The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-05-15
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ready?
Even the worst would be bet,
ter than this continual uncertainty
and dread.
: But he wouldn't advise that. He
would believe her. He must!
At last she was at the house,
running up the steps of the porch.
Her heart pounded with thunder
Gus, quickcncd beats, and she
stood still ! amomcnt to catch one
long, strengthening breath. She
assured herself that there was no
need for fear now.
: But Sh" was afraid. For no
reason ut all, she suddenly felt
herself caught in 4 swift panic Of
dread, and she stood there, trem-
bling fro mhcad 90 foot, and her
knees threatened no longer to
| hold her weight. Why was she so
horribly afraid now, WIN it had
seemed 50 simple Il few moments
before?
She leaned against the pillar of
the porch, Steadying herself. Cold
chillS possessed her, and her
throat was dry. To save her very
life, she could have uttered no
word at the moment.
In an instant. the world had
gone completely still, and the only
sound was the mad pumping of
her own heart. But that was no
sound, that was Il feeling; and she
wondered if she had lots her bear
ing.
Upon the streets, there was no
steady hum of automobile motors,
no brief note OF horn, no foot
step of a neighbor. 1t was as if Il
warning finger had quickly been
raised, Silencing all outdoors.
Fro mwithin the house, there
came no comforting cough of an
old man smoking his cigar, no re-
laxing rustic of an evening news
paper, no creaking of furniture us
a body adjusted itself. Within
the house was only stiffness, the
enveloping. overwhelming still
ness of the tomb.
Only a second Joan stood there,
yet it seemed a vague eternity, a
second suddenly suspended indefl-
nitely with the infinite.
She struggled to pull her senses
together, to throw off this unreal
sonable, overwhelming dread. She
forced her thoughts into common
place channels, reminding herself
of her mission, and the hope 1t
held.
But her thoughts would not be
adjusted. Terror held them in its
unearthly grip, and all the hor-
rors of darkness EMBODIED her.
= 4" =
High above, the stars still
cleaned in a cloudiess sky, but
now their brilliance was harsh and
glaring, and as she lifted her eyes;
he imagination painted a weird
picture.
She saw an old woman, stupid
and bedraggled, bending over
four cards on a table. And in her
ears a harsh, cracking voice re-
sounded: "A tall, dark man. And
DEATH -.
Then once more, the trembling
seized her, and she knew that she
was caught in a power stronger
than life.
How long she stood there, she
did not know. Perhaps but a sec
ond. perhaps But of course 1t
was no time at all. The clock IN
the steeple had not chlmed the
quarter hour! it was still but a
few moments after midnight.
Gradually, as she thought OF
this, she composed her senses, ana
the terror subsidized.
II was nerves, she told herself.
Nothing but a case of nerves. For
so long had she trembled and
ouailed, that now this sudden
hope had overcome her. 1t was
as if her heart, lightened of its
load, had sought to burst Its
bonds.
She coughed lightly, taking new
assuransce from the simple sound;
She squared her shoulders and
walked across the porch, enjoying
the noise her steps made. How
foolish, to have felt so fearful!
She pressed the bell quickly,
and listened as it echoed and re-
oched through the silent house.
There was no answering note.
Perhaps Mr.. Hendry had dozed
for the moment, Abraham, she re-
called, went out on Thursday eve
nings.
She rang the bell again, longer
this time. Still within the house
silence reigned. She listened in
tently. Surely the sound must
have awakened Mr.. Hendry; his
hearing was exceptionally keen.
For the third time, she rang the
bell, holding her finger on the
button. Soon the sound would
awaken the entire neighborhood,
she thought. Mr.. Hendry must
certainly have heard it, if he were
inside.
She started. Perhaps he was not
home yet; perhaps he was still
down at the Inn, sippin ganother
brandy and soda in solitude! Why
hadn't she thought to phone there
first and learn if he had left?
1t was not too late, then. She
might still catch him at the Inn.
Or she could wait. She could sit
right here on the doorstep and
wait for him. She wasn't cold any
longer.
The light in the living room dis
turbed her, however. If Mr.. Hen
dry had not come home, why