The Carlisle independent., 1917-03-01

Then a reckless look crossed his face He called up once more the old smile. Not a thing" he insisted. Nothing whatever. It's little cold outside tonight. Perhaps" he added with restless laugh, his eyes wander ing over the gay faces all about, some ones walking over my grave"
 Oh" exclaimed his friend. Are you superstitious?
 'No." returned Seagrue. almost fiercely, "only tired of the world and everything in it. Where is Helen?"
 She's in the library" said his con- panion. You're awful late. Let's go and find her"
 She would have led him into the library He stopped on the threshold and refused to enter. He saw, as ir vision, what others-now that the room was filled with laughing men and women-did not see. He saw mid night within it and his own accom- plices in death grapple with an old man. He saw that old man laid out few moments later on couch, doc tor bending anxiously over him to de- tect heart beat. And he saw the sur geon's face as he looked up and grave ly said: General Holmes is dead!"
 Despite his reckless bravado, a shudder gripped him for an instant again. He shook it of and braced himself with angry resentment. Mo-" he said brusquely, T won't go in there too much of a crowd for me. I'll try the reception room" Turning, he encountered Rhinelander. The two men greeted each other briefly.
 Rhinelander spoke with kindness to his nephew. He tried to tell him that he wanted him to do differently. He assured him that neither he nor Helen cherished any lasting resentment for what had gone before and now that they two were the winners, they meant to be generous to the losers and to him in especial.
 T am willing" declared Rhineland CT, and 1 think that Helen will stand with me in it, to give you an interest in the mine-it is big enough to make a. dozen millionaires. Make a man of yourself, Earl, that's all We ask. We'll do the rest"
 Seagrue regarded him with an ex- pression so terrible that it shocked Rhinelandar, but what was passing through Seagrues mind, he could not tell.
 Tomorrow" Seagrue muttered. like one hardly in possession of his senses, not tonight-I'H talk to you tomor- row. Where's Helen?"
 She left here this moment for the conservatory with George Storm"
 Seagrue took a step forward, as if to go to her. Then he stopped and turned away. Someone took Rhine lander's attention and he lost sight of his nephew, but the woman who had first spoken to Seagrue afterward related what she saw. Seagrue looked once more toward the library. He di- rected his steps toward it. On the threshold he halted abruptly again, as if rudely checked by an unseen hand. He looked about as if he saw and heard what others did not see and hear. Then, shaking himself loose from the seeming clutch of invisible fingers, he took a determined step, strode into the library as one who accepts challenge. walked defiantly through the eroom and out of the French doors he himself had opened on a mid night to a murderer.
 He disappeared from sight in the shrubbery Of the garden and walked some distance before hs encountered those whom he had gone out to meet. Even the two hiding men saw the emo tion under which he was laboring. He told them what he had seen, told them of Storms escape, the thwarting of his plans, and with oaths gave them orders as to what to do and how to do it. He trembled with furious en- phasis as he spoke on. And when the coast is clear" he exclaimed, at last, I'll drop my handkerchief" Turning on his heel, he left them. The two murderers locked uncertainty at each other. Something of his uneasi- ness communicated itself to them.
 In the conservatory, Helen and Storm were conversing with guests. The guests left the room as Seagrue came in and he returned, somewhat stiffiy, the greeting of Helen and Storm. Storm, resolved now to be generous with his enemy, stepped to the punch bowl and filling glasses, crossed the conservatory with them to serve