Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-08

gazy's misdeed. the accident, the crl-
sis in AleXandra's case, and the posi-
bility OF romance developing be-
tween her and Brodeur-these, joined
to the doctors explosive tempera-
ment and hot temper, knew, all
might be brewing the elements OF
some stupendous tragedy
felt the thing loom up agains. me
on OF the night and storm. alone
stood at the center Of things, inform
cd OF ALL aware OF all, striving to cope
with all. and by my own resourceful-
ness and strength-now sadly spent
hoping 10 avert disaster and bring all
to a successful end.
A shudder passed through my body.
A sudden weakness strOye TO over
come me. felt sense OF loss, of
helplessness. as II meshed in the
strands OF the web OF fate itself and
the temptation keenly assailed me to
desert the acute and growing tension
OF impending catastrophe,
knew | could escape. | could put
on my hal and coat, steal away out of
the house and vanish could aI least
save myself
With start aroused myself to
duty
If we all get through this alive it
will BE- Il miracle OF miracles" NUT
tered 10 myself walking slowly down
The hall in the glow Of the fire. 1T
may be death for all of us. |, too, may
fall victim when The disaster
strikes. but here | am, and here
stay. Perhaps may yet save The
situation who knows"
All at once the other side of the
picture appeared to me- Why, after
all. talk Of catastrophe? What reason
had | for such dire forebodings? Now
that ] stopped 10 analyze none.
Shaken nerves and lack of sleep -
these and these alone We're respon
sble for my grim predictions.
sought 10 laugh away my fears
and started TO return to Alexandra in
the ward. would look in on her first
then prepare the doctors coffee All
would YET be well.
SAY. doctor"
Old Mrs. Spragg's voice from the
diningroom door behind me brought
me round with start and stood fac
irg her. my heart throhbng wildly,
iny nerves ajangle.
For Heavens sake, wha, are you
doing here ! exclaimed anerily. II
told you 10 stay upstairs, dtdn'i H."
Lana, sakcs." he old woman an
sword Such dOin's never did see
in all my born days. What is This.
anyhow. crazy mouse" flgh,in' and
Swearn' outside, and hen somebody
comes in and bangs The door. and
throws things round ana folks DE-
ladin up and down at AN hours
cal'latc I'm goin' TO know whots
what come down the back stairs tC
see "llal UP,
My son Joel, he says. say he, we
wun't stay another day 20
"S.h-h,'
we wuntl, tell YOU. We aiut
Obliged 10 work for no such passed
al 81"
seized hold OF the Old dame and
thrust her bodily back into ,hc dining
room
CO." ! commanded Tomorrow
We will get new help. Now of 10 bed
with YOU. and keep your chattcrins
old mouth shut"
Amazed. She stared al mo a moment,
then snapped her bony fingers in ny
face and vanished. Mrs. Spragg had
Il peculiar and disconcerting habit OF
vanishing. She yemindeC me of the
little figures in bsrometcrs that swing
back irto their houses and disappear
Such silent, ghostls, disappearing
creature | never yet had known. With
her Cadaverous, lean face, her blink
inc wal.eyes, and sunken mouth, sh"
worked powerfully on my already
oyerwroughl nerves. i little more
and believe | might have used VIC
fence on her, yes, and on Joel, too.
More shaken than ever, returned
to The ward. The incidents OF the pas
few hours, Joined to the steady drive
of the storm and he eery isolation OF
the ghostly old house. were enough TO
have upset a stronger woman than |.
seemed to he living and moving IN
a world OF strange cross purposes dis
ordered doings and unreal events, PEG
pied by irrational beings. feIl my.
self near the verge of complete break
down; only with an effort painful in
us intensity, did calm myself as
once more approached the patient
Upon nly shoulders alone now
weighed the terrible responsibility of
hearing all these burdens. My fingers.
and only mine, could untangle the
twisted knots Of this strange fabric
woven BY fate and flung upon Us all.
Alexandra was lying much rs Ind
lct her, with dim light from the
single frosted bulb shining upon her
face The mirror lay on the coyctet
near her right hand She scsaed
asleep,
AT fret glance ! though, her just AZ