Montgomery County sentinel., 1935-04-04
Anna Mcclure Shon
Copyright by W. q. Chapman
WNU Service
CHAPTER vIII-Continued

russed the future over the fire In Ber-
enice's bedroom. They sat there. too
conscious Of the recent death in the
other. They had locked both doors,
even secured the windows.
"Do you blame me, Janet, for want
ing to marry Wilton at once? After
all, what could Mr.. Haskell do If /
did marry without his consent?"
"What does the will say?"
"Simply that l must have his con-
sent. But, Janet, don't think my fa-
ther ever really knew Gordon as we
know him-or else he has changed ter
ribly with the years. My father trust
ed him absolutely. In the event of my
death he inherits everything"
"Ah, in the event of your DEATH"
"Why do you look at me like that,
Janet?"
"My dear, want you to livei"
"Of course! l have everything to
live for! Do you feel danger here"
"No premeditated, plotted danger,
perhaps, but something sudden; the
L
lieve Gordon Haskell would stop at
nothing to force you to marry him."
1T is not the day Of marriage by
capture. What l am fearing is that
he will dismiss Mrs. Denver and you
and Arthur suddenly as he did Will
ton, and l shall be left here with him
and not even Mother Martha to pro-
tect me-"
"Berenice, when that day comes
you'll go with us. There's something
savage in Gordon HaskelPs nature. l
can quite understand why your high
spirited brothers and sisters resented
the man."
Berenice laid a hand on Janet's.
"Listen-do you hear some one in the
passage? thought heard some one
breathing at the door,"
Janet glanced fearfully toward 1t.
1.-THE wind, probably-what is that bit
of white?"
Against the dark sill was outlined a
tiny white triangle. Janet cautiously
drew it from under the crack-a little
three-cornered note without address.
"Berenice, it must be for you"
"Some one knows our secret"-she
passed the note to Janet, who read:
IA tree Is not safe letter box Is
that Mr.. Haskell's printing-you can't
call 1t writing!"
II can't tell-it's either Balder's or
Gordon Haskell's. But how foolish
and how detestable. Janet, I'm sorryl
I've tried for years to feel that Has
kel was kind and generous and fine
but never quite reached the point.
Sometimes l almost reached it, then
he would do or say something to up
set my ideals. I'm sorry. wish we
could go at once-but it seems cow
ardly. too, to run away"
1--WE won't go until the situation is
desperate"
mo more notes! They've probably
read everything that care!"
mo. dear-why should you care?
He's wrong-not you."
While this conversation was in prog
ress, Arthur was at his desk in his
own room, resigned at last to its curl
GUS noises and creakings. His wood
stove was glowing hot; and he might
have felt certain cozy contentment
had he not been worried over the stu
alton Of affairs In the school. That
Haskell was preparing coup seemed
quite within the bounds of possibility.
The rustling Of his papers sounded
very loud in the silence Of the room,
and he desisted from this attempt to
clear his desk. and Lit his black pipe.
Poor old Wilton" he thought, "out
there on the moors with Jerry, and
psychology gone to glory. If he takes
my advice he'll steal Berenice and run
with his prize to Onteaga-the rest of
us after him-wild arms out, eyes pop
ping! Lostland behind us like night
mare! We might have known when
we arrived at that station called Blade
that something was wrong. Hear that
mousel wonder what Mrs. Denver is
doing?"
AS If in answer to his question there
came a knock at the door. 1t was
Mrs. Denver with lamp in her hand.
He and Balder are quarreling again."
she whispered. II heard their voices.
l couldn't tell what they said. 1 felt
afraid"
He took the lamp from her hand.
Don't be frightened. Well move down
the corridor a bit, and If we hear any
Thing violent we can go up to protect
the girls"
1t was cold and draughty in the
hails, and even the runner of carpet
was lifted and moved by intermittent
gusts. Open doors on black bedrooms
ADDED to the gloom. They paused and
listened. Far off they heard a peal Of
diabolic laughter, like a man plunging
INTO the night with jest, or into a
cauldron with a qulp.
What Is that shadow on the WALTZ"
Mrs. Denver gasped breathlessly.
Just the high-backed chairl Lis
tenl Keep very still"
Again the laughter, which Arthur
tnought the most unpleasant he had
ever heard--a black. dancing cadence
or notes; imps leaping up and down
ana pulling faces at appalled, eyes.