OUR STORYETTE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 139, 31 January 1916, Page 4

OUR STORYETTE.

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THE HAUNHD HOUSE. Close to a drear, flat stretch of sutlolk coast, where the Blaekwash spreads in sombre shallows over the marshes on its way to the sea, there stood, years ago, an old crumbling manor house. The dwellers in the neighbouring villages knew 110 other name for the place then the -'Haunted House.'' At night they gave it a wide berth. In the daytime they cast looks of morbid interest at its frowning face, from which the paneless windows, like dead, sinister eyes, seemed to glower jii nacingly. Due morning Sybil Hastings, 011 her \.ay to "Waste Court,her uncle's f,trni* chose, of two roads which ran almost parallel, the grass-grown, lessirequented path which skirted the grounds of the "Haunted House." Looking back over her shoulder, as though anxious to avoid notice, she caught sight of the tall, muscular figure of Dick Fentou, who stood, apparently watching her, at the fork of tlit road, Sybil walked on, and Dick turned off down the main road, overtaking the girl at the point where the paths joined. There was a look of pleading deference in the young man's eyes as ho raised his straw hat that brought a slight flush to the girl's cheek. "Good-morning!" lie said, and faltered, i: r .r sure of his reception. Sybil returned his salutation coldly, and quickened her. steps with a Straight-ahead Icok that was unmistakable.

Dick bit his lip angrily, and fell to the rear. The two were not mere acquaintances, as might appear; but they fcad quarrelled. And the subject of disagreement which was making shipwreck of their happiness was the "Haunted House.''

He was irritated at her expressed determination to investigate thoroughly for herself the mystery of the "Haunted House," and she, 011 her part, was annoyed at his fears for her safety. ••If you know there is nothing supernatural about the place, why should you object?" she had asked. Accordingly, a few days later, in the twilight, Sybil set out provided with matches and a lantern, which she hid under her cloak. Beaching the lonely house, she walked through the stone courtyard to the back entrance, the door of which was swinging upon one hinge, groaning weirdly. She was not in the least afraid. ''Nothing can hurt me," she repented to herself, reassuringly, as the chill darkness closed round her inside the door. But she stopped and lit her lantern. Hie rays from it fell eerily, making the sur-

rounding gloom more apparent. Across the stone-tlagged kitchen she picked her way carefully, something moving at her approach making her start nervously. It, was only a fat toad crawling out of the ring of light. She picked up her skirts and went on down a long passage towards the front oi the house.

Suddenly, her heart gave a great bound. What was that ? .V sound, muffled and indistinct, under her lee:; she seemed to feel it vibrate through her rather than hear it. The next minute, however, she told herself she had fancied it, and chid herself for her childish fears. At the end of the passage a door confronted her. Sho turned the handle and paused suddenly, dazzled by a bright light that met iici with bewildering unexpectedness. A dancing flare, close to her eyes, almost blinded her, but as she stepped beyond it, she saw the dull, lurid glow ot a furnace. Tho red light fell weirdly upon indistinct forms, which, at her appearance, leaped iorward towards her. Three men, rough, brutal-looking, from whose lips, as their eyes fell on her slight figure, a hearse stream of oaths burst forth!

For an instant Sybil stood petrilied by the fear which clutched at her heart. Then, with panting breath, she turned to retreat. But she was not to escape so easily. As she moved, the men rushed forward, barring the way of retreat.

'•.Not so fast!" growled an ugly, red-haired fellow, laying his hand on her arm. "Them as comes spying here, stops here! Ain't that so. mates

His companions grunted assent, .surrounding the terrified girl with menacing looks. Sybil regained her power ot speech at last. "Oh, let me go!'' she gasped. "Please let me go! 1 I was only investigating !" ' Ho! ho!" cried the men in chorus. "She's only investigating! Who's along o' yerr" demanded the redhaired man. fiercely. "No one! Oh, no one!" she panted. *'l came alone. I only came to—lo find out all about the haunted house. Oh. please let me go. and ' will nevei j come here again!" '- "She'll never come here again!"! echoed one of lln 111. stiiliiim signi- \ fieantly. "No, I guess she won't!" i Sybil gazed round at the coarse, villainous faces, and burst into tcrnlied weeping. "Now shut that !" haw led a buiy. | fellow, who was running o'er to tiiej furnace. "Chuck yer I'm. down her | throat, Bill, if yer don't want the! bloomin' show give away. - ' A- ho j .spoke lie was hastily scooping .1 pilot oi glittering coins into a tin box. They | fell with a curious absence iu' iiiilt, which, had Sybil's mind been tree in: speculate, would have given her Iho : clue to the mystery ol th-ir ; - 'inc! in the house Bill caught the girl in his arms and.' ps she uttered a shrill scream, llu'ng his hand roughly actus* her mouth. "Stow that!'' lie exclaim l d. lien •!> . I "or I'll have to w riiiu yer neck !" Sybil's heart was fluttering wildly' in her breast as she struggled vainly j in the strong gri] ol her < aptor. \notlier half-suffocating cry escaped her. ''Lend us a handkerchief," called on'. | the ft How ; "we'll have to gag t he j lit;!- beast."

The red-haired lnau pulled Sybil rouglih in'.o the light and scanned h i ' with blearv eves.

"Sin;'- aptxiU nio:i-Ii ucii'li.' lie slid. "Suppos. wo li> r Lvorv time she \\ liii'o-— > on mid ilk'.. Hill, cli ? Think that'll •■iini liv'i mouth Svbil started I in k in t"ifi•!". At iiiuiin i!l the door was thrown ( OiKii a I'm; ii l- ' l.i - In il past I) r. ami the I

hot furnace, he went, dragging . with him. '•Dkk! Uh, cried Sjbil, rushing into the aims of her preserver. But he put her from him hastily. There was nnt a moment to lose. The redhaired man lay motionless, while Bill, cursing and howling in blind agony, was rushing from the place, dashing hot molten lead from his head and eyes. But, springing like an infuriated beasl upon Dick, came the third man. They grappled and were locked fast, each striving to overthrow the other. The noise of their hoarse, panting breath smote Sybil's ears with hideous terror. She sank cowering to th» ground, covering her eyes, while her soul seemed to leap out, compelling thg help, without which her lover must die.

Suddenly she leaped to her feet, darting over to the struggling pair and tlinging her arms round Dick's tfssail ant; clinging, clinging to the kicking feet, while the blood sang in her ears, and the sound of the man's curses grew distinct and faded away. Then, with a crash, the two men went down. Dick was uppermost, his hands at tho throat of the man under him. For life, and more than life, he held on, his fingers never relaxing his deadly grip, though his breath was coming in quick spasmodic gasps. Then, suddenly, the man under him grew limp, and the writhing ceased. A great horror overtook Dick; his hands fell to his side, and he rolled over, sick and faint. But the next instant he was on his feet again. Snatching up Sybil in his trembling arms, he staggered with her out of the place. The fresh night air playing on her face restored consciousness to her. She threw her arms round her lover's neck, trembling under his tender, impassioned kisses. "Oh, Dick! Dick!" she sobbed. "My hero!"' The coiners, to Dick's relief, were captured alive. Much as he loved Sybil he was glad to feel that his hands were free from the hideous stain ol human blood. (The End.)