Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-10-11
CHAPTER Xxx.

"DETER!-Peter!-oh, Peter want
l. you!-oh, Peter!-wake! waker' /
sat up in bed as l listened. grew sudden
ly sick and fit of trembling shook me
Violently, for the whisper was still in
my ears, and in the whisper was an
agony of fear and dread indescribable.
"Peter!-oh. Peter. 1 am afraid-wake! /!
wakew
a cold sweat broke out upon me and
l glared helplessly toward the door
quick Peter!-come to mech, Cod"
I strove to move, but still could not.
And now, in the darkness, hands we're
shaking me wildly, and Charmians voice
was speaking in my ear.
THE door!" it whispered, "the door!'
Then l arose. and was in the outer
room, with Chairman close beside me in
the dark and my eyes were upon the
door. And then l beheld a strange thing
for thin line Of white light traversed
the floor from end to end. Now, as /
watched this narrow line, l saw that il
was gradually widening and widening
very slowly, and with infinite caution,
the door was being opened from without
In this remote place, in this STILL dead
hour of the night, full of the ghostly
hush that ever proceeds the dawn-there
was something devilish-something very
like murder in its stealty motion. | heard
Charmians breath catch, and In the
dark, her hand came and crept into mine
and her fingers were cold as DEATH
And now a great anger came upon me-
ana ] took quick step forward but
Chairman restrained me.
mo. Peter!" she breathed: mot yet
wait"' and wound her arms round mine.
In a corner near by stood that same
trusty staff that had been the COM
panion of my wanderings. and now
reached, and took 1t up, balancing 1t in
my hand. And all the time / watched
that line of light upon the floor WIDEN
ing and widening, growing ever broader
and more broad. The minutes dragged
slowly by while the line grew into a
streak, and the streak into a lane and
upon the lane came n blot that slowly
resolved itself into the shadow of a hand
upon the latch. Slowly, slowly, to the
hand came a wrist, and to the wrist an
arn-another minute, and this madden
ing suspense would be over. Despite
ChaTmian's restraining clasp. / crept
long pace nearer the softly moving door
The sharp angle OF the elbow was grow
ing Obtuse as the shadOwy arm straight-
ened itself. Thirty seconds more ! be-
gan TO count, and, gripping my staff,
braced myself for what might be, when
with a sudden cry, Chairman sprang for
ward, and hurting herself against the
door. shut II with a crash.
quick. Peter" she painted l was be-
side her almost as she spoke, and had
my hand upon the latch.
~ must see who this was" said l.
you are madi" she cried.
LET me open the door, CHAIRMAN"
mo. mol say moi"
"Whoaver II was must not escape-open
the door"
''Neverl never-I tell you-death is out
side-there's murder In the very air;
feel it-and-dear God-the door has no
bolt"
''Thoy are gone now-whoever they
were" said / reassurngly; "the danger
is over--if danger II could be called"
Danger" cried Chairman. II tell you
1T was DEATH
"Yet, after all, 1t may have been only
some homeless wanderer"
'"rhen why that deadly, silent eau
tIonT'
True" said /, becoming thoughtful
Bring the table, Peter. and set II across
the door
"suroly the table is too light to-"
but It win give sufficient warning-not
that shall sleep again tonight Oh, Peter,
had / not been dreaming, and happened
20 wake-had l not ehanced To look
toward the door, Il would have opened
wide ana then-oh, horriblew
You were dreamingg'
"a hateful, hateful dream and awoke
In terror, and, being afraid, glanced to-
ward the door, and saw Il opening-and
now-brlng the table, Peter"
Then / set the table across the door.
having done which I stood looking to-
ward where she yet stood
"Charmian,N said l.
Yes. Peter"
Tomorrow"
Yes. Peter"
a viii make bar 70 hold the door"
YES. Peter"
Two bals would be better. perhapsq"
Yes. retcr.r