The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-02-22
to the window and looked out Into the


THE storms letting up. but we can't
r leave here for quite while. I'll sit up
and watch. I'm too happy to sleep"
She protested. hut her heavy eyes were
bis allies. Soon he sat alone before the
hre: she slept sound on the broud
couch in the corner. steamer rug
across her knees. 4 contented smile
curved his lips as he sazed redectively
into the flames. He was not thinking
OF Mrs. Renwood's amiuhle ghost.
How long she had teen asleep Pene-
lope did not know. She awoke with
start. her flesh creeping. A nameless
dread came over her: she felt that she
was utterly alone and surrounded b,
horrors. 1t waS Il full minutea sick
ening hour. it seemed-before she real
lied that she was in the room with the
man she loved. Her frightened eyes
caught sight of him lying back in the
chair before the dying fire in the chin.
ney place. The lights were low. the
shadows gaunt and chill.
A terrified exclamation started to her
lips. Her ears again caught the sound
OF some one moving in the house
some alien visitor. There was no mis-
taking the sound-the distant, sepulch
raj laugh and the shutting of feet. al
most at the edge of the couch. 1t
seemed.
"Randolph!' she whispered hoarsely.
The man In the chair did not move.
She threw of the blanket and came to
sitting posture on the side Of the
couch, her fingers clutching the cover.
ing with tense horror. Again the soft,
rumbling laugh and the sound Of foot.
steps on the stairway. Like lash she
sped across the room and clutched
frantically at Randolph's shoulders.
He awoke with an exclamation, star.
ing bewildered into the Mortified face
above.
'8The-the ghost!' she gasped, her
eyes glued upon the hall door. he
leaped to his feet and threw his arms
about her.
you've had bad dream" he said.
''What beast | was to fall asleep.
Lord, you're frightened half out of
your wits. Don't tremble so, dearest.
There's no ghost Every one knows
"Listen-listenv' she whispered. To-
gether they stood motonless, almost
breathless before the fire, the glow
from which threw their shadows across
the room to meet the mysterious in.
vader.
Good Lord" he muttered, unwilling
to believe his ears. There is some
one In the house. 1'1e-Tve heard
sounds here before. but not like these"
Distinctly to their startled ears came
the low. subdued murmur of a human
voice and then unmistakable means
from the very depth Of the earth
from the grave, it seemed.
do you hear?' she whispered. "Oh,
this dreadful place! Take me away.
Randolph, DEAR
Don't be afraid" he said, drawing
her close. There's nothing super.
natural about those sounds. They
come from lips as msch alive as ours.
I'll Investigate" He grabbed the heavy
poker from the chimney corner and
started toward the door. She followed
close behind, his assurance restoring
In measure the courage that had
temporarily deserted her.
In the hallway they paused to look
out over the broad porch. The storm
had died away. signing its OVID re-
QUEEN in the misty treetops Dawn
was not far away. A thick fog was
rising to meet the first glance of day.
In surprise Shaw looked at his watch.
her face at his shoulder. 1t was after
8 o'clock.
"Ghosts turn in at midnight, DEAR"
| he said. with cheerful smile. They
don't keep such hours as these"
! But who can it be? There are no
tramps in the mountains" she pro-
! tested, CHANGING over her shoulder ap-
prehensively.
"Listenl By Jove. that voice came
from the cellar"
And the lock is broken" she ex.
claimed. But how silly OF me-!
Ghosts don't stop for locks.
"1'll drop the bolts just the same"
he said as they hurried down the hall.
way. At the back stairs they stopped
and listened for many minutes. Not a
sound came up to them from below
Softly he closed the door and lowered
two heavy bars into place. III there's
any one down there they proba bly,
think they've heard spooks trottiag
around 10 here"
REALLY, it's quite thrilling. isn't itT
she whispered In her excitement.
! I'm any event we're obliged to re-
main Under cover until they depart
he said thonghtfuliv. We can't be
seen here. dearest
| NO." she murmured. mot even
though it Is our house."
They returned to the big room as
softly as mice, and he left her mo-
ment later to close the heavy window
shutters ON the porrh. When he Re-
turned there was grim smile on bis
face and his voice shook little as ht
spoke.