Show 10 9 AV A V mm RIM BONY iff WA r R pa 3 to ili jaki wah annie 0 0 0 0 0 0 kiy W 0 akim 13 I 1 WIND sort I 1 c SYNOPSIS on her way to a position in lost land academy janet mercer buercer Bl ercer youtie professor of english literature and rhetoric meets on the train a young man arthur fleming also on his way to tho the academy as professor of mathematics and chemistry at the railroad station elation they meet sirs mrs jD denver enver engaged as aa matron ot of the academy tho the group Is struck by in an air of mystery pervading tho the school building haskell the proprietor ra tor etor welcomes them wilton payne 1 ne teacher of psychology completes the faculty janet witnesses from her wind window ow a meeting between haskell and a man of un prepossessing appearance but evidently high in haskells confidence in tho the schoolroom she eho finds a group croup which tho the teachers had supposed were ere scholars are really highly ar wax figures CHAPTER II 11 continued 3 terror of these figures began to air in janet terror of them in heir immobile beauty their ever asting pursuit of an education that mould never bo be finished their halt half wistful secretive smiles as over some iome inexplicable memory she bean to move from them dragging ler ier feet as in a nightmare and turning her head constantly to look at them lest one of them should rise ind follow her and try to detain ler ier the horrid fancy faded and is she fhe neared the door a great pity ind gentleness replaced the fear it was ivas foolish they knew nothing not bing et she must step softly not dot to them from their trance of tudy she peered sli the glass loor ioor into the hall no one therel there jut some one might be watching ind waiting for her exit to spring apon her or to follow her with heir eyes up the curved staircase ro fo be seen and not dot to see was dreadful Ire adful she crossed the hall as f great weights were on each foot fool ind the pursuers would soon be her up she climbed and for i moment stood in the moonlight hat streamed through a window at he head of the stairs then real zing that this was a conspicuous position tion ion she moved on to the shad w just as voices reached be her I 1 rom below one of them was la and he was saying in a tharp whisper take those hor ible figures down in the basement El alder if you ever dare play a trick rick like that again ill horsewhip ou peering over the banisters she saw the gorilla man enter the schoolroom haskell stood guard but ut he seemed to shrink back the wall as his servitor merged with one of the wax war fig ires under his arm lie ile carried it nonchalantly as janet had seen uch figures in department stores arrles about and returned after a ime for the others she did not wait to see the these SO transfers ran but went quickly down the corridor and seeing a if light 9 ht inder mrs danvers Den vers door she spoke her name softly and wits was it once admitted ive been downstairs I 1 felt I 1 dust know what kind of a place ye ve are in did you see eee anything those four scholars were still a the schoolroom study studying oh the cruel man danl i no they are wax figures icax wax figures why dread ull do you think he means to geraer churder us she added incense ahat what Vh at object would woul dalie jie have in murdering strangers nol no theres something here less simple than aliling innocent people then there are no scholars P only four wax ones so far urs mrs denver are you willing to see it 1 through after all we really know nothing its stran strange e but strange range things are riot not always I mInal lets see it through 61 1 agree with you I 1 was never one for running away my dear you fou had better try to some dileep 11 I 1 1 I intend to she stole back to her room the ouse lay now in profound silence ut still she had the uncanny sensa lon on that the quiet veiled a sinister activity speculating on this she ell all asleep bisbe was awakened next morning ay iy a faint tap at her door then a olce miss mercer may I 1 see you 8 i soon as possible she recognized it ns as arthur lerol emings yes tes in about a quarter of an hour 1 l ill be waiting at the end of the asage 11 when V she joined him he stood by window to in the morning light with hamlet who seemed deep in ills us lie he and arthur both go aked at her curiously wel liow how do you feel about it ow IV arthur asked why do you ask ail 1 nod and I 1 are wondering it if a 6 ought to let you stay on here you really think theres dantry tr t rt ye 7 what kind just it payne remarked we dont know I 1 hate to use a misused word but I 1 nm am what Is called psychic or at least I 1 am sensitive enough to scent a sort ot of menace in this house the gods of destiny are here she salil said listen to my adventure slie she told them the story ot of her visit to the schoolroom ali ah you have hae gone down there it was dangerous aayne said gravely you should have asked me I 1 saw at once that the figures were wax why you tell mel me why alarm you but fleming anti anil I 1 talked half hair the night about it if do you remember what the old farmer said that it would be easler easier to come here than get awall away what lid did he mean paine shook his head theres something queer about the place that he knows and we dont well vell have to talk this over later arthur