The Cry at Midnight

KING

face of the crystal clear glass, a multitude of d

ned the monk. "Do you no

has becom

nt it will clear. N

. Nothin

pper impatiently. "You are resisting the

ll. "It's no use," she said finally, pulling her eye

standard on which the globe stood

thing!" she g

monk, steadying her as she swayed sligh

nguish objects now," Pe

mself before the crystal globe, he pl

ested. "What would you lik

wthorne for me," the in

d face looked grotesque as light from the tal

ilence had fallen upon the three, and th

ise. Though the occasion should not have been one for alarm,

h of icy wind. Somewhere beyond the room a door had o

g. Oblivious to all else, the investigat

one stepped on a loose board as he crept along the passagew

sound was n

ered her full attention upon the monk. As one hypnotized by the gl

sh and roar of waves. Ah, a beach! On the sand are two bathers-one a girl of perhaps sixteen or sev

pon Mr. Ayling's face,

speaking in a trance. "Over her shoulders is flung a dark blue

was drawn as if by a powerful magn

oor moved outward. Then a hand appeared between the b

pon her. She felt an overpowering impulse to lau

be real, she told herself. Yet those cur

man figure. Last of all, a face, ghostly pal

little older than herself, standing half wrapped

at the one who crouched in the doorway was the same girl she

ght. "It couldn't be the sam

lips as if commanding silence. Then the draperies we

ndles on either side of the crystal ball to flicker. Again Pe

s stuck in her throat. Had her i

Father Benedict, whose back ha

e a man walking through a lonely wood. But what is this? Evil person

me! They leave him lying on the ground. The man is dying-d

his glazed eyes, Father Benedict leaned

e apologized. "What I

drink of water and lighted

a more natural tone. "A reading al

e," said Mr. Ayling. "How would you in

his very moment are enjoying a pleasant vacation i

Florida, but she bought

ere," replied the monk. "You se

to resume my search in Flor

he used to polish away an imaginary speck on the crystal globe. Then he covered the standard w

imed Mr. Ayling.

t, great harm-perhaps death, will pursue the man who walks alone in the woods, unless h

to find Mrs

own well being, you mu

hy

sent to me that you may be saved from disaster. The