Lincoln County leader., April 11, 1913, Image 6

T(Eroracles of
1
ir.on
Cqpyriy, 6y U
THE TERROR
IN THE SNOW
(Continued.)
"Sorry to disturb your dance," said
Peace, beaming upon him.
"Beg pardon, air, but you startled
me yes, we was 'aving a little dance
In the servants' 'all; but It's of no
consequence, sir."
"A slippery floor, eh. with so much
French chalk on it?" t
The young man glanced at the pow
der on his shoes and grinned.
"So you are all dancing In ' the
servants hall, are you?"
"I believe sq, sir, barring Edward,
who Is waiting on the party, and Mr.
Henderson."
."And whero Is Mr. Henderson?" '
"He Is the baron's man, sir." I
should not presume to inquire where
he was. Beg pardon, sir, but are you
staying here tonight?"
."This is a Mend of mine," I Inter
posed. "He will stfy the night; but
you need not trouble about that
now."
"A "smart fellow like you can keep
his mouth shut," continued the In
ipector, sweetly. "You wouldn't fco
Ehoutlng all over the bouse If you
were let into a secret now, would
your
"Oh no. sir; on my word I
wouldn't."
And so Peace told him of the pro
jected arrest, of the murder, and of
his own identity. The color faded
from the young man's cheeks, but be
stood stiff and silent, never taking, his
yes from the little detective's face.
"And what can I do, sir?" he
asked, when the tale was over. "He
was a good master to us, sir; what
ever there was against him, he was
good to us. You can trust me to help
catch the scoundrel who killed him If
I can."
"I see this room Is warmed by
team heat Is that the case with all
the bedrooms and passages?"
"Yes, sir. The only open fires are
In the reception rooms. When the
baron made the alterations last year,
they left the grates for the sake of
appearance; but they are never light
ed, save on the ground floor." .
"And In wbat reception rooms are
there fires at the present moment?"
"The dining-room fire has died out
by now," said the young man, tick
ing o!f the numbers on his fingers
"But there is one In the big hall, one
in the library where the party Is
playing: one In the little drawing
room, and one In the baron's room."'
"And the kitchen?"
"Of course, sir, one In the kitchen
and one In the servants' hall." .
"That Is all. Are you certain?"
"Quite certain, sir."
"Good; and now for the bath
rooms." "The bath-rooms, sir?"
"Exactly."
"There are two bath-rooms In each
wing; some of the gentlemen have
tubs in their own rooms besides."
ALL MADE A
CONTRIBUTION
Entire Family Determined That Petted
Sister Should Have What
She Had Desired.
Clara Is a north side miss who is office, and, handing Clara a package,
very fond of outdoor amusements, and 8aJ1: "Here, Sis, you're a pretty good
this means that it takes lots of toilet Bister. Here's four bottles of Blank's
preparations to cure sunburn . and sunburn chaser. I braved a depart-
keep her generally presentable. Clara ment Btore for you today."
watches the "sales" on her toilet ao- Directly after the presentation
cessories, for mother has taught her speech of big brother, In came father,
to be economical. and with a father's prodigality for his
"Oh, dear I" exclaimed the daughter only daughter, he handed her a pack
recently, "It Just keeps my pocket- age with the remark: "There, daugh
book flat buying stuff for my face and ter, I know you can use Blank's toilet
hands. I wish some good fairy would lotion In quantities. And, If a fa
leave a couple of bottles of Blank's ther can't buy bis daughter eight bot
on my dresser." There was a sale on ties without a murmur I don't believe
the preparation the next day and he thinks much of his little girl." In
Clara got a bottle when she went dlanapolls News,
downtown. .
When Johnnie, who Is going to high He Was Out
school, came home that evening he Customer "I wish you'd show me
brought a bottle that he bad bought the thinnest thing you have In a blue
with bard-earned 19 cents. serge suit" Floor Walker "I would
Mother came home from downtown with pleasure, sir, but he's out to
and going up to her daughter! room lunch Just now." Judge.
d
Or. CMPMIH
"Now I think we know where we
are," said the inspector, briskly. "No
chance of the roulette party breaking
up, Is there?"
