The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-14

 duke.
 "Zounds. Who are you punching. demme, >TIullo! Whats this? A door and open. aN l liver The trio enter ed the cellar door without ceremony. "Thank God. we're out of the rain at leastv'
 It was not until they had explored the basement and found it utterly without signs of human occupancy that the truth of the situation began to dawn npon them. Earminster'g face was white, and his voice shook as he ventured the horrid speculation:
 '@The good Lord save us-it's that demmed haunted house Pen was talk ing about!'
 "But ze nghts?' queried the count.
 ..Ghosts!'
 s'Let's get out of this place" said Lord Bazelhurst. moving toward the door. Its that beastly Renwood house. They say he comes back and murders her every night or so.'' ' Mon Dieur''
 Penelope isn't here. Let's move or" ;" agreed the duke readily. But even fear of the supernatural was not 2 strong enough to drive them out into the binding storm. T say, look. ahead. there's ShaW's placer ,y Peefing through the door they saw for the$fifst time the many lights in Shaw's windows. scarce a quarter of a mile away. For a long time they stood and Eazed at the distant win- dows. Dejectedly they sat down. backs to the wall and waited for the storm to spend its fury. Wet, cold and tired. they finally dozed It was Lord Cecil who first saw the signs of dawn. The rain storm had come to mysterious end, but a heavy fog in it's stead loom- ed up. He aroused his companions and with many groans of anguish they prepared to venture forth into the white wall beyond.
 k Just as they were taking last look about the wretched cellar something . happened that would have brought ter TOT to the stoutest heart. A wild, ap- palling shriek came from somewhere above, the cry of mortal soul in agony.
 The next instant three human forms shot through the narrow door and out into the sfoS. hair on end. eyes bulging. but sightless; legs travelling like the wind and as purposeless. 1t mattered not that the way was hidden; it mat tered less that weeds. brush and stumps lurked in ambush for unwary feet They fled into the foggy dan gers without 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 sconvulsed 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:
 Help. Help, Help!" 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 discernible. Then arm in arm they set forth across the wet way toward Shaw's cottage.
 Poor. Ceeili" she sighed. Tt was cruel of you In the roadway they found a hat which she at once identi fed as the counts Farther on there was a carriage lamp and later mack intosh. which had been cast aside as an impediment ''Oh. it was cruelp She smiled, however. in retrospection.
 eff I were only sure that nothing serious had happened to Cecil" she murmured anxiously.
 "I'm sorry, dear, for that screech o1 mine." he apologized
 | Suddenly he started and gazed in tently in the direction of the haunted l house. A mana sorry f1gure-was slowly, painfully approaching from the l edge of the wood scarce hundred i yards away. In his hand he carried { 1 stick to which was attached a white | cloth-donbt tlesss~a handkerchief ae was hatless and limped perceptibly.
 ''It's Cecilp' whispered Penelope 1T horror struck tones. Good heaven Randolph, go to him. He is hurt
 It was Lord Bazelhurst. As Shaw hurried down the drive to meet him, n' thought of the feud in mind. two be ings even more hopelessly dilapidatet ventured from the wood and hObblet up behind the truce bearer, who hat now paused to lift his shoulders into ; l position of dignity and defiance Shaw's heart was touched. The spec tacle was enough to melt the prejudice of any adversary. Lord Cecil's knee trembled. His hand shook as if in 1 chill. Mud covered, water soaked ant bruised. their clothes rent in man. places, their hats gone and their hai matted. their legs wabbly. the trio ceI tainly inspired pity. not mirth no scorn.
 l "One moment. sir" called his lord ship. with feeble attempt at severity 1 Eis voice was hoarse and shaky "W do not come as friends, dem you. I my sister here?
 "She is. Lord Bazelhurst We'll tai
 this over later on,'' said Shaw in hi
 friendliest way. You are worn ou and done up. I'm sure-you and you
 friends. Come; I'm not as bad as yo think Eve changed my mind since 1 saw YOU last Let's see if we can