Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-02-11

CHAPTER X~~continued.
the evening was passed In solitude
Jane was reading something OF Ga
ooriana, an impelling. but not exactl,
q soothing subject for one who expect
Cd to spend the night alone. She wal
startled from an absorbing part OF tht
tale by that mysterious feeling tha
warns uH Of another presence wher
a1ither eye nor ear has served. Their
Hlight shadow fiiekered across the
book. She dropped 1t and started Il
her feet with little cry. Dick, insrt
and dreaming. leapod up and growleC
ont or mere sympathy. or suspicion
Caught unawares he would take nc
chances; but having quickly estab
lished his outposts and surveyed the
held Of battle his belitgerency van
tshed. He stood with one paw raised
auiEzieally examining his mistress
tace and looking from her TO the inter,
opeE.
That was F'rseda. She was twisting
corner of her blue Bingham apron be,
tween her coarse hands. struggling be,
tween her fear of intrudlnR and her
desire to put thought into speech.
do not creep In in that way.
Frieda," Jane cried pstulantly. 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'a inevitable "Yessurn" and
har piteously evident intention to give
atterance TO some idea restored James
eouanimity. She spoke more encour-
aGingiy.
what In itr" che asked.
mir. Bob. liant he coming home to.
aightr
mo, MIR, Reynolds has had to leave
the city," Jane replied with emphasis.
"WhyT'
Frieda crumpled O quarter of the
apron between her fBts and shifted
earvously from one foot 20 the other,
Then with q supreme effort. she got IL
cut.
~I'm scared"
~ScarsdH'
"Yessum."
AT what7'
4 don't know, ma 'am."
Nonsense, Frisda." Jane answered
Sravely. but unconsciously abe locked
hurriedly about the large room and
then down at Dick az if seekiug con.
drmation OF her assurance from his
calm. For Dick had again subsidized to
ehs rug.
There's nothing to be- afraid of.
Trieda, any more than II Mr.. Reynolds
we're here. Have you flushed with
vour work."
"Yessum."
Then SO up to your room" Jane
commanded. II viii sleep upstairs In
che room next to yours. instead OF In
mine"
"Yessum." Frieda RcQuieaced. and.
90 shs backed away, looked much re.
nsvsd. Thia promise OF proximity al.
laysd her fears. II 1t did not entirely
eusll them.
But the balm that Jane offered to
asr servant did not serve her own
ends. She became kaanly aware that
she shared Frieda's misgiviegM She
abandoned her book and as she laid
tt EEide she did 40 with q little shud.
der as II the victims of It's mysteries
and its perlls had become personifled
and stalked about beside her. She
gave unusual attention to the tasten.
ings OF the doors and windows ordi-
narfly Bob had attended TO these de.
tails In rnost casual manner and she
had never given them q 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 che
ordered him back and shut the door.
For what seemed 10 her hours, Jane
hay and surrendered herself TO foolish
tagaries Of q disturbed mind. she
knew that Frieda's sententioas expires.
sion OF her fears was groundless. That
eHtimahle person had discounted her
declaration OF alarm by o raacous and
continuous snore. But thia only &C.
eentuated the loneliness Jane felt At
Iast the cuckoo clock In the room be.
low told the hour Of midnight. Mystic
and ominous It sounded instead OF Joy,
fal and vibrant Another hour passed.
The cuckoo sang Ito single tone die.
naliy and forebodlng. A half hour
more and Jane drtftsd into troubled
sreams.
Hhe Awoke with o start. Dick wsa
BARKING fariously