Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-02

bade her. Il command ii, | am real
" very well able TO watch with YOU
while longer. Andre vii! be here 10
relieve me in 4 few hours al he ont
side
Alexandra remained quiel mo
ment. then wrote again
What was the noise The contu-
sion?"
= had 10 break in Fltall's door &c
reach him"
Il understand. 1t is well viii
rest Il little"
She became passive again. Relieved
10 have got this ordeal over with no
i'll results. | now inspected the instru
ments.
RAYS. humidity. and heat all were
correct But when turned TO exam
inc the slass.case ON Alexandra s
left arm felt certain uneaslncss.
It was obvious that Il distinct change
had taken place III the conveyance
Of the p0lychromaiic lines What
CouIu II poTlellu
Anxiously studied the lines. They
nov clearly showed tendency to
meet. Their parallel character had
been entirely lost, and without any
question of doubt they We're prom
Using TO cross within a very short time
no more than a few hours at the
outside.
\ prcmOni,ion OF vital happenings
now close at hand swept over me The
very hum of the ray'apparalls that
filled the all of the hidden room
seemed omnous with news of this
critical moment which |, all alone, 80
feared to meet
Desperate, telephoned Gramercy
99672. but was unable to reach Andre
or get any news of him whatever. The
number simply did not answer. The
situation was one well Tilted to alarm
anybody
one doctor missing. he other
drueged and helpless, the supreme
moment drawing swiftly on and
left there alone, spent. weary, and un-
ner>ed, 10 face il in all it's imperous
need
thought TOR a m0men, Of summon
inp Mrs Sprasg. but Immediately
dismissed Tie idea. She could do nc
good and might work endless i'll.
Whatever should befali now in
ease Andre did no, return in time ]
should have to handle ,hc situation on
my own responsibility and fight my
way through as best might
Thus | waited half an hour --- I'm
hour-and more. carefully keeping all
The conditions adjusted in strict &C
90 dance with the instructions given
me. But ever moro and more appar
ent became the tendency of the red
line, the blue and The black to cross
at the dreaded point The poiSt which
should announce TO me- thai !. unaid
ed and alone, must Immediately IN
dertakc TO usher the butterfly ouj oi
her chr}sais.
This was the contingency con
frOnled This the situation so greatly
dreaded Responsibilities far heyone
any | had thought To assume in ac
Ccpling the position were now TO 1T
forced upon me Results affecting IN
entire human life, perhaps the whole
world. were to be- left in my hands
The prospect was enough 10 haN'
alarmed woman even stronger thar
Ten O'Clock came and went All al
once Aleyandra's hand moved again
took the pencil. and wrote:
Tell me, doctor, what is his
fecl?''
| read the message with alarm.
moment | was at q loss for a reply
But ! managed to say
Feel? What do you mean? Are
your symptoms disquietin2"
No, not that she answered
Only strange"
How so?'
Il can hardly tell. But | seem f
be so different now. sense 4 kind o
Iightness, a glow, new and strans'
sensation. II seems as though some
thing perfect were very, very near
could find no answer. AnXiousl,
peered at the long paper strip. Tit
lines were now converging more AM
more markedly. Ny heart began
throbbing painfully again. Obviousl.
the critical moment was at hand, o
would be before midnight and now
seemed to feel that midnight wonll
not bring Andre.
The WARNING of Andre himself re
Cured to me:
AT ire crucial moment no tim
must be lost summon us in all hast
ii we were not present. We must b
here in person You alone canno
handle the case. You understand tn
perils of disaster now
shlddered. lie had hidden m
summon him but how could | do tn
impossible? He had coniured me +
let them know when the lines shove
signs OF meeting and had warned N
Of the instant need of action at tina
limc-~bul now that the moment VA
at hand both men had failed me.
For once in my life sensed a dept
of terror which never yet had know
existed in my soul. The hour {