The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-09-22
CHAPTER XII.
The omuqolsr

ohufleite htopu Detlut my ueus
| What's the mstter7"I demanded
sitting Indignantly upright. I'D
only Just gone 10 sleep
"Hush--don't make noise
There IN some one In the house.
What" was wide enough
awake now.
| AT least. We think 30. !
heard noise and walked
Elizabeth, and va both listened. II
was In the diningroom. and oh,
Elise"
Lady Edith's pearls," I finished
In an aved whisper. adding ~ an
sftsrthoasht: Where ia Eliza.
bc,hr"
Gone TO wake Mary Anne. Do
&c, up and put on your wrapper.
No might as well he prepared"
! have since asked Gabrielle II
she thought e unconventional To re.
ceiye burglars IN a robe de mutt /,
ct that time. however, ! did not
question the motiv. OF her com.
mand. but reached obcdiently for
my slippers, and was enyeloped In
my pink kimono when Elizabeth sp-
pcsred In her blue one.
she wasn't there" Elizabeth said
in a frightened whisper: her bed
had not been touched. and--oh. I'm
afraid"
We all were, for that matter. and
huddied close together. listening in.
tentiy. Hut as the slow moments
passed and nothing happened. we
grew gradually cslmer. and even
4 ventured To creep noiselessly into
the bali and lean over the bsnisters.
Would you be afraid To go down
stairs" suggested Gabrielle. always
tn. most valiant Il, seems all
right"
We we're afraid. and said 30 EN-.
phatically'
'of course" said Elizabeth, after
another period OF silence. "vs might
have been mistaken about the noise
hut. thea. there's Mary Anne what
os herr"
Gabrielle rat flat upon the floor
mingled relief and dismay In her
face
4 rats Just IL" she exclaimed
1T was Mary Anne"
What do you mean"
The noise--ii was Mary Anne
Don't you seeg She has been de-
eslving us about her son. be IL
stIil hanging about somewhere. and
she goes gu, at nighs and meets
him. 90 I, IL no wonder she was no!
in her room"
why. Of courte"-Eiisabeth &C
csp,ed the theory without question
| Gabrielle snusfed the wick Of he'
H candle and rose TO the occasion.
"Now. III tell YOU our best plan.
she said decidedly. Well 20 down
stairs and see II abe has left = doos
open las. OF course. she mustl. and
then we will lock II and wait until
We hear her coming, then"
We'll" I Inquired. a. she paused
irresolutely. what them
why. then we'll confront her"
Gabrielle spoke firmly. Lat ~
70 right down" she continued. be
fore she has a chance TO come In
Both OF you get candles and come
on"
got my candle in puzzled a.
ience. Gsbrielle's explanation vss
very probable. but ! had . mental
vision OF the figures At the door OF
the boat.house, and my heart sank
within me.
Get your watch" advised Ga
brisile. and your pins and things.
I've rot all mine IN this chamois
bag. except the gold beads. they
wouldn't 20 in. 40 I'll Just carry
them. I'm not afraid. but would
father have my things with me.
somehow
I collected my small store OF val.
uables and we formed a procession
OF three and ven,urcd downstairs.
In tho kitchen We found tho eel.
lar door open. and debated whether
we should lock II and thus prevent
Mary Anne's return. or wait and
greet her In disappearing array.
Let us listen" suggested Ga.
brielle. and sat down upon the top
step to carry ont her suggestion.
Then occurred the accident. She
held her gold beads in her hand.
and somehow managed 20 break
the catch and away they went.
We could hear them rolling down
into the cellar step by step. and
Gabrielle was at first motionless
with surprise. then. a. usual, pre-.
pared for immediate action.
I'm going after them" she an.
nounced, literally rising to the oc.
casion.
Down there7" shuddered Eliza.
beth. "Oh. no, Wait I'll morning. +"
Il spent every cent OF Cousin
Lucy's check on those beads said
Gabrielle, folding her kimono abou,
her and preparing to descend, and
I'm going to pick them UP right
away. Wait till morning. indeed.
You might suppose they we're
pebbles"
We sighed apprehcnsively. but
followed our intrepid friend down
the steps, holding our candles we'll
before us.
Those miserable beads had rolled
to the most remote places. OF
course. and We got so interested in
looking for them we almost forgot
to be afraid.
Suddenly. however. Elizabeth
! gave n stlfled scream.
There Is some one In here" she
whispered Il know e."
How do YOU know"
Gabrielle tried TO speak boldly,
but the hand which held the candle
shook until little shower OF
melted wax fell upon the floor.
Il was feeling-under the steps"
Elizabeth found articulation diff.
cult--"when touched hsir-human