The Elk Mountain pilot., 1921-08-18
New Romdncc OF tho Storm Counfrt9

He slept soddenly for an hour or SO
and only awoke when servant raped
at the door and told him dinner was
ready. He was too Ill to get up and
lay staring hopelessly about the room.
Then suddenly out Of the shadows in
the corner fioated Tonnibel Devon. He
groaned and turned slowly in the bed.
Instead of getting better he was get
ting worse. The ghost of DevOns
daughter was haunting him in every
one of his sober hours. He hated
Ithaca and every one in it. If DR..
Paul were dead
He sat up. his head whirling. He
crawled to the floor. went to the bath
ter. Then he sent a servant for a
pot of strong coffee.
So happy was DR.. Paul to have Ton
nibel back that he insisted on sitting
up to his dinner
''It was a long hour, my dear" he
said. smiling. But I'm glad you went
out. He's nice fellow. Philip. My
brother and / have often wished our
young cousin would pattern after him,
Ddl IL OotS sctiii US IL nOtlllns Ot
done with him. Even his mother has
no influence over him."
I've never seen him." stated Ton
nibel.
Hes scarcely ever at home" an
swered DIR. Paul, land the worst of
1t is, he gives no explanation as to
where he goes"
Then after dinner as usual Tonnibel,
with Gussie Piglet in her arms, read
when she arose softly and began to
prepare for the night. By the even
breathing of the man on the bed she
knew he was asleep, and as quiet us
mouse she crept about softly so as
not to arouse him. The suite directly
back of Paul Pendlehaven's had been
given to her. She went into her bed
room and made ready to retire. Then
over her night robe she drew light
kimono.
She turned of the electric switch
and stood near the window looking
out. Her heart sang with gladness.
She had but to hearken back to the
afternoon to hear a dear voice telling
her of a great love, love for her. Ton
nibel Devon. How very much she had
to be thankful forl
Suddenly she saw the tall tree d.
rectly in front of DIR. Paul's room
shake as If giant hand were clutch
ing at Its roots. How could that be?
There wasn't any wind, not even a
breeze. Her heart jumped into her
throat as she crept away from the
window and back into Pendlehaven's
room. The little night lamp glimmered
dimly above the small table with its
load of medicine glasses. She stood
in the shadow and peered through the
screen. There among the dripping
branches was the quiet figure of
man.
Her mind went Immediately to her
father. but she put the thought of him
away, for the form In the tree was
much more slender than Uriah Devon's.
DIR. Pendlehaven still slept. his face
turned toward the wall, and Tonnibel
squatted down at the foot of the bed,
keeping the dark figure in the tree in
the line of her vision. She dared not
leave the room, nor dared she call
out. How often DR.. John had told
her that his brother must be kept free
from shocks Of every kind. For an
other ten minutes she leaned her chin
on her hand, still keeping her eyes
on the window. Then she saw the
flutter of a wistaria branch against
the screen and knew that the hour
had come. Another tense silence for
several minutes. then a little scraping
sound as II a sharp instrument was
moving over wire. Some one was try
ing to get in. Tonnibel crawled for
ward on her knees until she was d.
rectly in front of DR.. Paul
She sank back against the bed and
waited.
The scraping sound at length ceased.
With a forward shove of her head,
Tonnibel saw that the wire netting had
been ripped fully foot, and then she
saw hand move little by little
through the opening, until long arm
was fully inside the room. Tony
watched 1t. fascinated. Then she saw
it waver toward the table, pause. open
and lay some little pellets down with
out sound. Then long white fingers
drew OFF the covers of the glasses
noiselessly and picked up the pellets
one after another and dropped them
silently into the medicine. AS quietly
the covers were restored, and the arm
slowly withdrawn. Directly beneath
the window, Tonnibel rose up.
There through the faint light she
was staring into the face of Reginald
Brown. Instantly she recognized him,
and all the terror of that day when he
and her brutal father had placed a
menacing shadow over her swept her
nearly OFF her feet. Reginald had come
not only to harm Paul Pendlehaven,
but to get herl
Stand by, Salvation Of the Lord"
shot across her tortured soul. and then
rsxt l.