The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1927-02-04

turning, going and returning. Ha
ne STAYED, and what f0rt Tha
question revolved with the pictur
OF the boat.
she thought of telling Basset
and gave that up-with the polio
expected she could not get hin
alone. and why add TO his burdel
with her suspicious? Yes, that wal
what it was-nothing but q susp1
cion. She had no certainty; 10,
might have been in the boat, JOt
might have got off the island some
other way. Tomorrow something
might come TO light that would
make these hideous fancies seem
! like the dreams of delirium. That
was the state of mind she tried to
maintain when she went upstairs
and overheard a man was on guard
at the causeway.
With that knowledge her outlook
changed. Her passive role was
over. If Joe had done ii and If he
was on the island he would try TO
get off at low tide. 1t was safe
TO assume that he was outside, hid
den till the causeway was open. To
go out to find him would be use
less, he would neyer reveal himself
TO her, and if she was seen suspi-
cfon would instantly be aroused.
She must get somewhere that
would command the causeway and
its approaches. The best place
the only place-was the living room
entrance. From there she could e
In all directions. the balcony end,
the kitchen wing. the pine grove.
She would try TO wave him back,
possibly get TO him-she had TO
take her chances and trust to
Heaven.
The tide was at full ebb at mid
night. At a quarter before she
made ready. She took from the bu-
reau a book she had been reading
If she met anyone she could say
she had come down TO find it-and
opened her door with the stealth
of a burglar. A dead silence
reigned as she stole down the stairs
and into the living room.
At the entrance, pressed against
the door, she looked out. IL was 4
world of white enchantment, breath
still. She could see the pat
termed surface of leaves. the cracks
and assures OF the rocks. Below,
the channel lay almost bare, pools
glistening like dropped mirrors,
mounds of mud casting inky shad-
ows.
She could hear the murmur of
the mems voices from the open IT,
brary windows, and like the thrOb-
bing of a muffied engine, the beat
ing Of her own heart.
Into that deep e~nvelopin2 qut-
etude came a sound, SO faint, 20 in
f1nitely small and hushed, that only
ears could have caught 1t.
1t came from the room behind her,
and turning, she slid back against
the wall, her body black against it's
The sound continued,
the opening Of q door opposite, the
door into the kitchen wing. 1t
no door In the world had
opened SO slowly-creaking,
stopping, resuming, dying away.
She could see nothing, for the dark
of the gallery lay impene-
over that furtive entrance.
There was a footstep, light as
the fell of a leaf, and she saw him
toward her in that high lu-
minous pallor from the windows.
He was like a shadow, so evenly
dark, a shape without detail, m0v
ing with a shadows n~ofseless
passage. She saw the outline Of
the cap on his head and that he
his shoes In n hand.
She came forward with q hand
for caution, sending her
voice before her in an ag0nized
whisper:
60 back, Joe. The c~auseway's
watched. You can't get over that
way. Got"
He was gone. a feet flying, van
back into the darkness IN
Ter the gallery. Out of il came the
soft closing of a door.
The room swayed, pale light and
darkness swan and coalesced. She
anew she was al a table and put
)ut her hand to steady herself by
t, something solid to hold TO for
me minute. The polished surface
lid under her fingers and she
out with the hand that held
he book. The book slipped from
Ter clasp, fell with a thud like q
.hunderclap, and a grasping snatch
@ save 1t swept a lamp crashing
o the floor. Panic dispelled her
iaintness and she made a rush for
he door. She had gained 1t. Her
clutched round the knob,
Is she heard the steps of the men
the hall and knew it was too
ate TO escape.
They burst in, thrust into the
.oom's dim quiet as if shot by a
last.
IT'S nothing" she called, hear
ng her voice thin and hoarse.
Nothing happened. It's only Anne
The lights leaped out and she
then, Bassett with his hand ON
he electric button. stricken still,
tH4S va! aitG tHHt. Ills eyes
ound her first, backed against the
DOR, a small green-clad figure with
aslen face.
"NNhat's this mean?' said Raw
on.
"Nothing." She was afraid the
would rattle with the shak-
Nc Of her hand, so let it 90. II
pset the lamp in the dark, l didn't
ee it, that's ALL"
"What were you doing hereT'