The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1944-10-12
CHAPTER XII

81 thought perhaps you would
MT come back!" Shaking and
weeping, she was in his arms.
~Tell me, my darling" He held
her close to him. ''Odette," he
said desperately. 'It's so fright
fully important to have conf
dence between you and me Es-
pecially just now. Tell me all that
frightens you"
Only two more nights before
she committed the supreme crime
against her country and her soul.
81 haven't anything to tell"
said Odette. ''Men always think
women are on the verge of some
ridiculous confession or other"
Did he or did he not wish he had
never met her, he wondered, af-
ter she had gone. While Odette,
flinging herself face downward on
her bed, began to sob again.
Mrs. Manvers-Pollock heard
Odette creep out of Mr.. Wynter's
room and go to her own. Mrs.
Manvers-Polock drew the cur
tains back and pressed her white
face to the glass. Shivering, she
started back and drew the cur
tains again.
The following night Alfred made
an excellent job of the wire. But
he uttered a little scream as
voice spoke at his elbow. made
a good job of it, Alfredo"
eyes, sir"
eyes, that's all right" Fergus
said. Il should get along home
now if I were YOU"
eyes, sir" said Alfred, thank
full to be off. Hell Hitler"
''Heil Hitler" Fergus grinned.
He was pretty certain the boy
was to be trusted, but all the same
it might be a good thing to find
out. Not that it would follow that
Alfred was double-crossing him
if Wynter answered to a signal.
He might be on the alert on his
own account for any signals. If
only he could put that man out
of the way. Fergus suddenly felt
reckless. Carefully picking his
way down to the beach, he sent
out a low continuous whistle.
Mrs. Manvers-Pollock heard it,
hurried across the room, crept
down the stairs and out the front
door. In her dazed mind she
thought only of the sea. Somehow
it was connected with John Wynn
ter. Coming, coming :" she
gasped out the words as, brought
up short, she struck out wildly
and then went headlong over the
crumbling cliff to fall with a thud
at Fergus Letters feet. In his
sick terror he did not wait to
look. With criminal speed he
climbed to the top, picked up the
discriminating wire and flung it
over the cliff. AS though death
was at his heels, he made for the
hotel.
And later he limited at this.
'Your wire has done the trick,
Alfred" he said later. "And if
you don't want to hang for it, keep
your mouth shut. We shan't hear
of that beggar for some time.
"Good night, my boy, sleep well"
Good night, sir" Alfred wiped
the perspiration from his top lip.
Gone-Mr. Wynter gone! Dead
killed by him. He, Alfred Cum
mings, was murderer. He rush.
ed out of the back door with the
wind driving him back. Careless
of consequences, he beat at the
front door of Pole Star House.
'Come in. What do you want?"
Grace spoke angrily.
''Mr. Wynter-" Alfred gasped.
Halo, Cummins." Johns eyes
were calm. Taking the shaking
boy by the shoulder, he shepherd
ed him into the empty sitting
room, and shut the door. 'This
won't do" he said. "You mustn't
show your feelings like this
What's the matter?''
81 thought you were dead, %
said Alfred, with staring eyes.
Dead, why?" Johns quick
brain leaped. The wire; some
thing had happened.
''Mr. Letter, he came home
pleased. Done in the beggar,'