Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1921-05-19

passes. Let her 20 If she wants TO.
she'll come back about midnight and
ten as an about il and everybody viii
he happy.
So the crowd continued Its chatter
apparently forgetful of the obstinate
Cordelia. But 8ne man was moody
and silent. This was Jimmy West
lake. He did not like the idea OF Cor
delias being out alone, even though
the ruined house was on her own
property and there was nothing to be
unprecedented from tramps or other
providers Of the night. His solieitude
was not entirely based on disinterest-
edness; Cordelia had tong ago en-
tangled him In the meshes of her at
tractiveness, but he was by nature
silent man, who did not show well In
the company of the more brilliant II
shallower. group that surrounded Cor
della. So he had never spoken.
As the hour wore on toward half
past eleven Jimmy's uneasiness in
creased. Finally he could bear IT no
longer, and with a word Of excuse
about going out to the garage to see
about something he had forgotten 70
do to his car, he slipped from the
room. Cnce outside he headed for the
haunted house.
The broken edifice was ghostly
enough in the pale moonlight, with its
crumbline walls, glassless windows
and shattered door The weeds grew
rank and unkemgt all about il. He
stole cautiously up the path To the
doorway, and even rs his foot touched
the worn sill he heard muilled Shrek
from within Every nerve on fire he
rushed through the Uttered hall and
came TO a door from behind which
came sobs mingled with an unearthly
clanking sound.
1t was locked, but his shoulder sent
it crashing inward and he found him
self In a room dusty with the accu-
mutations Of years, in which the
moonlight filtered dimly through dirty
panes in one corner a huddled heap
Of white which he knew to be Cor
della; and across the floor something
black and shapeless was moving ac-
companied by that ghostly rattle
Jimmy's nerve was good, but even
he was shaken for a moment. Then
reason reasserted itself, and he kicked
savagely at the thing It leaped away
with a snarl, and the moonlight fell on
ia small dog with a collar from
which dangled few feet Of rusty
chain
In his relief Jimmy laughed aloud,
and took two strides to where Cor
della crouchcd her hands over her
face. At the sound Of his voice she
looked up, then suddenly sprang to
her feet and threw her arms around
his neck, hiding her face on his Shout
der.
"Oh, Jimmy, Jimmy I'm SO glad
you came! I'm so glad Oh, it was
dreadful! Please, please take me
awayw
Even when he explained that It was
only a dog she refused to be com.
forted, shuddering against him and
begging TO be taken home. He helped
her outdoors, ana in the open air She
found relief I'm tears. Somehow jim
my's shoulder seemed a good place MS
repository for her grief, and she
wept unrestraWedlv with his good
right arm ~,@lng her close. And as
she realized her need of him he felt
surglug through him his love for her,
and then ami there. ON the path that
led TO her house he told her all that
his heart had ached to express Her
tears ceased hut She did not draw
away from his protecting arm. Al
the threshold OF the house they
paused. From within came sounds of
laughter
And you were the only one to
think Of coming for me !" murmured
C0rdelia.
81 had to come-something made
me. / had 10 come because-be,
cause"
Because what, JlmmyT
Because Of what | said before-be-
cause l love you and have always
loved you. Cordelia dear, you do
care, don't your"
"Oh, Jimmy I'm so glad / was fool,
ish and willful and went to that hor.
rible house l might never have
known--just think, might never have
found out that you love me, and that
and that love you, Jimmy"