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About Eugene semi-weekly guard. (Eugene, Or.) 1904-190? | View Entire Issue (May 21, 1904)
1 H r FllGfMç GUA^O Ills gaunt but not ungracemi llguie will know why that especial neighbor merged In that of tlie dog trotting hood is not a favorite one with those closely at his heels, was the only uiov ’■ • > who cannot boast of the Moore blood. Ing object in the dreary vista of this For the present, let us attribute the the most desolate block In Washington. bad name that it holds to—malaria.” As I neared the building I was so im And with a significant hitch of his lean pressed by the surrounding stillness shoulders, which set in undulating mo that I was ready to vow that the shad K ...By... tion every fold of the old fashioned were denser here than elsewhere ! ! ANNA KATHARINE OREEN, J [ cloak he wore, he started again for the ows and that the few gas lamps which ' AutJtor of "The Mv^crv of Agatha Wchb." J ’ door. flickered at intervals down the street ' > "Lout Xm't Lane," Etc. [ But my curiosity was by this time shone with a more feeble ray than in roused to fever heat. I knew more any other equal length of street in Copyright. WB. by the Bobbs-Mwrill 0o. i> about this bouse than be gave me cred Washington. No one who had read the pa Meanwhile the shadow of Uncle Da ::+♦«......... ................... . .. “ it pers for. of late, much less a man connect vid bad vanished from the pavement. ed with the police, could help being He had paused beside a fence which, well Informed in all the details of Its hung with vines, surrounded and nenr- CHAPTER I. remarkable history, What I had fall iy hid from sight the little cottage he OR a detective whose talents ed to know was his close relationship had mentioned as the only house on had not been recognized at to the family whose name for the last the block with the exception of the headquarters I possessed an two weeks bad been In every mouth. great Moore place; In other words, bls ambition which, fortunately for ‘Walt!” I called out. "You say that own home. my standing with the lieutenant of you the live opposite the Moore bouse. As I came abreaBt of him I heard precinct, had not yet been expressed in "You can then tell me”— him muttering, not to his dob. ns was words. Though 1 had small reason But be bad no mind to stop for any his custom, but to himself. In fact, for expecting great things of myself, gossip. the dog was not to be seen, nnd this I lit:d nlwnys cherished the hope that "It was all In the papers," be called desertion on the part of his constant I if a big case came my way I should be back. “Read them. But first be sure companion seemed to add to his dis I found able to do something with It— to find out who has struck a light in turbance and affect him beyond all rea I s I'thlng more, that Is. than I had the house that we all know has not son. I could distinguish these words ► i accomplished Uy the police of the even a caretaker In it.” among the many he directed toward District of Columbia since I had hail It was good advice. My duty and the unseen animal: the honor of being one of their num my curiosity both led me to follow it. “You’re a knowing one—too know 1 r. Therefore, when I found myself Perhaps you have heard of the dis ing! You see that loosened shutter plunged, ’iliniost’wltiiout my "own voli tinguishing feature of this house. If over the way as plainly as I do; but tion. into the Jeffrey-Moore affair. I be so, you do not need my explanations. you’re a coward to slink away from it. lieved that the opportunity had come But if. for any reason, you are ignorant I don’t. I face the thing, and, what's of the facts which within a very short more. 1’11 show you yet what I think whereby I might distinguish myself. It had complications, »his Jeffrey I time have set a final seal of horror up of a dog that can’t stand his ground ? e affair; greater ones thin tin I on this old historic dwelling, then you and help his old master out with some p I lie ev -r know, keen as the Interest I will be glad to read what has made show of courage. Creaks, does it? i.i it ran both in and out of Washing | and will continue to make the Moore Well, let it creak. I don't.mind its house In Washington one to be pointed creaking, glad as I should be to know ton. "I.'s is why I proposo to tell the at in daylight and shunned after dark, whose hand— Hello! You’ve come, si oy of litis great tragedy from my not only by superstitious colftred folk, have you?” This to me. I had just own standpoint, even if in so doing 1 but by all who are susceptible to the stepped up to him. “Yes, I’ve come. Now, what is the i-!.,k the charge of attempting to ex- ; most ordinary emotions of fear an t matter with the Moore house?” ploit my own connection with this cele- ' dread. It was standing when Washington He must have expected the question, Prated case. In its course I encounter ed as many disappointments as tri was a village. It antedates the capltol yet bis answer was a long time com umphs and brought out of the affair a and the White House. Built by a man ing. His voice, too. sounded strained, heart as sore as It was satisfied, for I of wealth, It bears to this day the im and was pitched quite too high to be press of