Show EBONY WATERS ju by ANNA mcclure service copyright by W G chapman CHAPTER IX continued 23 25 well heres a man we believe to be a murderer in intention at least and we are leaving three defenseless woman with him wilton looked at his companions searchingly how are we to proceed to get berenice away without accusing gordon haskell Is to arouse all the engines of the law to support his guardianship to accuse him Is to bring on ourselves the burden of proof I 1 cant even prove that balder wanted to take my life you saw him threateningly above me but for all you could hear he might have haie been tatting talking to me on the waste water power in loftland Lost land ravine or on apple culture were in a tight box bos ourselves ought we to tell the authorities what we suspect we cant have him arrested he push the bracebridge children into the whirl ana we have absolutely no proof except the word of balder that be was instrumental in the trag ery its initiator its capitalist so to speak it may be a strange sentiment W wilton ron remarked but I 1 have a distinct aversion to knowing that her brothers and sisters were killed the added dreadfulness of realizing that their murderer was her fathers confidant her trusted guardian I 1 we want him to give her up yet it if we have a weapon strong enough to make him relinquish her we have one which reacts on our own conscience we have to accuse him publicly there was no gainsaying gain saying this its like looking at a murder out of the tall tail of ones eye it remarked arthur knowing some one has passed a window when yo you half see him he glanced through the window looked again with a blank expression pres slon that gradually changed to distinct horror wilton jerry he whispered theres a man looks like haskell coming up the lane blow out the lamp 91 CHAPTER X they sat close clos e together in III semidarkness only the red hot plates of the stove showing like disks of vermilion in the gloom you and mr fleming go into the bedroom jerry whispered iles hes comin hes colln right to the door keep him talking jerry just as long as you can well slip out and go 90 down to the academy and see if everything Is all right there keep him talking until we get a start you bet I 1 will I 1 in there with you behind the door they listened holding their very breaths in the suspense of the moment at last came two short raps and haskells voice quite thin and hollow and weary you all alone jerry here I 1 am all alone in the old kitchen jerry evaded with his usual hatred of a lie the matter haskell you look as if seen a ghost im worn out ive been hunting bolder balder do you know where he Is do I 1 know where balder Is how should I 1 know where he Is 1 I thought he might be up here passing the time of day he Is not where did you see him last he told me he be was going up tile the ravine to look for an ax as he left up there and he come back and I 1 need himl him I 1 a pity jerry said dryly maybe he Is still up in the ravine maybe he thought hed camp there for the night tha are I 1 you vo mad they heard beard haskell rd ou say dont t talk folly other people have camped up there little camps with flagpoles close to the whirl what are you driving at nothing I 1 take a seat and warm yourself im quite warm the fact Is ive been having a bonfire baurain burning up rubbish back of the old church I 1 you dont bayl say I 1 boxes and the be like several things that ought to have been burned long ago gone LOW how thank heaven jerry ive broken the will ive burned the tour four wax was figures when did you do that this evening I 1 had them carried down back of the church tile the old man who drives for me helped berenice and miss mercer were in their rooms and fleming went tor for a ion long 9 walk so tt it was a good chance I 1 did right jerry been too long a blight over the old house now gone maybe the pupils will come back it will be a relief to walk down that corridor in the dim light and know not in that room and wake up in the morning and know they are not at their eternal study always studying 1 now over dont be nervous haskell I 1 suppose you done what your conscience told you to after all they was only wax figures like killan human beings they heard confused sounds then got me water quick its my heart the dipper splashed in the water pall pail im better came a murmur but ill rest here jerry I 1 am very tired life comes to an end suddenly all you worked for Is like a rope of sand falling from you with every turn you make its bleak in the hills 0 C get me water quick its my heart jerry and that old academy Is like a prison 1 ill rest aw lille if you dont mind rest all you want the nights lights long in the next room arthur and wilton looked at each other and knew the moment had come does that window go up easy arthur whispered for answer wilton raised it arthur stepped through and wilton followed re closing the window softly once in the road they breathed more freely you heard him say he has burnt the figu figures reg yes what do you think th that at means 1 I believe he stand them another moment he know happened up in the ravine and hes nervous naturally wanders around as people do when they are nervous shall we tell berenice and janet about balder arthur asked not tonight anyway if we can mani manage ige I 1 am tor for taking the three women up to jerrys tonight they were approaching the old church the remains of the bonfire bonair inte lay like a great red eye aye sinking into 0 the earth throwing a light on the stark wall of the building let us warm ourselves a moment 11 not at that fire af but they paused by it nevertheless their faces taking on t the he crimson glow their weary bodies dr drooping a little ground wind fanned a few twigs into temporary life and the whirling wild little sparks went by them went on out t this arthur stooped over A bit of blue sash 1 here ill poke it in into to the embers I 1 feel as if I 1 had been witnessing a holocaust of innocence lets get away from this horrible place with all my heart I 1 believe theres wax sticking to my shoes they hurried up the hill As usual two lights burned on the gate posts of the great entrance gate this they found securely locked with the aid of a rail from a nearby near by fence they scaled the wall kicking the rail down as they went some one Is in drawing room look in wilton all t three are there mrs denver and berenice and janet fortunate 11 arthur came to the window and viewing the picture inside felt its contrast to the wild events of the afternoon and evening the two girls were seated by the fire close together as if for mutual comfort ring and knock both wilton therel there 1 heard you mrs denver rises 1 goedl I 1 hope our revered schoolmaster Is still quailing qu ailing under jerrys arrows the girls ran into the hall bet berenice straight to wilton delighted alarmed all concern for him you be here hell be very angry but I 1 am so glad to see you are you very cold come in by the fire I 1 only got up today we know where mr haskeu haskell Is said arthur calling on jerry its very fine and cheerful janet but I 1 dont think wilton should be so clearly viewed from the porch out there mr haskell may be back any moment 11 they stood irresolute why dont you go down in the kitchen mrs denver suggested ill keep watch the basement door Is open mr payne could slip out that way will mr haskell come in the front door he usually does you wont be afraid alone on this floor 1 I am only afraid of balder 11 wilton went closer to her and whispered do not speak of it balder was drowned in the whirl this afternoon mr haskell will be told in the morrill morning when we send men to look for theody the body she gazed at him for the moment speechless now how did it happen ile he lost his footing so the whirl got him she murmured the whirl got him why do you say that he was always saying in the kIt kitchen clien that the whirl would woul d get et him some day he liked to talk of it but but get others first he used to add TO BE CONTINUED |