Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 124, No. 2 — page 125: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

- known that Flora was in the study. THE His wife glanced toward the hall. “TJ think I’d rather sit here with you.” “Nonsense,” he protested; “ when you're worn out! I'll not let you stay.” He took the lamp frem the table, and after examining the fastenings of the win- dows and bolting the frent door, he led the way up the steep, old-fashioned stairs. Their bedroom was at the front of the house over the study, and as they walked the length of the hall together, his wife Nat until he had set the lamp on their bureau did he turn to leok at her. He saw then that she was staring back toward the hall. ‘‘ Shut the door!” she whispered. He obeyed, and to emphasize the quiet ef his own nerves he drew his watch owt of his pocket and began winding it. His wife’s face was colorless. “Arthur, did you see?” ‘“ Did I see what?” he parried. “There are blood-drops along the hall straight to this roem!”’ ‘ Yes,” Khe admitted. “I saw them. But have come up here at such a time.” ‘“ But no one did! them!” “The doctor very likely came up here for something.” She shook her head and sat dewn in the rocking-chair beside the window. Her face was quivering. ““ Ob, I try not to be feolich, but it seems as if this house would never be the same in. I feel as if I were always going to be afraid if a board creaked or a latch rattled.” She drew her breath unsteadily and looked away. joel ian’t guilty? Yeu said at supper—’ ‘Why talk ef it any more to-night?” he interposed. “ Because I shall just lie awake think- ing!” The minister slipped off his coat and hung it over the back of a chair. Then he wandered aimlessly about the room. “Well, for ene thing, Joel must have When they first, came he was trimming the grass SICKLE OF FATE. I should have heard “What makes yeu so sure — around the flower-bed outside the west window. From where be was working he couldn’t help but overhear every word that was said within. Even if he saw Flera run down the path later, he would never have chosen that moment to speak to Nathan Swain.”’ “ Then who—” “JT dont know. But another thing. That wasn’t joel’s sickle. You don’t find them often in the country, you knew. We use scythes. I don’t believe there are more than two or three in the whole village. Joel owns one, but this one he brought to-night belongs mm the cemetery. around the graves, and I’ve often seen it there. It has a split handle.” “ But mightn’t he have borrowed it?”’ “He might have, of ceurse; -but this morning he hadn’t. I was talking with him about enlarging one of the flower-beds, and I] remember picking up his sickle to show him how I wanted the turf cut. He had his ewn then,” Mrs. Grant suddenly started up from her chair, Her face was drawn with terror and she pointed to the deor. ‘‘ Arthur, see who's outside there in the hall!” He came toward her. “ You're only letting yourself get over- wrought Alice. There’s no one out there this time ef night.” “There is! There is! I heard some one Just now.” To prove to her the foolishness of such @imagmings, he walked quietly ever and epened the door. There was nething to be seen in the lamp-light, and he was about to step back when a queer rustling startled him. He peered out. At the head of the stairs hovered a figure indistinct amid the shadews. Its glance ‘seemed to be turned in his direction, for even while he stood looking, it shrank closer to the wall and started downward, hesi- tating at the first step, then moving more and more rapidly to the accompaniment of a fait, rustling sound. He tiptoed forward to the banister and leaned over, holding his breath to listen. He could see nothing in the darkn but a moment | in the at ; itGlia (O) ates COLM It’s used COlini