The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1922-12-21

s
Some way, he felt less hopeful of sue
cess. He recalled In his mind the d.
rections that Linda had left, wonder
ing IL he had come to the wrong win
dow. But there was nc chance OF a
mistake in this regard 1t was the north
ernmost window In the east wing.
However. she had said that she would
be confined In an interior room, and
possibly the Turner's had seen no need
Of barriers other than its locked door.
Probably they had not even anticipated
that Bruce would attempt a rescue.
He leaped lightly upward and
slipped silently into the Except
for the moonlit square on the floor 1t
was quite in darkness.
He stood a moment, hardly breath
Inc. But he decided it was not best to
strike a match. A match might reveal
his presence to some n In an adjoin-
ing room. He rested his hand against
the wa1l, then moved slowly around
the room. He knew that by this course
he would soon encounter the door that
led into the interior rooms.
In y moment he found 1t. He stood
waiting. He turned the knob gently;
then softly pulled. But the door was
locked.
There was no sound now but the
loud beating OF his own heart. He
could no longer hear the voices Of the
wind outside the open window. He
wondered whether, should he hurl all
his magnificent strength against the
panels. he could break the lock and
Ii he did SO, whether he could escape
with the girl before he was shot down..
But his hand, wandering over the
lock, encountered the key.
1t was easy, after all. He turned the
key. The door opened beneath his
hand.
IL there had been a single ray OF
light under the door or through the
keyhole, his curse would have been
quite different. He would have opened
the door suddenly In that case, hoping
to take by surprise whOsoever of the
clan We're guarding Linds. To open q
door slowly into a room full OF enc
mics is only to give them plenty Of
time to cock their rifles. But In this
case the was In darkness, and all
that he need fear was making q sud-
den sound. The opening slowly
widened. Then he slipped through and
stood ten GREATNESS seconds In silence.
LINDA" he whispered, He waited
a long time for an answer. Then he
stole farther into the room.
Linda" he said again. TITS Bruce.
Are you here!' y
And In that unfathomable silence he
heard a sounds sound So dim and
small that it only reached the frontier
of hearing. 1t was a strange, whisper
Ing. eerie sound, and 1t filled the room
like the ~faintest, almost imperceptible
gust of wind. But there was no doubt
ing it's reality. A living creature oc-
cupied this place Of darkness with him,
and was either ~half-gagged by q hand
kerchief over the face or was trying
to conceal Its presence by muffling it's
breathing. Linda" he said again.
There was q strange response TO the
calling Of that name. He heard no
whispered answer. Instead, the door
he had just passed through shut softly
behind him.
For a fleeting instant he hoped that
the wind had blown 1t shut. For it is
always the way Of youth to hope-as
long as any hope Is left. His heart
leaped and he whirled to face 1t. Then
he heard the unmistakable sound Of a
bolt being slid into place.
Some little space of time followed
In silence. He struggled with growing
horror, and time seemed limitless.
Then a strong man laughed grimly In
the darkness.
So