The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-09-05

lefts which was the Interior wall.
was n large and beautiful fireplace
with high. marble mantet
The room showed no sign OF dis.
order or OF violence done there. yet
sight OF the room itself amazingly
disturbed hcr. She did not know
why. az first; she merely felt fright.
ened as by something uncanny.
ASA. I've been In this room. I've
never been IN this house before, but
I've been IN this roomi" Ethel ex.
claimed.
"fsss- Asa inquired. unable 10
comprehend her.
IL was plain 20 her that this room
once had been part OF French
building. French OF tho sixteenth
or seventeenth century. rthel's
recognition Of this partly explained
her impression OF familiarity here.
when she was child 1T her aunt'a
chateau. aunt Cecilia had taken hor
on visits 10 chateaux OF many OF
Uncle Hiiaircn friends. She might
indeed have been IN this very room
before. II was hopeless for her 70
try 60 recall from her memories OF
when she was five ana eight.
Her mind was not now dwelling
upon what might have been her own
association with this room. What
was Barney Loutrclie'sf Ito had
been sent across tho ocean 20 the
room Whyf
She moved nearer the man,ei and
ganed at the design lneisod over the
fireplace: II bore a dignlrcd. formal
device iike--ycs, very ike-thc de-
vice wrought upon Barney Lou.
trellc's ring.
They searched the house thoroiy.
No ono. LIVING or dead. was In tho
house. nowhere had they come upon
sikh OF violence or indication Of
cause for Barney Louireiic'a disap.
pcarance.
Where's he gone, Asaf- Ethel
appealed finally.
How do l know tho Indian re-.
turned ifritahly. and Ethel Rpprecl
ated that his nerves were on edge.
She heard scratching at the door
and, remembering the dogs, she re-
called the brown mat in Lads hair.
-Let them in. Asa she directed
When the door was opened and
the dogs ran in. abe thought that
they rushed into tho salon because
she was there. but Lad only brushed
against her on his way 20 the fur-
Their end Of the great room. where
he thrust his head down and smcIlcd
Of tho floor. whimpering and scram.
bling about In a circle.
Lass Numbered about near him 70
excitedly that Ethel followed 20 see
what WINS there. only 20 find a space
OF bare. vanished floor. Hut her
interest stirred Lad TO leap upon
her and dash 20 the door on tho
south which communicates with tho
outside steps down the Rock TO the
summer landing.
when abe looked thru the glass
OF this door. Ethei observed for the
first time that those steps showed
the depressions OF deep footsteps.
Tho dogs jumped into tho snow
and floundered down the steps 10
tho ice. where they shook themselves
and rolled over. barking. She was
fearfnily expecting that Lad was
leading her 20 tho sort OF horror I
which abe had believed 20 be IN !
tho house. where she came upon 1
chunks OF leo standing beside a
hole. about a yard In diameter. |
which had been chopped thru 20
the water.
Young leo had frozen over. not
yet half an inch thick. she kneif
and leaned forward with her hands
on the edge Of tho hole. pcering
down thru the new. CLASSY crystal
into tho dark. deep water under.
meath. She felt footsteps on tho
floor Of ice and. looking about. she
saw that Asa. after some delay. had
descended from the Rock. He came
10 her side and gazed into the hole.
water hole he said quietly.
''Baglcy chop II here yesterday 70
IN buckets Baglcy did not chop
Il so big
yes. that's n: why7 why. Aaa7'
she cried. suddenly losing control OF
herself why should any one want
that hole bigger
Nobody would" Redbird assured
positively. FOR water"
no" she said. mo. no. nor' She !
meant. first. agreement with Aaa:
then revolt NJ. and denial Of. the
images IN her own mind. The In.
dian and she now understood the
same events alike: Asa. indeed. had
discovered more than she.
What kept you up there7- she
asked him.
He said he would show her: and
together they assembled the steps in
.ssNEe ~