her
ferocious, while Madaline clung to Jennie, without any pretense of
apology. Cleo was now peering at something behind the stained glass
door that separated the long living room from that adjoining. It was
not exactly a light, yet it passed back and forth and threw weird
shadows through the glass. She was wondering if the people kept any
other servant than Reda, who was surely not in the house at the time.

Scuffling about aimlessly, the professor suddenly dropped wearily into
a big oaken chair, and as Mary turned toward him she too caught sight
of the shadows now flickering through the leaded glass, with sinister
effect and creepy significance. It might be the shaded glow of a small
flash light.

"Grandie!" Mary gasped. "Who are they? Did Janos bring--anyone? Oh,
don't move! It may be a trap!"

"Mary, Mary!" he moaned, "must I leave you!" and choking sobs shook the
man so convulsively that Jennie dashed across the room and put her hand
on the trembling form.

"Sir!" she spoke almost in a whisper. "You must not fear any harm from
those wild people. We know they are trying to injure you, but the
little girls have found a way to help. We have a man and a car at the
door," she said close to his ear. "Can't you and the child leave this
horrible place at once?" She spoke quickly, in muffled tones.

"Oh, if we only could!" Mary sobbed. "Grandie dear, you are falling
ill! What have they done to you? I heard Janos threaten Reda!"

The figure in the chair was now sagging into a helpless heap. Cleo and
Grace, quick to sense the necessity for prompt action, had both hurried
to the door to call the driver from the car. Even Madaline forgot her
own timidity, and seeing a switch button for what she thought to be
lights, she crossed to the corner and quickly pressed a tiny button.
As she did so she felt something like a wire with a spool attached, and
almost unconsciously she gave the spool a yank. Instantly a flood of
light of marvelous brilliancy engulfed the room.

"Oh!" Madaline screamed, shocked by the glare and a queer sizzling
noise that hissed through the room. Jennie covered her eyes and clung
to a chair, but Mary jumped to her feet and stood staring silently at
the leaded glass door.

"Don't move!" she ordered.

There was a sudden crash, the sound of splintering glass, and then the
room fell again into the sullen light reflected only from the group of
hanging brass lanterns, the artistic shad