The Washington times., 1918-07-26
The Wolves OfNeuU York
AsToRY OF LOVE AND MYSTERY.
Lillian Encounters RGscGLLy For
eigner Paul, Who FOrbids Her
to Ascend Hall Stairs


Lillian, her face angrily suffused.
strobe to the fireplace and stood
there. breathing quickly, strus-
Cling with her agitation.
He would not let me follow" she
.gasped at last He appeared At
the foot OF the stairs and blocked
the way"
"He-who?"
That rascaIly foreigner. the man
you call Paul don't know where
he came from: he was there in the
hall already. I think I babe him
let me pass. but he only grinned
and stretched out his arms.
Madam, go backP he said In his
jargon; no pass here at night Bet
ter in her room-safer.' was
angry. l asked him how he dare
interfere with me. He muttered
something about ode orders OF Mr..
Borradale.' said 1 should com
plain to you; he only grinned more
evily and shrugged his shoulders.
Is this fellow to be master Of the
house. Esther?'
SWhat Can I Dor Ask Esther.
what can do, LIIlianT- asked
Esther, heIplessly. Il am a woman
and have been until tonight with
out a friend. How can tell what
Instructions Harold may not have
given to this man? There Is moth
ing for 1t but to wait, as we de-
cided to do this evening, and then
take a frm stand"
I'VE will see what DR.. Fleet
wood says tomorrow" said Lillian
grimly. ut appears to me abso-
lutely unreasonable that you should
submit to such state OF Affairs.
Harold Is away. and in his absence
there seems 6have been a migra-
tion from Adderly to Helm He
may know OF It or he may not; II
makes little difference as far as
you are concerned. Ny advice Is
that you leave here tomorrow and
take up the firm stand you propose
upon your own ground A man
cannot treat his wife as Harold is
treating you, and you have every
right to resent it"
I'VE will consider that tomor-
row." said Esther wearily. TO
night think you are right. But
I cannot believe that Harold meant
me to be troubled like this; he has
never been really un<ind to me-
Either he has completely lost his
sense Of Independence or he is ig-
norant OF what is happening. Tell
me, Lillian. you saw nothing?"
mo; I lost a few moments be-
fore started in pursuit. The foot
steps must have reached the hall
as I left this room. The passage
to the dining room leads on to the
right does it not?'
yes"
II II No Ghozt.
TIN sure the person-whoever Il
was-went that way. It Is no
ghost, Esther. Put all supersti-
tious notions OF that sort out Of
your head Do you remember"
she spoke dreamily-"when I was
telling you all knew about Ad-
derby that I spoke OF a malign in
fiuence that made itself felt there?
told you that. though I had seen
nothing, I was certain Of another
existence. an evil existence, that
was hidden away somewhere. Well,
1 have the same sensation here. I
had 1t most strongly as descended
the stairs just now. It Is the same
thing, am positive Of 1t. That life
which was concealed in the secret
wing at Adderiey had been brought
here. The rooms at Helm have
been closed-for what purpose? Is
there not an obvious conclusion?-
You are speaking of what you
called the Inner Cursor
Yes-that mystery which no one
has ever unraveled- I am convinced
tina. 1t is with that we have now to
deal It is probably the fountain
head Of the whole family secret.
IVA dfGnnaaaI
ago said, DO not seek to probe II.
It will not be well for you to do so.
Whatever 1t is, 1t affects the Bor-
radales only"
81 am a Borradale now" inter
rupted Esther.
"Yes-worse luck But sim
say-leave this mystery alone.
Come away with me tomorrow. In
my house you will be able tc sleep
in peace" As she spoke, Lillian
was assisting Esther in her toilette,
as she had been won't to do when
they were living in the city. It was
not till Esther was in bed that
Lillian prepared to withdraw to her
own room
Your Door f. Locked.
There, dear, try to sleep" whis-
pered the older woman consolIngly,
STOPPING down and kissing her
friend with real affection. Don't
be alarmed about anything. am
the lighhst OF sleepers, and the
least can will bring me to your
side. Your door is locked?"
yes" answered Esther family.
IT have always locked II since
these troubles began.
and 1 will lock mine-but we
will leave the door between our
rooms vide open, so there need be
nothing to fear. Do you burn q
light all night?"
"oh. yes. The little lamp on the
dressing table. 1t = always
brought to me for that purpose"
Lillian placed the lamp in its al
lotted position. blew out the can
dies. and was attending to the FIRE
when Esther suddenly cried,
Listen"
From some room, evidently not
far distant, came the sound of
stealthy footsteps and a faint Groom
ing noise as of some one singing
or humming a wordless tune.
81 hear 1t every night" said
Esther.
at sounds like a voice" said
Lillian. doubtfully. but II might be
so many things. Esther-quite
harmless things"
81 know II Is not that" said
Esther, clasping her hands together.
81 know II is what you say-some-
thing wicked and malignant for