said looking at his watch let us stop at mrs den aers door and it if ashes ready go 0 downstairs together janet knocked mrs denver she said gently there was no answer they knocked louder a draught from the window perhaps swung the door it softly opened the occupant of the room was not there lot let us go down too payne said its a quarter to eight I 1 should think hungry pupils would be waiting breakfast the silence reigning over the great house was profound really keally arthur remarked this Is getting on my nerves they descended the main staircase and stood uncertainly in the hall then janet looked through 7 the glass door of the study room the figures were absent ah breakfast turning they saw their principal with a fresh flower in his buttonhole and an air of amiable concern for their health did you yon sleep well the first night in a new place Is always trying miss bliss mercer you look somewhat pale A cup of coffee I 1 prescribe for you at once lie ile led them to a really bright and pretty breakfast room flooded with the morning sunshine the white paneled walls and bright chintzes chint zes were like a guarantee of normality even wilton began to wonder if they had not been overexcited midway of the meal janet put down her fork with a sudden realization oh where Is mrs denver has she breakfasted long ago agol I 1 she Is a very soldier that little woman I 1 foresee reveille at six taps at nine mr wilton payne more coffee have you in your psychology studies tabulated the effects of 0 caffeine and other drugs upon human conduct for example the actions of the sarae same person begun on a day without coffee personally I 1 should not be responsible for my actions on a lay day initiated without this wonderful coffee bean more eggs miss mercer they were all feeling better half ashamed of 0 their suspicions are all new teachers favored with breakfast with the principal on the first morning janet ventured to ask where Is the general dining room of the faculty oh miss bliss mercer merce r we are the faculty N e cozy four I 1 am a linguist a historian ive delved deep into the ancient ramifications of the unfolding spirit of man you tou teach english literature and rhetoric my good friend wilton payne psychology arthur fleming mathematics and chemistry are not all the arts and sciences at least by proxy prosy represented of course with receptive pupi pupils 1 a four teachers can do vi wonders onders arthur commented but we are very anxious to meet our pupils you speak of 0 pupils mr flem you speak of 0 pupils mr flem ing in this respect also the academy Is ahead ot of the times what would you consider the most important element in education arthur reflected for a moment quite intent on the honesty of his own answer regardless of consequences quen ces 1 I should say sir development of character cliar acter the making of splendid citizens and you miss mercer her smile had the fleeting lovely quality of a wood nymph pausing to answer an intruder from a dead and settled world 1 I should say gay all education should make people more enchanting and enchanted As she uttered the words her eyes met arthurs in one of those glances between two young people which are like a dissolving scene in the theater almost they held their breath with the wonder of it they were to be here together through the long autumn dais hidden from the world with an extraordinary binary chief and education turned perhaps perli aps into real magic the education of the heart beart as well as the head bead enchanting and enchanted the schoolmaster repeated ali ah iou on show bour our own theory in yourself miss mercer now payne pay ne education a drawing forth of the soul educe lead forth how shy souls arel are 1 I congratulate myself on my discernment cern ment in choosing three young people of such advanced views in education now has anyone tiny any objection to teaching a handful ot of day scholars who come from the neighboring farms it Is a most beautiful charity I 1 assure you for the young things belong as a rule to families too poor to send them to bl hiigli h school or colleges and they are avidly eager for nn an education Certa certainly iDly we vre would be only too glad payne answered quite sure that lie he spoke for all of 0 them to have students eager for education a teachers mind exactly cut but there Is one pupil of of another class berenice Ile renice bracebridge the youngest dau daughter abter of the file late doctor jethro bracebridge ile he paused impressively as it if the announcement must change their entire conception of the state of affairs in loftland Lost land academy it Is chiefly tor for her that this whole arrangement exists I 1 am her guardian and the sole trustee of the estate and under the terms of 0 her failers fat fathers Lers bill she Is to receive her education at Lost jostland land academy until she comes into control of her own fortune at twenty one I 1 have undertaken much of her education myself the aid of various governesses to comply with the spirit of the all it if not the letter but lately she has demanded certain subjects on which I 1 have no do hesitancy in saying j I 1 am not an au authority now you see the reason for your high salaries I 1 really could 1 I ask specialists on these subjects to bury themselves in these mils hills tor for