"Oh no, sir; not for another two
hours, at least"
"I want you to return, Mr. Phillips,
and try your luck at the tables for
a spell." be said, with a quick glance
at me. "It is now 11:30; be back
in this room at 12:15. I am going to
take a walk around the house with
our young friend, here in the mean
while. The baron had a secretary, I
believe?" '.' ; . : .
"Yes, a man called Terry."
"Bring him . up with you when you
come. I shall want 'a talk with him.
Is all quite plain?" ..
"Yes," I told him,; and so we parted.
When I stepped Into the roulette
room I stood for. a moment blinking
at the players like a yokel at a panto
mime. The scene was to me some-
HE HAD BEEN. WINNING
thing unreal, a clever piece of stage
effect, with its flushed and covetous
faces. Its frocks and Its diamonds, its
piles of sparkling gold, and the cry
of the banker as he twirled the wheel.
How could they be doing this with
that bloodstained patch on the cliff
edge, with that . unknown horror
slinking through the snow how could
they be doing this If they were not
acting a part! An odd figure I must
have looked, If there bad been any
one to notice me. But they were too
eager in the game to hear the opening
of the door, or to see who went and
came. I walked over to the fireplace,
lit a cigarette, and watched them, my
nerves growing steadier in the merry
clatter of tongues. They were all
there, the men and women of that
careless house-party, all there save
one who lay silent wherever they had
laid him. '
Half an hour had slipped by, until,
Bhe ut two bottles of Blank's toilet
lotion on the dresBer. "There, daugh
ter," she said, as she patted her on
the back, "look what a nice mamma
you have."
Big brother came home, from the
at last, with an effort, I walked to the
table and threw down two sovereigns
on the red.
It won, and I laughed at the mel
ancholy omen; not, perhaps;, without
an odd note Id .my voice, for the man
over whose shoulder I leaned to gath
er my winnings glanced up with a
startled expression. It was young
Terry, the secretary; the very person
I wanted to see.
"Anything the matter, Mr. Phil
lips?" be asked. "You're not looking
very well."
"Don't worry about me," I told him.
"But I want a word with you la pri
vate." "Certainly Just one moment"
He had been winning heavily, and
It took blm some time to crowd the
bank notes Into his pockets. A sover
eign slipped from his fingers and roll
ed under the table as he rose; but he
paid no attention to It . . .
"I have something to tell you. Can
you come up to my room?" I asked
him.
, He hesitated, looking regretfully at
the table, where -Fortune had been so
kind to him.
"It happens to be rather Important"
I said.
He followed me without -. another
word. I did not attempt to explain
until we had passed up the stairs and
through . the corridors to my room.
He seated himself on the great bed
with a shiver of cold, drawing the
heavy curtains about his shoulders.
And there I told blm the story from
the beginning to the end, biding noth-
HEAVILY.
ing, not even my belief in the super
natural nature of the thing which I
had seen.
He never moved, but his face grew
so pale and drawn that towards the
end it seemed as if it were a pow
dered mask that stared at me from
the shadows of the curtains.
"My God!" he cried, and fell back
upon the bed In a passion of hyster
ical tears. .
I. tried to help him, but he thruBt me
fiercely away, so I thought it best to
let him get over it himself. He was
still lying on the thick quilt,, sobbing
and shivering, when the door opened
and. Peace stepped Into the room. I
explained the situation 1n a hurried
whisper; but when I turned again
Terry. had got to his feet and was
watching us, clinging to the bedpost
"This is Inspector Addington
Peace," I told him. "Perhaps you
can give him some information?"
"Not tonight," 'he cried, "don't ask
me tonight, gentlemen. You cannot
tell what this means to' me; tomor
row, perhaps "
He - dropped down upon, the . bed,
covering his face with his hands. He
seemed a helpless sort of creature,
and my heart went out to him In his
calamity.
"A night's rest Is what you want"
I said,, patting blm on the shoulder.
"Come, let me give you an arm."
