The Carlisle independent., 1915-01-07
CHAPTER X-Contlnued.

CHAPTER X-contlnued.
 The evening was passed in solitude. Jane was reading something of Ga ooriau's, an impelling, but not exactly a 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 slight shadow fickered across the book She dropped 1t 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- lished 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 petulantly. You're worse than a 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 v aufd dov7f j-rn ,xfr- utterance to some idea restored Jane's equanimity. She spoke more encour- agingly.
 What is it?" she asked.
 ''Mr. Bob. Isn't he coming home to- night?'
 No. MT. Reynolds has had to leave the city" Jane replied with emphasis. -Whyr
 Frieda crumpled quarter of the apron between her fists and shifted nervously from one foot to the other. Then with a supreme effort, she got 1t out
 I'm scared"
 -Scared?"
 ~Yessum"
 At what?"
 T don't know, ma am"
 Nonsense, Frieda," Jane answered bravely, but unconsciously she looked hurrfedly about the large room and then down at Dick as if seeking con- drmation 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 if MT. Reynolds were here. Have you finished with your work?"
 -Yessum."
 Then go up to your room," Jane commanded. T will sleep upstairs in the room next to yours, instead of in mfne''
 Yessum," Frieda acquiesced. and, as she backed away, looked much re- heved. This promise of proximity aI- layed her fears, If 1t did not entirely quen 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 misgfvings. She abandoned her book and as she laid 1t aside she did so with little shud- der as if the victims of it's mysteries and It's perils had become personifed 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 a 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 a disturbed mind She knew that Frieda's sententious expres- sion of her fears was groundless. That estimable person had discounted her declaration of alarm by raucous and continuous snore. But this only ae- 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 it's single tone dis mally and forebodfng. A half hour more and Jane drifted into troubled dreams
 She awoke with start Dick was barking furiously.