The Alaska citizen., 1913-07-07

+ you. That's why | keep latChkey
TO your door as we'll as to my own.
You know. so | can enter either place
any old time. Shall Gomez
Indeed you shan't. was fool
TO suggest it. and will strange ms
qualms. I'm going to bed and. |
hope. to sleep. soon"
"Do-and try to feel that Helen's
going to pull through all right. You
must believe it. Jack"
Il do" answered Drake.
20. no."
1t was a woman's voice. low. clear
and pleading. Both men heard ii.
Good Lord" gasped Robert Drake:
What was that"
An awful calm. a sense of rightly
had seized John and his tone did not
tremble as he replied slowly and
without emotion:
Robert. that was Helen's voice"
Don't be fool. Jack" came the
sharp retort from the brother. at
was central cutting in. But. | say.
II sounded queer"
Yes" replied John; but never
mind, Good night"
Good night, old man. Good luek,"
John Drake hung UP the receiver.
then stood undecided as to what to
do. He was not superstitious. nor
easily frightened but the sound of
that voice above the bowling of the
storm and the dash of sleet on the
panes wrought upon his IMAGINATION
He could not call UP Judge Mortons
house without arousing the weary
father and mother. No he would
not be so foolish He was over
strained. that was all; he would 90
to his library again, where 1t was
warm and comfortable and try to
read. OF course if Helen were worse
they would telephone to him imme-
diately. They had promised that.
He must not let himself get so silly
and weak and fanciful.
He went back to his library and
to his book-an interesting novel. |
The fire still glowed brightly. and
his students lamp cast a warm, vel /
low light over the pages. Fer ten
minutes he read on before he Wa I
conscious of a sensation of chill /
One of the windows must have been T
left open a little way. Rising. he /
crossed the room and investigated, +
only to find that the sashes were
all closed and locked. Nervousness, |
he thought, as he resum-
ed his chair. A half-hour more would .
finish the book; then he would go
to bed. Or if very sleepy he would |
not run the risk of getting wide
awake by undressing. but would +
throw himself on the couch right /
here near the fire. pull his afghan |
over him. and sleep. Then he
would be near the telephone should |
it ring
A sound like a low sigh passed |
him, and again he felt sensation |
of cold. Jumping up he pulled to-
gether the heavy curtains which |
hung before the windows. The bit |
ter wind must filter in somewhere |
Not only had he felt it but he had |
heard it in the room, he said to
trying to laugh at his
'fdgets." That is what Helen would |
have called his notions, he unused |
with a half smile He looked at the /
spider ring on his finger The EN-
erald eyes met his clearly. pierre
ingly.
He is watching you as my love
would if it could she had said I
All, if it could, How he longed for
her, How he loved her,
What was the use of trying to /
read now? 1t was impossible. He
would have no more ridiculous fan
cies; there was something the mat
ter with his nerves; he needed rest,
and the longer he taxed brain and
strength the more nervous would he
become. With sudden resolution he
blew out his lamp. BY the light
from the CRATE fire he arranged the
cushions and slumber robe on his |
couch. and then threw himself down
and closed his eyes to sleep. The
wind moaned and the sleet still dash
ed, but it was deliciously comforta-
BILE here. He would sleep, yes he
would sleep. He closed his eyes
For some time he lay there fight
ing, fighting, fighting against this UNI
seen something which gripped him
with relentless force. But sleep
would not come to him. The I'M
known something was stronger than
his own will. and he acknowledged |
his defeat. He was almost afraid.
soft breath sounded near him.
but he did not move; again he felt |
a chill wind pass over him, but he |
held himself quiet. Then he heard |
his name whispered. Could he be
asleep?
jack came the soft sound