He took It at once, with a grateful
glance, and I led him down the cor
ridor, with Peace In sympathetlo at
tendance. Fortunately, his room was
in the same wing, so we had not far
to go. When we reached it, he thank
ed US for our care of him. Anil in we
left him, returning to my bedroom In I
silence, for, indeed, the scene had
been a painful one.
"Peace," l said, when the door had
closed behind us, "what was the thing
I saw in the yew walk?"
He had seated himself In an easy
chair, and was polishing the bowl of
a well-stained meerschaum pipe with
a silk pocket handkerchief.
"I think you already have an ex
planation," he answered cheerfully.
"If It amuses you to sneer at my
superstition "
"You refer to the legend of the de
Launes. I have heard the story be
fore, Mr. Phillips; nor am I surprised
that you believed it to be the ghost
wolf."
"1 did but now I want you to dis
prove It."
"On the contrary, all my evidence
supports your theory."
I stared at hla., with a creeping
horror in my blood. I was beginning
to be afraid seriously afraid. Peace
leant back in his chair, with his eyes,
vacant in expression, fixed on the
wall. He seemed rather to be argu
ing with himself than addressing a
listener.
(CHRONICLE3 TO BB CONTINUED.)
HAD FOLLOWED THE ADVICE
Lecturer Probably Was Not Proud of
' the Immediate Effect of His Dis
course to the 8tudents.
At a certain well-known medical
college there Is a staff lecturer who
Is never tired of dilating on the ad
vantages of doctors being able to
sleep at odd minutes. The gentleman
In question, be It added. Is as prosy
In the enunciation of this theme as he
Is Insistent upon it; wherefore he is
affectionately known as "Cap-Naps."
He was for the hundredth time en
larging on his pet toplo at the close
of a long ninety minutes' discourse,
something like this:
"And let me again impress upon
you, young gentlemen, the prime ne
cessity of training yourselves to that
Invaluable habit of sleeping here,
there, and everywhere, whenever an
unexpected, fifteen , minutes offers lb
self . to recuperate your often ex
hausted energies. It may be In a
car, with a ride ahead and no one at
your' elbow to annoy you. It may be
In your consulting room, between calls
at first, you know, there may ' be
intervals! It may - come anywhere,
any . time; but fielze the opportunity
whenever you feel you are bored, per
haps with what is going on around you
when you feel your time is being un
profitably employed." ' '
And then, - from the back bench,
came two loud, unmistakable snores!
In Simple' Language.
Beware of the habit of using big
words. Like other habits, It grows
upon-Its victim: "A horrible example
Is instanced by the Philadelphia. Pub
lic Ledger.
The superintendent of a Sunday
school in Philadelphia recently called
upon, a visitor to "say a few words"
to the school, the members of which
are mostly children of tender age.
The visitor, a speaker, well known
for his verbose and circumlocutory
manner of speech, began his address
as follow! : '
"This morning, children,' I purpose
to offer you an epitome of the life of
Saint Paul.
It may be, perhaps, that
there are among you some too young
to grasp the meaning of the word
'epitome.' 'Epitome,' children, Is in
its signification synonymous with
synopsis."
Cure for Love.
"Yes, I finally got rid of him." she
said, "without having to tell him tn so
many words that I never could learn
to love him. I didn't want to do that
because he's an awfully nice fellow.
and I should have been very sorry to
cause him pain."
'How did you manage it?" her
friend asked.
'Why, you see, he's subject to hay
fever, so I decorated the house with
golden rod whenever he sent word
that he was coming." '
Reduced Rates.
"Comln' this way ag'ln?" asked the
Justice of the peace after he had fined
JImpson $50. "I'm afraid I'll have to,"
said JImpson, ruefully. "Wa-al," said
the Justice, stroking his chin whisker
reflectively, "perhaps I'd oughter tell
ye that we sell a return fine ticket for
$75, entltlln' ye to immunerty from
arrest on the way back." Judge.
Take Care.
The hard school of experience
Has luions for us all;
Just when we think we are Immense,
Just .then we're 'bout to fall.
Adversity borrows Its sharpest
sting from our impatience. Horns.
