The Washington herald., 1920-04-19
Fiction Fancs and Latest Fashions Interest the Women Of Washington
Helene ManiedLife ?. go ssy sEs;s1rE

bow. so that IL fell with a crash q
the foor. the glass bulb smashed
and Immediately the light went out
The room was plunged in darkness
There was a sharp cry of raga
from the creature bending over m.
"a blow-and ] had wrenched my.
self away from her and out Of bed
Then began a dreadful game o
hide-and seek. often wonder how
IL was that my bronze-colored locki
failed TO turn white with the horror
OF that day and night.
could hear the soft pad-pad Of
her sect upon the carpet. The curi.
Gus part was that couldn't scream
for help. Ny voice choked in m,
throat. and not a sound would come
IL must have in reality been but
few seconds-though to me IL seem.
ed like hours-before I found tbs
handle of the door. jerked IL open
and dashed out to the hall.
There i ran full tilt into Alicei
husband, who was coming toward.
me with a lighted candle in. hh
hand.
Helene! What on earth's ths
matter? ! thought ! heard a souns
"a "lnoow opening
clutched him by the arm.
couldn't speak. / could only poin.
breathlessly in the direction ] hae
come. Every second ] expected
dreadful figure to hurl itself upor
US.
Helene. what is Il: Tell me
squick!" AIice's husband SPOKE
enfa1xF 4. 4
to arouse his household. But q
tenseness was in his tones. "PuE
yourself together. Helene"
a woman-a wild creaturo-iu
my room" ! gasped. "Oh. donG
go near her! She-shell murdeI
you"
''Nonsense.". came the quick com.
ment. I'm frightened of nc
woman. Here. hold the candle
Helene, and let's see for ourselves
Personally I'm inclined to think
you've had a nightmare"
| He switched the light on in the
hall as he spoke. and his right
hand slipped into the pocket oi
a dressing gown he wore. ] couIC
see a momentary gleam Of some
thing shining. $1,000.
And courage oozed back TO nay
veins. For the CLEAN was the bar
rel of a revolver, hidden in that
pocket.
| Outside the door Of my room.
which was open. he hesitatcd foI
! a moment.
Get behind me. Helene. So, Yes.
/ that's right. Now we'n go in anc
see who this precious visitor IS
Come on"
! He strode into the room. fol-
lowed him. "" lighted another
light. And nobody was there.
l flung a heavy kimono round
my shoulders.
The balcony" l cried. Look!
Look"
He swung around. The window
was still wide open. and IL sremoc
to me as though som.thinE moved
upon the narrow balcony outside.
But il proved to be only the sway
( ing Of the trees
Alice's husband now made a ;-cr-
ough search Of the apartm. 1T. INST
securely fastening IN, open window.
/ Every Granny OF my room VAS riEor-
ously investigated.
But nothing could he ind
| III IL weren't for the open vim
dow. Helene. I should again repeat
that you'd been dreaming" he said
at last, cycling me with troIbled
/ gaze. MY dear child. don't Sc
how / can possibly leave you and
Alice, with all these mysterious nap
reninGs going on in the neighbor-
/ hood. 1t isn't safe" lie flung A
! glance towards the balcony. "The
woman-or whoever the intruder
was - has evidently returned the
way she came. So you won't he
! worried again. tonight-
l shuddered This statem.rt
didn't soothe my mind al all I
| glanced tow ards the door.
Its just as likely that sHa
escaped that way. and is hidin- n
, the hall--or som, where in th.
rouse." MAS trembling with a
mixture OF cold. fatigue and fear
I ''Oh. ] m A Coward-but cculdL (
possibly go back to hed-Id die Il
/ fright"
This unheroic statement wrunE M
look OF condemnation from kiHdly Y
/ Mr.. Anstruther-as il might hav.
done from a less chiValrous TYP. q
man.
Come down to the diniuc-roo n
and have a glass Of wine. Heleag,'
! was all he said.