Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-10-06

Godfrey was alone now with ArKeld
These thoughts drove her TO the door,
set her fingers on the handle.
The mems voices silenced her. They
were leaving the dining room and COM
ing TO her.
Il have been studying the flowers
do So" she said.
Listens voice came from the CHM
ney piece. He was examining the Chi
nese gods.
Jolly, unpleasant looking fellows"
he commented.
He laughed as he studied the gro
tesque and leering face.
Looks as if he wanted to do some
one an i'll turn, play the deuce with
some ones peace of mind
Arkeld laughed. He moved near to
Liston.
He took the other model from the
chimney piece and held it in his hand
THAT has history" he said, finger
ing it.
An unpleasant one, 1 should say"
LiStOn commented
well, rather. Shall l bore yOu?"
He turned to Stella.
She shook her head.
'These were given me by Chinese"
Arkeld said, because in little matter
1 had served him. The trifies pleased
me. They breathe romance. This
he indicated the one he held-"cOntain-
ed at one time a very subtle poison.
hi
ings to death.
This was given by a lover to the
woman who had betrayed him." Ark
eld's fingers found and touched q
spring. 1.-The head comes off, so, and
reveals a cavity. In the old days it
vas filed with a deadly liquid, sub
tie thing which rose in fuTes and
waited the inhaler into Oblivion and
| DEATH
Arkeld closed the thing with snap
and replaced it on the chimneypiece.
by jove." said Liston. He still held
the other model in his hand. Auto
matically his fingers moved, seeking
for the spring.
Godfrey" Stella spoke quickly
Tempest cried in her voice. do not
Her eyes met Arkeld's. She fell silent
The only sound in the room was
made when Liston replaced the laugh
ing god on the chimney piece.
'NIusic-shau we?" Arkeld asked alb
ruptly.
You will playa"
Her fingers touched the keys as
though they shrank from sound. They
refused to follow the bidding of her
will.
Il can't play tonight" she said.
She turned her head and saw Arkeld
! lingering one of the models, which he
had lifted from the chimney piece.
She kept her head so, sitting stiff1y
| intent and watchful.
Arkeld's hand moved over the head
of this little god of his. Suddenly he
held it toward Liston.
81 should like you to have this. Keep
it in memory of tonight"
Thanks" ListOn said.
Stella's elbow jerked invOluntarily
and touched the keys of the piano.
The sound was sudden, leaping into
/ the room with sinister meaning.
She wanted to speak, but words elud-
ed her. She felt that she was cropping
in a dark place.
She got quickly to her feet.
"We must 60" she said.
Stella made no excuse for suggesting
an abrupt departure.
1--WE must CO." she said again.
Her manner silenced ListOn, who in
clined to apologies, not realizing the
subtle evasions of the hour.
Apologies still rose abOrtively to his
lips when he and Stella were sitting
in their motOrcar, while Arkeld stood
bareheaded at the door.
Stella, leaning back against the cush-
ions, saw Arkeld's face with the light
of a lamp full on 1t. Surely his face
expressed triumph.
She felt that she saw in his eyes all
that had been suggested, limited at, In
the room she had just left.
The jerk the car gave in starting was
akin to the jerk of her thoughts when
her eyes moved from Arkeld's face to
the Chinese god which her husband
held in his hand.
Put it down." she said. do not
hold it,"
Listens mood was one Of mOckery.
He spoke of nerves, jestingly.
Their hands met, struggling over the
little grinning god. To him the Skin
mish was frivolity; to her a warfare OF
moment. Her fingers moved quickly
his slowly, teasingly.
He touched the spring, looking with
laughing eyes into the opening.
Something harmless" he said. "A
| letter.
Her fingers were before his, seizin2
this paper. He still watched her with
laughing eyes.
"Arkeld'S writing?'
"NO-nOt Arkeld'S!'
Her voice silenced the laughter that
was in him. Not knowing what it
| yvaS she road he vet had desire to