Montgomery County sentinel., 1935-05-02

"Janetl Berenicel Where are you."
Not to frighten Mrs Denver by a
too sudden appearance from that
summed room. Wilton waited until the
light had passed the door and her
footsteps indicated that she was far
down the passage; then unlocking the
door. he stepped out and called her
name softly.
She turned. holding her lamp out to
see him better. "lfr. Payne-Pm so
frightened Something terrible" her
voice faltered.
us he in the house?"
mo"
"Is he coming back?
I-don't know
did he say where he was going"
The look of fright came again into
her eyes as she whispered, yes"
The others stole out of the school
room. They waited, standing close
together in the dim passageway, while
the rising wind echoed about the an
cient place, and an old, yellowed map
on the wall near them oscillated in the
draught. They waited, but did not
speak-and did not look at each other.
At last Arthur moved restlessly.
HE didn't find u.s." he whispered to
Mrs. Denver.
but he did find you. You were all
in this room" She pointed fearfully
to the empty schoolroom.
"Tho haSomonf door moe IooI>od ~
thought this the safest place"
HE must have locked it. You sat
at the desks" she went on, her voice
trembling.
'sYes."
"You didn't raise your headsT
"No-but Of course he saw u.s."
"He did. indeed-and he thought"
"Yes," Wilton interrupted, not look
ing at Berenice, "in that dim light"
WED better go upstairs" she whis-
pered. They followed her silently
through the hall into the drawing
room. She put down her lamp on the
handicapped table and said, "Sit
down. / think it is safe now"
"What happenedT Berenice asked.
II heard him coming up the stairs
like a man pursued, and yet he was
walking only a little quicker than
usual; but he was ghastly pale Mrs.
Denver he said as came out Of the
drawing room, They're all down
there'
my heart was in my mouth, for
felt then he had discovered you, and
he looked so wild and dreadful that
did not know what he meant to do
next. All of Them he went on. 'AllP
asked. Yes, the four figures He
was getting into his overcoat. They've
driven me out at last Where are
you goingr l said. You dreamed you
saw them. You burned them who
told your he asked. frowning. 7 know
you burned Them evaded him.
They've come back he said.
"'Where are you goingT
sup the ravine-to look for Bal
DER and he was Off before could an
swer him."
"If he's gone-you do not have to
CO." Berenice said to Wilton.
Moved better all sit here and
watt" Payne answered her; but he
had a curious instinct that Gordon
Haskell would never re-enter the old
academy.
They talked in low whispers, softly,
happily, with feeling all shared Of re-
lease, freedom, the very enchantment
Of freedom. The old place grew
quieter, settled into profound peace;
even the wind went down, ceased to
harass the easements and to whisper
along the empty corridors. After an
other hour, Wilton proposed that Ber-
enice, Janet and Mrs. Denver should
20 to their rooms. He and Arthur
would watch all night.
They divided their night; then ut
last both slept in their chairs before
the dying fire. They were awakened
by a pounding and ringing at the
front door.
Jerry stood there. 1.-TWO bodies
have been washed down." he an
nounced solemnly. "And here I am
again, after thirteen years. to tell of a
drownin'. woodsman found 'em as
he was crossin' the ravlne near the
mouth. Balder-"
"And Haskell" Payne finished.
"How did you knowl"
"He said he was going up the
rayine to look for Balder."
"When?"
"About 10 80 last night"
"What sent him up at that hour?"
"He wanted to get away from this
house."
'I should think he would" Jerry
commented. But she need never
know"
'Berenice need never know any
thing-of the real facts" Wilton an
swered, his voice softenlng. "when
this is all over / think-I hope-that
she win be very happy"
1.-THE ENDI