The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1915-01-14
CHAPTER x-contInued.

The evening was passed In solitude
Jane was reading something of Ga
boriau's. an impelling. but not exactly
q 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 fiickered 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-
iished his outposts and surveyed the
field of battle his belligerency van
tshed. He stood with one paw raised
Quizzically examining his mistress
face and looking from her to the inter
ioper.
That was Frieda. She was twisting
q 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
her piteously evident intention to give
utterance to some idea restored James
equanimity. She spoke more encour-
sgingly.
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
neryously from one foot to the other
Then with supreme effort. abe got II
out.
I'm scared"
"Scared?"
"Yessum."
"At what1"
81 don't know. ma'am.-
Nonsense, Frieda," Jane answered
bravely, but unconsciously she locke,
hurriedly about the large room an,
then down at Dick as II seeking con
frmation of her assurance from hi
calm. For Dick had again subsided I,
the rug.
There's nothing to be afraid oi
Frieda. any more than II Mr. Reynold
were here. Have you finished wit
your work?"
"Yessum."
"Then go up to your room," Jan
commanded. Il will sleep upstairs 1
the room next to yours, instead OF |
mine"
"Yessum," Frieda acquiesced, ant
as she backed away, looked much r,
lieved. This promise of proximity a
layed her fears, II II did not entlrel
quell them.
But the balm that Jane offered I
her servant did not serve her ow
ends. She became keenly aware thi
she shared Frieda's misgivings. St
abandoned her book and as she lai
It aside she did SO with a little shu
der as il the victims OF its mysteri'
and its perils had become personifit
and stalked about beside her. 81
gave unusual attention TO the taste
ings of the doors and windows. Orc
narily Bob had attended to these d
tails In a most casual manner and 81
had never given them thought 81
put out the light and went up to Il
room overhead. The fox terrier II
ahead, but at the top OF the stairs 81
ordered him back and shut the door.
For what seemed TO her hours, Jal
lay and surrendered herself to fooli
vagaries of a disturbed mind. 8
knew that Frieda's sententious expr'
siou OF her fears was groundless. Tn
estimable person had discounted b
= declaration Of alarm by raucous a
continuous snore. But thls only
centuated the loneliness Jane felt.
last the cuckoo clock In the room
low told the hour OF midnight Mys
and ominous II sounded Instead OF j
full and vibrant. Another hour pass
The cuckoo sang its single tone d
\ mally and foreboding. A nalf he
A more and Jane drifted into troubl
dreams.
She awohe With start Dick v
hArking fxrionsly.