Part 56 (1/2)

A maid there was in the North Countree; A sad little, lone little ht seemed fickle and all untrue As he rode to war at the drurew, Her spinning wheel groaned and the threads wove through; It groaned--It groaned--It groaned and the threads wove through

”What a stupid little song, after all!” I exclaimed ”Surely therecoerly, no further sounds broke the stillness of the night save the sobbing andof a friendly owl in the forest behind

CHAPTER XXV

The Ghoul

Nextover Golden Crescent like a spider's gigantic web all a-drip with dew

My visitors of the previous night had gone three hours ago I had heard the up stea out of bed so early to see the s there _was_ no s watching and nursing over a good-for-nought like me! Ah, well!--I shall breakfast first then I shall pay s I have done that I ought not to have done,' and all will be well”

I hurried over that porridge, and bacon and eggs I dressed with scrupulous care, even to the donning of a soft, white, linen collar with a flowing tie

”Surely,” I reasoned, ”she can never be cruel to me in this make-up”

When I started out, all seemed quiet and still over there at Mary Grant's

With a feeling of disrupting foreboding, which dashed all my merriment aside, I quickened my footsteps

The ere closed; the door was shut tight I knocked, but no answer came I tried the door:--it was locked

”Why! What can it be?” I askedeyes lit on a piece of white paper pinned to the far post of the veranda It was in pencil, in Mary's handwriting

”George,

”There is yet another battle for you to fight I a away

Please do not try to find out where, either by word or by deed

”Golden Crescent will always be in hts Some day, maybe, I will come back