Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-12-18

Also, the air seemed fresher, tnouBh
not intensely cold.
The sun had set behind leaden
clouds. Already, as one says
across the channel, 1t made night; and
far below they saw clustering lights,
shining like jewels on purple velvet
cushions. Though they could feel no
wind, as they bent over the edge OF
the basket the lights in the world
below appeared to float rapidly past,
as IL borne by an onrushing tide.
Sometimes they we're hidden by black
rags of cloud; but at last these rags
were fringed with cleaning silver. the
moon was coming up, clear and fuli,
and, as IL in obedience to her COM
mand, the wind was still the lights
in the purple depths no longer moved
on a dark tide, but a river OF silver
swallowed up the yellow sparks and
flooded the purple valleys.
Good" said Western. Now we
can descend. We shall have an illum-
nation for our landing, and though
we're coming down into mist--a sea
mist, / should judge by the salt tang
of Tits so thin that we shall know
whether we're dropping on earth or
water
Have you any idea where we are?'
asked Christopher. who had long ago
abandoned hope of Torquay or It's
neighborhood--if he had ever really
had any-but, like true sportsman,
was revealing in the adventure.
Might be Hampshire" suggested
Western vaguely. "Ors-well. might
be anywhere--near thu coast It's
hard to say to thirty miles or so. the
way we have been racing
He had pulled the valve-cord and
they steadily descended. Now they
swan In a sea of creamy mist, laced
with the moons silver. They knew
that they must be near earth, but the
cleaning sea-fog shrouded all detail.
Suddenly, however. they became con-
scious OF q luminous gliding of the
mist close to the falling balloon. and
OF the same instant the car bumped
and swayed, bounding like some wild
creature caught by the foot In trap.
There was swishing of foliage or
pine needles, and a cracking of
small branches. They were entangled
In tree.
"Why, we're close to house." he
said to Western. whose back was
turned to him as he worked.
BY this time Western had stopped
chopping branches to glance over his
shoulder.
"By Jove, we are close he ex-
claimed.
II can touch the stone ledge, just
said Christopher. Its wet--there's
pool Of"
water" was the word on his
tongue; but, as he pulled back his
hand and looked at 1t in the yellow
haze of the lamplight which mingled
with the moons rays, he drew in his
breath quickly.
whats the NATTER" asked West
ern.
Look" Christopher answered, in
an odd voice, holding out his hand.
Fingers and palm were dyed red,
wet red that glistened.
Their lively tones were hushed
now. Involuntarily they whispered.
Pooh! ] know what you mean,
but II can't be. A window sill. Why
should--such things don't happen"
"All the same, I'm going to hang
out from the car and try to twist
round the corner far enough to see"
wait till hang on to you, or you'll
get tumble"
Christopher leaned out. with one
knee on the edge of the trapped car.
uuS manu- piuA6tu iutu duu kIdsplHS
the ick-stemmed ivy. Hanging thus,
he could see the window whence came
the light; and as he looked. peering
through the mist, a slight breeze
sprang up and blew fold Of the white
veil away He could see round the
corner and into the lighted window.
but only n faint impression of what
he saw there remained with him-a
vague picture of an old-fashioned,
oak panelled room, with u great many
books, and a long mirror opposite the
window--for 1t was something In the
window which caught and held his
gaze He saw IL. and saw II repeated
In the mirror. or, rather, saw there
what he could see IN no other way.
A mans body hung over the win
dow sill, inert and lifeless. He had
fallen backward and lay half out, his
head and shoulders protruding over
the stone ledge which Christopher had
! touched, the face upturned and white
| In the mingling light Of lamp and
moon.
There was red stain on the fore
head. and the hair, which was dark
and long, chung wet and matted over
the brows. The lips were twisted into
a terrible, three-cornered smile. and
Christopher started back from it with
| cry.
what did you seer" asked Western.
i Christopher told him.
| For heavens sake, let's get out Of
!, this" Western stammered
| AS he exclaimed, something moved
! near by, and a figure which had been
hiding among the battlements sprang
UP and ran towards the swaying bal
loon.
Highly wrought as they were, at
first the two young men were struck
with horror, as IL beholding spirit,
but as the clear moonlight fell upon
the form, common sense came back
and they knew this was no ghostly
| vision
| A girl in q white dress was hurry
Ing along the fiat roof, her arms out
| stretched In OBTAINING gesture. Save
mel" she faltered, her voice broken
by fear or pain.
i Whether or not 1t was partly the
| effect Of the moonlight the girl
seemed to Christopher and Western
the most beautiful creature they had
ever seen.
/ She had hair which the moon burn
ished to copper, and it fell in two long,
thick ropes or braids over slim shout
ders and young bosom. The white ra-
| dance which had pierced the blowing
mist shone into her eyes, making
them large and dark and wonderful
as well that mirror stars in black
depths.
"Oh, save me--take me with you
whoever you are--wherever you go
anywhere away from this awful
house," she begged of the strangers,
as she came flying across the dark,
fiat expanse behind the battlements
And eagerly Christopher Race and
| Paul Western put out their arms to
reach and draw her into the car.
But fate came between them and