the sake of one young girl it I 1 ts its good to make things live lovely and intelligent as she Is and since you are in loftland Lost land I 1 wanted the farmers children to share the advantages which you are bringing to berenice janet felt acute remorse that she had so misjudged this man who could throw open the doors of 0 the old academy to boys and girls stranded on these hills 1 I think that Is most kind and generous of you he waved his hand to indicate that it did not signify you will not find berenice difficult though of course she has had very little of the usual life of young girls stay may I 1 ask a question sir tills this from arthur As many as you like are you a relative of miss bliss B no the fact Is I 1 was the adopted son of mrs henry haskell of california and I 1 took her name when I 1 was about twenty seven my adopted mother became tho the second wife of 0 doctor jethro bracebridge and stepmother to his five children of whom berenice was the youngest and then four years old I 1 was an instructor lo in a western college but my adopted mothers marriage led to my taking a position as t teacher h of foreign languages in this academy which thirteen years ago was in a very flourishing condition ue He paused and looked about the circle with his keen restless eyes 1 11 I I 1 presume there were then a number of deaths payne said yes doctor Brace brIdges long illness arid and a number of deaths doctor bracebridge e did me the honor to rely on me to trust me hence lie he smiled rather wearily tills this strange situation A rather lonely girl to be educated in a great academy to comply with the terms of a rather singular will though of course all wills are singular to some one As trustee I 1 do not receive enough to keep this great place la in order but aou ou turn it into what it was in the days of 0 its glory no theres an obstacle lie said stubbornly lie ile looked at his watch well tiny any more questions do your pupils ever study by moonlight sir ile he turned quite pale oil oh ill explain that circumstance very slight very odd jet it lias has held up the whole situation here not now its after nine and I 1 think I 1 heard the day pupils coming in the side entrance As they cannot pay much they tend the vegetable garden in the summer and two are told oft off to look after the two furnaces and to bring coal up to the cook in winter now it Is nine and we begin work at nine lie continued you take the study with the glass door miss mercer and mr payne you will turn down the hall to the right as you face the staircase and the first door aou QU come to will be your schoolroom and next nest mr rl flemings emings we haie haic thirty pupils lach each of you will me baie ten for one hour and teach three hours at a stretch at noon you will have recreation until one and the students a study hour at one lunch will be served here tor for the three ot of you at two the students who have their lunch in another dining room will begin three forty five minute shifts of reciting back to you what you taught them in the morning and you will give out tasks to be done in the evening in their homes and by berenice here that will bring us to about in the afternoon or allowing tor for inevitable delays four making about five teaching hours a day from four on your time Is your own where Is the library asked payne across the hall ball from here ill show you lie ile led the way to a room which janet thought gloomy in the extreme but ut it was well stocked with books which payne examined eagerly then they went to their respective classrooms in hers bers janet found a number of boys boya and girls at the clumsy desks and among them a girl she was most eager to behold berenice bracebridge who would janet thought have arrested attention anywhere by her singular type of beauty She seemed to beof those who look proudly out on life but are not proud a slender aloof creature her features where had janet seen the upper lip the thick lashes the delicate skin the abundant fair hair the eyes with their expression of wanting to understand something which they could not understand she rose gracefully as janet entered and looked about on her fellow students they seemed to be nice boys and girls and they rose rather uncertainly following miss Brace bridges example 1 I think were all here bere and we are very glad to see you she said half shyly janet was unaccountably nervous and she felt a certain uneasiness in her pupils their eyes wandered to the corridor even when ben she was sure they were most nt attentive tentie 1 in a rather shaky voice she opened her subject a kind of prologue of the glories of english literature from chaucer down tho the hour came to an end quickly As berenice passed her desk she held out her hand thank youl you made things live its good to make things live janet felt relieved grateful almost happy again she left her platform and went to raise a window higher when she returned other pupils were entering her room and on her desk lay a folded note addressed simply the teacher she slipped it into her bag for gordon haskell baskell was approaching in hla his quiet way which reminded her of 0 a leopards movements nis his sleek shining hair his dark eyes and rather elongated rounded nose emphasized his appearance well how did you get along very well thank |