Henderson daily dispatch., 1936-12-26
10! B b 90? !! D! !!?Sl$ Y
VA COPYRIGHT ~ CENT
CHAPTER 81

several things were evident from
the state of Sylvia's bedroom.
There were no marks of blood or
signs of any struggle, and it
seemed impossible that Sylvia and
the two children should have been
abducted without rousing the
house or causing some noise. Then
the noise of carrying them, if they
had been drugged, surely even in
this storm must have given an
alarm? True, only Lady Sever
lnge slept in the front part of the
house and the rest of the house
hold were far away. But even
then? There was something all
wrong here. Why should the light
have been left burning? It seemed
more probable that Sylvia had be-
come alarmed either genuinely or
from nerves, and had taken the
children to another room. But
then, why had she not left some
message for Reid?
One thing was certain-he could
not rouse the household and give
the alarm, nor could he conduct a
search himself. If kidnapping had
taken place it was hardly likely
that the kidnapers would be so
foolish as to remain in the house
or, at any rate, in a place where
they could be found by him at this
time of night.
Grave as the situation was, his
duty obviously was to return to
Reid and find out what he knew
about the threatened danger, and
in any case he did not like leaving
the wounded man alone in the cot
tage.
He switched off the light in the
window, thinking grimiy that per-
haps the extinguished signal
might be seen by others, and made
his way back by the way he had
come. On the other side of the
lake he looked back at the silent
pile, like some gigantic monster
hiding it's dread secrets.s
Soaking wet and desperately
tired, he knocked softly at the
door of the cottage. Getting no
answer, he turned the handle, and
it yielded to his touch. Reid had
either been unable to reach the
door to lock it. or had tainted
away before he could do SO. He
was lying where Selden had left
him, his face flushed, and breath
ing heavily. Selden locked the
door, and quietly set about MAX
ing a fire in the old kitchen CRATE.
A damp steamy heat filed the
room, but the storm outside had
abated, and the sun was trying to
break through the watery clouds.
On~a- line across the fireplace the
wet clothes of the two men were
stretched forlornly.
Selden, wrapped in a blanket
and looking like a rather decayed
Red Indian, watched the face Of
the sleeping man anxiously. He
was flushed and moved restlessly,
muttering in his sleep, beset with
nightmare.
1.-THE sooner I get you into a
proper bed the better, my FRIEND"
he said aloud, and the sick man
opened his eyes. He gazed round
in half-aWakened bewilderment,
and then horror sprang to his eyes,
and he tried to sit up.
STEADY" Selden went to hiE1.
'How do you feel-bit stiff, eh?"
what has happened? Why
didn't you wake me? Is Sylvia
safe?"
Zone thing at time, old man.
You've had a nasty experience,
and the immediate question is
food. I want to get you to a
proper bed and into the doctors
hands"
'Never mind that" Reid was
getting excited and feverish.
Selden recounted his adventure
in the Abbey, stressing the fact
that there had been no sign of
struggle, and that the light had
not been switched Off.
Good Lord! And 1 was lying
here like a log while you were do
ing my job and Sisking your life.
But we must get to work at
once"
Nov listen quietly to me, Reid,
and don't get excited, or it will
mean fortnight down with fever.
We've got 70 discuss this affair
dispassionately, and hurry will do
no good. must get you some
thing to eat and drink, and I'm
pretty peclzish myself. BY this
time the people at the Abbey must
have found out that Sylvia and the
children have gone. What will
Lady severinge do? I can give
you a. good guess she'll telephone
to Raltchins. He'll be there this
morning investigating, and prob
ably wire for me. I shall come
down at once-do you follow me