the large Ideas and quiet ele natural, But he evidently did not ex- am a lover of women and— But 1 am keeping you from the story gance of colonial times; but the shad pect me to show surprise at bls man- ow which speedily fell across it made ner. itself. I was at the station house the night it a marked place even In those early | "Look at that window over there!” Vncle David came la. He was always days. While it has always escaped he cried at last “That one with the the hackneyed epithet of "huuntetl,” slightly open shutter! Watch and you families that have moved in have ns will see that shutter move. There, it quickly mo.ed out, giving as their ex creaked! Didn’t you hear it?" cuse that no happiness was to be found A growl—It was more like a moan— there and that sleep was Impossible came from the porch behind under its roof. That there was some reason for this lack of rest within walls which were not without their tragic reminiscences all must acknowl edge. Death had often occurred there, and while this fact can be stated In regard to most old houses, It is not often that one can say. as In this case, that It was invariably sudden and in variably of one character. A lifeless man. lying outstretched on a certain hearthstone, might be found once In a house and awaken no special comment, but when this same discov ery has been made twice. If not thrice, during the history of a single dwelling, called Uncle David, even by the ur one might surely be pardoned a dis chins who followed lilm In the street, so trust of Its seemingly homelike ap I am showing him no disrespect, gen pointments and discern in its slowly tleman though he is, by giving him a darkening walls the presence of an stantly the old gentleman turned and, title which as completely characterized evil which if left to Itself might perish w’ith a gesture as fierce as it was in shouted out: him In those days as did his moody In the natural decay of the place, but stinctive. “Be still there! If you haven’t the ways, bls quaint attire and the per which, if met and challenged, might courage to face a blowing shutter, keep sistence with which be kept at bls side strike again and make another blot on your jaws shut and don't let every his great mastiff Rudge. its thrice crimsoned hearthstone. fellow who happens along know what I bad long since beard of the old But these are old fables which I fool you are. I declare.” he maun gentleman as one of the most Interest should hardly presume to mention a dered on, half to himself and half to ing residents of the precinct, I bad had It not been for the recent occur me, "that dog Is getting old. He can't even seen him moro than once on the rence which has recalled them to all be trusted any more. He forsakes his avenue, but I had never before been men’s minds and given to this long master Just when”— The rest was brought face to face with him, and empty nnd slowly crumbling building lost In his throat, which rattled with consequently had much too superficial an importance which has spread its something more than Impatient anger. a knowledge of his countenance to de fame from one end of the country to Meanwhile I had been attentively termine offhand whether the uneasy the other. I refer to the tragedy at scrutinizing the house thus pointedly light in hfs small gray eyes was nat tending the wedding lately celebrated brought to my notice. I had seen it ural to them or simply the result of there. many times before, but, as It happen present excitement. But when he be Veronica Moore, rich, pretty and will ed. had never stopped to look at it gan to talk I detected an unmistakable when the huge trees surrounding It tremor In his tones and decided that be ful, had long cherished a strange liking were shrouded in darkness. Tlie black for this frowning old home of her an was In a state of suppressed agitation, cestors and, nt the most critical time hollow of its disused portal looked out though lie appeared to have nothing in her life, conceived the idea of prov from shadows which acquired some of more alarming to impart than the fact ing to herself and to society at large their somberness from the tragic mem that be had seen a light burning in that no real ban lay upon it save In ories connected with its empty void. some house presumably empty. Its aspect was scarcely reassuring. the imagination of the superstitious. It was all so trivial that I gave him So, being about to marry the choice of Not that superstition lent Its terrors but scant attention till he let a name her young heart, she caused this house to the lonely scene, but tha| through fall which caused nie to prick up my to be opened for the wedding cere the blank panes of window, alternately ears and even to put in a word. “The appearing and disappearing from view Moore house,” be had said. Vncle D n v I d us the shutter pointed out by Uncle “The Moore house?” I repeated In David blew to and fro in the wind. I amazement. “Are you speaking of the j i saw or was persuaded that I saw a Moore house?” I beam of light which argued an un A thousand recollections came with | known- presence within walls which the name. had so lately been declared unfit for “What other?”lie grumbled, directing any man’s habitation. toward me a look as keen as It was