Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-09-01
CHAPTER xv1.-(continued.)

u west. where the mountains
Listen" he broke in. his voice ris-
Ing to 4 monotonous. sing-song pitch.
listen to me. h fishing off the
Point used to be the best along the
coast. They tell me there is no catch
ct all in these days. and hasn't been
Tor half a dozen years. The great
catches are no more. The fishermen
say that the stretch from here to the
Eddy Islands is hoodooed. They can't
understand it. But l could tell them,
Mary. l could tell them. There's some
thing out there that scares them away,
that"
why. Eric!" she cried. you are
losing your mind. What a silly thing
to say. As il that could make any diff
ference to a fish! Don't be ridiculous"
Well. It's queer. isn't it?" he in
sisted. You'll have to admit It," He
stared out across the tumbling waters.
White fear In his widespread eyes.
She gave him a swift. furtive look, and
then fell to trembling all over. Was
he going mad?
Come away. Eric" she cried. tight
enins her grasp on his arm; It's hor-
time. See. 1t will soon be dark"
II wonderI wonder IL it could be
possible for waves as big as these to
wash an iron chest ashore. Maybe it's
coming now. rolling over and over on
the bottom Of"
She screamed aloud.
DON'T"
He had drawn so close to the brink
OF the precipice, the better to search
1Oamtng crannie far below with
dreadful, eager eyes. After q moment
ne obeyed the frantic Juggling of her
nanas n fell back to a less perilous
footing, q short laugh cracking on his
lips.
No" he said. with a note Of triumph
In his voice: ut can't come ashore. It's
out there to stay"
Come. Eric" she pleaded.
he threw his arm around her. What
q beas am to keep you up here in the
wind and rain. Why, you're %drenched.
You're half frozen." Swiftly aroused
TO compassion and concern for her. he
leo her away from the wild brink to a
Iess exposed spot in h lee of q jutting
rock. Here they were sheltered from
the wind and the freezing drizzle: but
the ale shrieked about their ears. and
the sea roared all the more loudly be-
auS they had slunk back from its
Jury. Great gulls careened past them,
tneir screams no more than sharp,
etaccato barks. as OF a dog in flight.
The terror In Mary's eyes was most
distressing to him. She was trembling
Violently. Her wet hair had blown
across her face. Her figure was limp.
spathetic. ~
Wen go back, dearie," he cried. "Pm
sorry Q came. You will be i'll for all
this. should have come alone. That's
what wanted to do. 1 wanted to
smash this fear and dread I've had for
years. Well. I've done 1t. I'm no longer
AFRAID OF Stone Wall or the sea out
yonder. ] a laugh at them and at
myself Tor having been afraid. l can
i, Suddenly he stopped as IL petrified. /
Even as he uttered his hapless boast,
there came floating up to him on the
wings OF the gale a harsh, never to be
forgotten laugh, knocking, distant, un-
located: came floating up as a part of
the gibbering turmoil, out Of the wind
racked Atlantic. out Of nowhere!
Good God!" he gasped. shrinking
back against h rock with the glare
Of horror in his eyes.
She looked at him in utter amaze
ment-and dread. The terror in his
lace was something she was never to
forget.
Eric h whined. what is it,"
His voice was hoarse. 'Did-did you
herr it?"
There 10 some one out here besides
S~ursclves. Eric" cried she. $50 don't
y sdFaio. we are not alone. dear. II
He turned upon her with e glad
You heard the laugh?"
Axes. q course Tramps. I suppose.
eao!teted IA b caves over"
shouted. "If you heard It, too. then It
must have been real"
sReal7 The laugh? Why-whv.
1sSc. nov queerly you act. What Of t.?
Was y the laugh that-Ah! Sec! |
hsse they are-two OF them"
crest of the cliff toward the right.
y bold relief against the leaden sky.
IlEure9 OF two men stood out clear