The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1917-05-08
Tho very name Frencau seemed to

The very name Freneau seemed to
madden Trask. He emitted loud yelp
,f hate and derision and left the table.
He moved toward Gloria, but changed
his mind or deferred his purpose and
went I'D the stairs, closing the hatch I
and fastening it above. There was
nothing reassuring in his last look at
Gloria.
Nell was clearing up the table when
sh, saw that Gloria was faint with :.
hunger or terror. She offered Gloria !
the remnant of the supper. Gloria was |
glad to get it. She ate like another |
manner. She felt that she would need |
what strength she would acquire. Her
wits were dancing as she tried to think |
ont a means of escape. She could not
fight Nell and her father and the big
man. too. She could not overcome
,hem with force, and she had no weap-
on but her five wits, and they had new
or been trained to such problems.
She was as helpless before them as
she had been when she was a little
ffteen-year-old filIy at Palm Beach and
her governess had given her problem
in algebra (a-b)x(a-b)-? She had
stared at that riddle as she stared at
this one.
Doctor Royce had happened along
then and smiled at the easy task. He
could probably solve this problem, too,
but he was not here. She was alone
and the solution depended solely on
her.
She thought and thought while Nell
cleared the table. She offered to help
Nell and was permitted to aid in the
work. When the last dish was re-
moved to the wash basin Gloria and
Nell took opposite ends of the coarse
tablecloth When it was folded twice
the two girls began to bring the two
ends together, as people do who are
folding tableclCths.
Nell stopped short at the proper mo-
ment: Gloria went toward her. The
solution came to her in q flash. In
stead of putting the two ends Of the
tablecloth in NellS fingers, she sudden
" whipped the cloth over her head
brought it down around her elbows
and, after a furious struggle, forced
Nell back into a chair and knOtted
the tabeCloth corners under the arms.
She snatched a pair of dish towels
from the wall and tied NelPs feet to
the legs of the chair. Nell fought like
a mad woman in a straitjacket, but the
knots held.
Gloria was out of breath, but she
was proud as Punch over her victory.
She stood up painting and exclaimed Z:
"WeIIr'
SO far so good. But there was still
Trask to settle with, and Jed, also.
She had not tablecloths enough for all
three, and she doubted if she could
hoodWink those giants in the same
way.
Another scheme occurred to her
She had noticed Nell poking up the fire
in the little stove. Now Nell was
quoting down and it was safe to leave
her.
She ran to the stove, lifted the lie
and set the poker in the red Goals
It was Il grand idea and she was ire
mendOusly enthusiastic. But the polk
er was not. It was il no hurry what
ever. They say that q watched poke
never glOWs. Gloria heard somebod.
working at the hatch before the poke
had attained as much blush as a hard
ened sinner feels on his cheek at lit
tie mistake.
She heard Trask's footsteps Sh
could see his feet on the stairway
She stared at the poker and whis
pered Hurry up The poker wa
in no hurry.
Trask paused to call Jed, then h
began to come down the StairWa,
Gloria was stupefed to see how niue
there was of him. His face appeare
last Of all and it appalled, her. II
carried q rope in his hand.
Trask did not see Gloria at frs
But he caught sight Of the animate
bolster in the rocking chair and
frightened him. He stared back. Bl
mutlled shrek came from the depth
Pa. Pa! It's me! She did it -
Trask understood that the vito
woman had performed another Of h
feats and he was sure that he was III
der the voOdOO. Then he saw Glori
standing by the stove. She looked 5
small and so timid that he regaine
courage, He roared at Gloria az
moved toward Nell. Gloria crie<
Stand back!''