Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-08-17

knock announced Adele. She entered,
her eyes fxed upon his face with
aEonized questioning.
"she In doing very we'll indeed"
he said. I'VE have every hope, We
must" He broke of abruptly.
They stood, facing each other. 1t
came asain-a knock, light, but in
sistent, at the window. What could
It mean? There! this time rapid, yet
discreetly softened as by one solicit
ing attention and secrecy.
A thrill of superstitious fear smote
at his heart. But the next instant
he had drawn back the curtains.
raised the shade, and was looking
out into the night.
What is IT," gasped Adele's
voice close beside him.
AN was still for moment. He
strained his sight, shading his face
with his hands the better to pene-
trate the shadows without. For
moment the wind lulled to a sigh,
but the next sharp squall tore
screaming by. A line like q whip
lash snapped against the window
pane-a streamer Of Ivy torn from
Its hold. beating with subdued insist
ence.
Tho vines" he said in quiet ex-
planation to the girl beside him. His
own words aroused him. Tho
vines!" And what of-might not
this tempest relentlessly reveal
everything? There was no time to
be lost. Stay here. Adele" he Or
dered. "Miss Tredlay will be back
presently. sent her to rest. Mrs.
Gaynor has been asking about her
little pillow-no-I'm going up. Ill
get 1t and send 1t down by one Of the
maids"
Adele settled herself near the bed.
and Wendham hurried from the
room. He paused before Mrs. Gay
nor's door in the guest wing. The
corridor was empty. Not a sound
save the bowling of the wind and
the thrash of rain. Quickly opening
the door, he found himself In the de-
serted room. The window showed
opposite as a pale square. He crossed
hastily and raised tho sash. In
stantly the warning elements enter
cd, the curtains bellied inward. The
hutter of flying papers and the click
and rustic of striking objects sound
ed loud In his ears. He must be
quick.
He leaned far out. feeling along
the face of the wall. Far down as
his hand would reach his fingers
found a nail beneath the whispering
leaves. A wire hung from IT, but no
weight held it taut. He raised it. 1t
was loose for about four feet, and
its end was doubled and curled as II
united. The bag was not there. A
gasp escaped him. Feverishly he
felt among the vines for another nail
and wire. His hand grasped two
but they were too far away from the
window to have been reached by
Adele, and they were so firmly fast
ened below that they were evidently
the trainers" that the gardeners
had laid for the growing tendrils.
A sound reached his ears, like the
regular thump and splash of can
tering horse upon the drive. He
made out an approaching bulk. A
moment later the lights by the en-
trance shone upon two figures
streaming and steaming before thu
porch-a horse. thoroughbred ant
: spattered saddle-high with mud, ant
his rider, \ stalwart man. . soaket
hunting cap drawn over his eyes, ant
. slicker covering him to the top
Of his puttees. Wendham drew back
I'll ride over and leave the ma
, with Billings" he heard Stacy
, voice tell the butler. "I'm all right
I'll walk over. Ask Mr.. Evelyn
he'll be SO good as to lend ne som
old hunting puttees-the rest OF me
E dry"
Man and horse disappeared fror
r the misty circle Of light before tn
3 door and were lost in the darkness
r Wendham closed the window. HI
E mind was in q whirl of speculation
One thing was certain, he must max
instant search at the foot Of tn
vines. Perhaps the bag haG not bee
securely tied. 1t might have drol
X ped below. He scratched q mattel
snatched up that which was the e.
d cuse of his visit. and Fastening dow
% once more, delivered 1t into Adele
e hands. In the hanging closet b
d meath the stairs he found q mackil
3. tosh. He threw 1t over his shoulder
t and, unobserved. made his way In
d the tempestuous night, under Il
sr windows of Mrs. Gaynor's form
le room, and with eager haste felt Il
{. rain-soaked earth. The bLs was n
% there. For ten feet to left and rig
IN he explored the ground. He RI
ID his arms and hands into the drippil
IN foliage. in hope that the object
his search had caught upon sor
10 projection in its fall. His effor
IN were fruitless.
In despair he re-entered the houf
IS. cast aside his sodden outer garner
d. and threw himself down upon t
m sitting room lounge to fathbm IL