The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-12-23
A Scream Heard in The Night

i ~ xAx 4 AN NA6AAS
prospects are very happy. No one
but mself knows how happy.R And
she smiled again but with an ex-
preston which recalled to my mind
Sinclair's fears.
| But before l could answer she
was surrounded and dragged off by
knot of young people.
! l found Sinclair ct last in his room
sitting with his head buried in his
arms. He started up when l entered.
"Well?" he asked sharply.
81 have learned nothing decisive" :"
"Nor l."
II exchanged some words with
both the ladies and I tackled Beaton.
But the matter remains just about
where it was 1t may have been Dor
othy who took the box and it may
have been Gilhertine. But there
seems to be greater reason for sus-
pecting Dorothy. Sc lives hell of
life with that aunt"
"And Gilbertine IS on the point of
escaping that bondage. l konw, l
have thought of that"
"Bue the doubt" he cried, "the
doubt! How can l go through this
rehearsal with such a doubt in my
mind? l can not and will not. Go
tell them l am ill and can not come
down again tonight. God knows you
will tell no untrutns."
ut will be unwise to rouse COM
ment," 1 said. "If that box was TAX
en- for the death it holds the one re-
straint most likely to act upon the
young girl who retains it would be
the conventionalities of her position
and the requirements Of the hour
Any break in the settled order of
things might preclpitate tne dreadt ui
event We fear. Remember, one turn
of the hand and all is lost"
"Frightful," he murmured, the
persipration oozing from his FORE
head.
"What a wedding eve! Walter, Walt
er, don't you see that even if that
cursed box remains unopened and
nothing ever comes of it's theft, the
seeds Of distrust are now sown thick
in my breast and l must always ask:
"Was there a moment when my
Young bride shrank from me enough
to dream of death? That is why /
can not 90 through the mockery Of
I this rehearsal"
"Can you go through the ceremony
of marriage?'
81 must-if nothing happens to-
night"
Later he went through the rehear-
sal very much as had expected him
to do, quietly and without any out
ward show of emotion.
AS soon as possible after this the
! company separated, Sinclair max
ing me an imperative gesture as he
went up stairs. knew what it meant,
and was in his room as soon as the
/ fellows who accompanied him had
rleft him alone.
/ "The danger is from now on" nc
cried, as soon as had closed the
door behind me. II shall not undress
tonight"
i "Nor l."
j "Happiiy we boti have rooms by
ourselves in this great house. l shall
put out my light and then open my
door as far as need be. Not a move
in teh house will escape me.
81 will do the same"
"Gilbertine-God be thanked--is
alone in her room. Little Miss Lane
shares it with her"
"And Dorothy?"
"Oh, she is under the strictest
bondage, day and night. She sleeps
in little room off her aunt's. Dc
you know her door?"
Why was l on my feet? Had
heard anything?
yes, stir, faint stir somewheres
down the hall-the slow,cautious
opening of a door. then football
l-or had I imagined the latter?
could hear nothing now.
Pushing past my own door / look.
ed cautiously out. Only the pale face
of Sinclair confronted me. Advanc'
ling, we met in silence. For the mo.
ment we seemed to be the only per.
sons awake in the vast house.
81 thought l heard a STEP"
whispered.
"That is what I heard" was hi:
murmured protest, "what I hearc
was a creak in the small stairway
running down at the end of the hal
where my room is"
"Next instant his face, and I have
no doubt, my own. turned the color
of clay and Sinclair went back reel
ing against the wall.
A scream had risen in this sleeping
, house--a piercing and insisten
scream such as raises the hair ant
:. curdles the blood"
(END CHCAPTER IVY