HEARD MUSICAL GHOST
AUTHOR'S EXPERIENCE SOME.
THING NEW IN 8POOK LINE.
Sounds Too Long Continued to Be Ew
plained Away as Illusion, and Lis- '
teners Are Satisfied It Was
a Spirit Visitor.
I have never seen a ghost, but once
In the company of a friend I beard a
ghost sing.
It was in London. I must not men
tion the house, because to say a house
Is haunted in London is criminal li
bel. This house was haunted. I
knew it was haunted, but the ghost
had never troubled me. It bothered
a friend of mine who spent an au?
tumn In the house, by tramping up
the stairs In the middle of the night
It troubled my secretary, who used
to work alone In the house In the
shutting the doors. It troubled the
police by lighting up the house and
giving a false alarm of burglars In
the middle of the night. It never trou
bled me. I never saw it I never felt
It I never heard it till this once.
It was about one o'clock in the
morning.' I was sitting in my sitting
room with a friend whom I will call
X, who is a well-known author. (One
geaerally adds in a ghost story, "and
who was a hard-headed man of busl
ness.'utterly skeptical and completely
matter of fact," as if that had any
thing to do with it) We had Just
come In and. were expecting another
friend who lived in the house, and we
were sitting up for him. We were
talking about Swinburne's verse, and I
took down the first edition of Atalanta
in rnlvHnn L ,1 .
j and which I foolishly sold for
a small sum (it was immediately aft
erward resold at an . auction for
a large sum and went to America,
ana is now in some collector's li
brary), and I read out a passage. As
I was reading, we heard singing next
door. 1 said, "There's Phil," and didn't
pay any further attention, as I expect
ed him to come in, and 1 went on
reading. But .the singing continued.
It sounded foreign like Spanish. This
didn't surprise us, as Phil was in
the habit of singing Provencal Bongs.
The singing went on, and as he didn't
come in, we went to meet him and
opened the door. The next room was
a tiny ante-room opening into another
sitting room, and beyond this again
was the smallest of bedrooms not
bigger than a cupboard. There was"
nnhnilv tit..... 1 i. ... .
uui me singing went
on; such curious singing, too; strange,
alien, faint, tinklyas if four confused'
voices were singing the song of an
earlier century; It was unreal and it
had a kind of burr In It, as if you
were listening to voices on a tele
phone that Is out of order. We walk
ed through the rooms and we walked
mrougn the singing, and we heard
it behind us still going on; and in
the bedroom we found our friend
aBleep in his bed.. Then the singing
stopped. Now, as we walked through
the sitting room, I noticed my friend's
hair, in Kipling's phrase, sitting up. I
daresay he noticed the same thing
about mine, or he would have done so
had I any hair to notice. Metronol.
Itan. ... ,
Brocaded Waistcoat. ' !
The ever-Increasing vogue of bro
caded goods for women's wear has
evidently brought about a demand for
the same materials , for men's waist
coats. .
I noticed a rather starUlnsr . vest
wun me rose design.
The material
was Chinese Velvet, and pieces of it
were displayed near the made up
model. This fabrics Is a ribbed stuff.
wnicn iooks much like tapestry. A
large rose with stem and foliage was
woven on both sides of the garment,
In subdued shades of green and
heather. Paris correspondence Men's
Wear.
Where the Doctor "Fell Down."
A family physician, calling at a
north side home a few days ago, was
admitted by a solemn-faced little girl,
seven years old, and found himself
summarily dismissed from further
service In the family, despite the fact
that he was attending the father, who
was in.
"And may I ask why?" he queried,
as he had believed himself a favorite
with the small person before him.
There was no hesitancy in, the reply.
"Because," said Bhe, "you corned
here for a long, long time and you
never have brought a baby to this
house. Elinor J 's doctor brought
them a little brother las' night and
we want a new doctor." Indianapolis
News.
Easy Way to Lose 81ns.
On the last day of each year the
Korean throws out of his house a
straw Image of a man, which Is said
to carry sins and bad luck with It
There are two freedoms the false,
where one Is free to do what he likes;
and the true, where he Is free to do
what he ought Charles Kingsley.