The citizen., 1914-10-09
CHAPTER x-contInued.

CHAPTER X-contlnued.
The evening was passed in solitude.
Jane was reading something of Ga
boriau's. an impelling, but not exactly
soothing subject for one who expect
ed to spend the night alone. She was
startled from an absorbing part Of the
tale by that mysterious feeling that
warns us of another presence when
neither eye nor ear has served. Then
q slight shadow flickered across the
book She dropped it and started to
her feet with little cry. Dick, inert
and dreaming, leaped up and growled
out OF mere sympathy. or suspicion
Caught unawares he would take no
chances; but having quickly estab-
hshed his outposts and surveyed the
field of battle his belligerency van
ished. He stood with one paw raised
quizzically examining his mistress
face and looking from her to the inter-
loper.
That was Frieda. She was twisting
corner of her blue gingham apron be-
tween her coarse hands, struggling be-
tween her fear of intruding and her
desire to put thought into speech.
do not creep In in that way,
Frieda," Jane cried petuIantly. You're
worse than cat"
She was vexed at herself for having
obviously betrayed her fright and
angry at the instrument of her fear.
But Frieda's inevitable "Yessum" and
her piteously evident intention to give
utterance to some idea restored James
equanimity. She spoke more encour-
agingly.
What is it?" she asked.
"Mr. Bob. Isn't he coming home to-
night?
mo, Mr.. Reynolds has had to leave
the CITY," Jane replied with emphasis.
"Why?"
Frieda crumpled a quarter Of the
apron between her fists and shifted
nervously from one foot to the other.
Then with supreme effort. she got 1t
out.
"Tm scared"
"Scared?"
"Yessum."
"At what?"
II don't know, ma am"
Nonsense, Frieda," Jane answered
bravely, but unconsciously she looked
hurriedly about the large room and
then down at Dick as IL seeking CON.
hrmation Of her assurance from his
calm. For Dick had again subsided to
the rug.
There's nothing to be afraid of.
Frieda, any more than IL Mr.. Reynolds
were here. Have you finished with
your work?"
"Yessum."
Then go up to your room," Jane
commanded. Il will sleep upstairs in
the room next to yours. instead Of in
mine"
"Yessum," Frieda acquiesced, and,
as she backed away, looked much re-
lieved. This promise of proximity al.
layed her fears, If 1t did not entirely
quell them.
But the balm that Jane offered to
her servant did not serve her own
ends. She became keenly aware that
she shared Frieda's misgivings. She
abandoned her book and as she laid
1t aside she did so with little shud-
der as If the victims OF its mysteries
and its perils had become personified
and stalked about beside her. She
gave unusual attention to the fasten-
ings Of the doors and windows. Ordi-
narily Bob had attended to these de-
tails in a most casual manner and she
had never given them thought. She
put out the light and went up to the
room overhead. The fox terrier ran
ahead, but at the top of the stairs she
ordered him back and shut the door.
For what seemed to her hours, Jane
lay and surrendered herself to foolish
vagaries of disturbed mind. She
knew that Frieda's sententious express
sion of her fears was groundless. That
estimable person had discounted her
declaration Of alarm by raucous and
continuous snore. But this only &C
centuated the loneliness Jane felt. At
last the cuckoo clock in the room be-
low told the hour Of midnight. Mystic
and ominous it sounded instead of Joy
ful and vibrant. Another hour passed.
The cuckoo sang its single tone dis
mally and foreboding. A half hour
more and Jane drifted into troubled
dreams.
She swoke with start. Dick was
barking furiously.