Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-01-16

\ hinges and there was some light. When
| I reached the doorway / caught sight OF
| the figure OF Miss Holmes fitting across
1 hollow garden that was laid out In the
| bottom Of the castle moat which had been
| drained. This garden, as l had observed
| when we walked through II on the previous
| day on our way was bordered by n shrub
| berry through which ran paths that led to
| the back drive Of the castle.
Across the garden gided the figure Of
| Miss Holmes and after It went l. crouchng
| and taking cover behind every bush MS
/ though | were stalking big game. which
| indeed / was She entered the shrubbery,
| moving much more swiftly now, for as she
| went she seemed TO gather speed like n
| stone which is rolled down q hill IL was
| as though whatever might be attracting her,
| for ! felt sure she was being drawn by
| something, acted more strongly upon her
| sleeping will as she drew near to IT,
| For while ! lost sight OF her In the
| shadow of the tall trees. Then suddenly ]
| saw her again standing quite still In an
| opening caused by the blowing down in the
| gale OF one Of the avenue OF elms that
| bordered the back drive. But now she was
| no longer alone for advancing toward her
were two cloakcd figures, in whom 1 recog.
| nlzed Harut and Marut.
There she stood with outstretched arms
and toward her, stealthly as lions stalking
buck camc Harut and Marut. Moreover,
between the naked bouEhs OF the fallen
elm I caught sight Of what looked TO me
| like the outline Of n closed carriage stand
ing upon the drive. Also l heard horse
stamp upon the frosty ground. Round the
edge Of the little glade I ran, keeping in
the dark shadow, as l went cooking the
pistol that was in my pocket Then sud
denly I darted out and stood between
llarut and Marut and Miss Holmes.
Not n word passed between us, l think
that all three of us subconsciously were
"a NJ 70 To bA eli n
knowing that II we did so there would be
terrible scene. only after motioning to me
to stand aside, OF course in vain, Harut
and Marut drew from their robes curved
and Cruel-looknE knives and bowed, for
even now their politencSs did not forsake
them. l bowed back and when I Strengthened
myself those enterprisng Easterns found
that I was covering the heart of Harut
with my pistol Then with that perception
which is part OF the mental outfit of tho
great they saw that tho game was UP since
I could have shot them both before knife
touched me.
you have won this time o watcher-by-
Night" whispered Harut softly, but an
other time you will lose. That beautiful
lady belongs to us and the people Of the
White Kendall. for she Is marked with the
holy mark of the young moon, The call of
the Child of Heaven Is heard In her heart,
and will bring her home TO the Child as It
has brought her to us tonight. Now lead
her hence still sleeping, brave and clever
one, so well named Watcher-by Night"
Then they were gono and presently 1
heard the sound of horses being driven
rapidly along the drive.
For a moment l had hestated as TO
whether l would or would not run in and
shoot those horses. Two considerations
stayed me- The first was that IL I did so
my pistol would be empty. or even II shot
one horse and retained n barrel loaded
mi uf incl ,,,af, Ian
ing myself defenseless against the knife of
the other. The second consideration was
that now before l did not wish to wake
Miss Holmes
crept to her and not knowing what
else to do, took hold of one OF her out
stretched hands. She turned and came with
me at once as though she knew me, re-
naming all the while fast asleep Thus we
went back to the house, through the still
open door, up the stairway straight to her
own room on the threshold of which
| lOosed her hand. The room was dark and
| could see nothing, but listened until
heard sound as Of a person throwing her
self upon the bed and drawing up the
blankets. Then knowing that she was safe
for while, l shut the door which opened
outward, as doors Of ancient make some
times do and set against it n little table
that stood in the passage.
Next after rejecting for n minute, the
circumstances being awkward in many
ways l went to my room and lit a candle
Obviously il was my duty to inform ord
Ragnall Of what had happened and as soon
as possible, But had no idea in what part
of that huge building his sleeping place
might be, nor, for patent reasons, was IL
desirable that l should disturb the house
and so create talk
In this dilemma remembered that Lord
iagnalls confidential servant, Mr. Savage
when he conducted me to my room on the
previous night which he made a point Of
doing perhaps because he wished 10 talk
over the matter of the snakes that had
found the' way into his pockets, had shown
me bell in it which he said rang outside
his door. He called 1t an emergency
bell" l remarked idly that II was i'm
probable l should have any occasion for
it's use.
''Who knows, sir?" said Mr.. Savage
prophetically. There are folk who say
that this old castle is haunted, which after
what l haye seen tonight 1 can well be-
lieve. If you should chance to meet a
ghost looking, let us say, like those black
villains Harum and Scarum. or whatever
they call themselves-well, sir. twos bet
ter company than one"
/ considered that bell. but was loath to
ring 1t for the reasons / have given. Then
L went outside the room and looked. As
l had hoped might be the case, there ran
the wire on the face Of the wall connected
along its length by other wires with the
various rooms II passed.
/ set TO work and followed that wire It
was not an easy job indeed, once or twice
il reminded me Of the story OF the old
Greek hero who found his way through a
labyrinth by means of a silken thread. l
forget whether 1t were a bull or a lady
he was looking for, but with care and
perseverance he found one or the other
or IL may have been both
Down staircases and various passages !
went with my eye glued upon the wire
which occasionally got mixed up with other
wires, till at length it led me through a
swing door covered with red baze into
what appeared TO be a modern annex 70
the castle. Here at last II terminated on
the spring Of an misunderstanding and deep
throated bell that hung Immediately over
a certain door,
on this door 7 knocked, hoping that II
might be that Of Mr. Savage and praying
earnestly that II did not inclose the chaste
resting-place Of the cook or any other fe-
male. Too late, / mean after / had
knocked II occurred 10 me that II so my
position would be painful to n degree.
However, in this particular Fortune stood
my friend which does not always happen to
the vlrtuous. For presently I heard "A voice
which 1 recognized as that Of Mr., Savage.
asking, not without a certain quayer in
it's tone:
who the devil is that?'