gone to bed.
Distractedly she looked about for
means Of shelter on the porch until
daylight could abet her in the flight to
the village beyond. The storm was
sure to come at nc far distant time.
She knew and feared the violence of
the mountain rains.
by all that's holy" came in a mans
voice, low toned and uncertain. at
isn't a dream. after allt'
She turned like a dash, with a star
tied exclamation and an instructive
movemen as II to shield herself from
unbidden gaze. Her lips parted, and
her heart pounded like a hammer.
Standing In the doorway was Randolph
Shaw, his figure looming up like a
monstrous. iwavering genie in the I'M
certain light from the shaking lantern.
His right hand was to his brow, and
his e were wide with ineredulous
Joy. She noticed that the left sleeve
OF his dinner jacket hung limp and that
| the arm was In a white sling beneath.
"Is 1t really your he cried. his hand
going instinctively to his watch pocket
Is If doubling that It was night instead
Of morning.