im "You are right," I now remarked to patient. “Do you think that I would the uneasy figure at my side. "Some bother myself long about a house I one is prowling through the house yon had no Interest In. or drag Rudge from der. Can it possibly be Mrs. Jeffrey hfs warm rug to save some ungrateful or her husband?" neighbor from a possible burglary? i "At night nnd with no gas in the No, It Is my house which some rogue house? Hardly.” has chosen to enter. That is.” be The words were natural, but the suavely corrected, as he saw surprise voice was not. Neither was his man in every eye, “the bouse which the law mony —with what result you know. ner quite suited to the occasion. Giv will give me. If anything ever happens Though the occasion was a joyous one ing him another sly glance and mark to that chit of a girl whom my brother and accompanied by all that could ing how uneasily he edged away from left behind him.” give cheer to such a function. It had me In the darkness. I cried out more Growling some words at the dog, not escaped the old time shadow. One cheerily than he possibly expected: who showed a decided Inclination to of the guests straying into the room "I will summon another officer, and lie down where he was. the old man of ancient and unhallowed memory, we three will Just slip across and in tnade for the door and In another mo- . the one room which had not been vestigate." ment would have been In the street. , thrown open to the crowd, had been “Not I!” was his violent rejoinder as If I bad not stepped after him. found within five minutes of the cere he swung open a gate concealed in the “Yon are a Moore and live tn or near j mony lying on Its dolorons hearthstone vines behind him. •'The Jeffreys would Chat old bonnet” I asked. dead, and. though the bride was spared resent my Intrusion If they ever bap The surprise with which be met thia a knowledge of the dreadful fact till pened to ham- of ft” Question daunted me a little. • ■ r- ■ • * * ♦ r- "Indeed!"* I laughed, sounding my “How long bare you been tn Wash the holy words were said, a panic bad whistle. Then, soberly enough, for I seized the guests and emptied the tngtoo, I should like to askr was his house as suddenly and completely as was more than a little struck by the acrid retort though the plague had been discovered oddity of hls behavior and thought “Oh, some five months.” him as well worth investigation as the His good nature, or what passed for there. This Is why I hastened to follow bouse in which he showed such an In such In this Irascible old man, returned terest: "You shouldn't let that count. tn aa Instant and ho curtly but not Uncle David when he told me that all Come and see what's up In the bouse wa not right In this house of tragic unkindly remarked: you are no ready to call yours." “You haven't learned much tn that memories. But he only drew farther into the Cme.” Then, with a nod more cere- shade. CHAPTER TI. monloos than many another man's HOUGH past seventy. Uncle "I hare no business over there." he bow, be added, with sudden dignity: David was a brisk walker, and Objected. "Veronica and I have never “I am of the eider branch and live in on this night In particular he been on good terms. I was not even the cottage fronting the old place. I «pci along so fast that he was Invited to her wedding. though I live km the only resident on the block. , half way drtwn H street bv the time I within s stone’s throw of the door, i .When yon have lived here longer you Lad turned the corner of New Hamp No; I bare done my duty In calling at ' shire avenue. . • tentlqn that light,, and whether It’s, ..................... .................. ...... i filigree BALL i F T key In tlie lock! Men use keys. uu. tooklug nt tlie .-..-lie Ln just My patience could stand no more. such a picture! No. not just such a With a shake I rid myself of his clutch, picture, for this woman lay face upper muttering: most. and, on the floor beside her was "There, go! You're too much of a blood — fool for me. I’m in for it alone.” Ami A hand had plucked my sleeve. It in proof of my determination I turned was Hibbard's. Startled by my im the slide of the lantern and flashed the mobility and silence, he had stepped In light through the bouse. with qunking members, expecting he The effect was ghostly; but while the hardly knew what. But no soouer did fellow at my side breathed hard. lie Ids eyes fall on the prostrate form did not take advantage of my words which held me spellbound than an un Th« Moors how«« to make his escape, as I half expected foreseen change took place in hint. him to. The truth Is. I was startled What had unnerved me. restored him myself, but I was able to hide the fact to full self possession. Death in this and to whisper back to him fiercely; shape was familiar to him. He bad no "Hush!" fear of blixsi. lie did not show sur 1 had Just bearil something. prise at encountering It, but only at For a moment we stood breathless, the effect It appeared to produce on me. but as the sound was not repeated I “Shot!" was hls laconic comment as concluded that it was the creaking of he bent over the prostrate body. “Shot that faraway shutter. Certainly there through tlie heart! She must liav* was nothing moving near us. died before she fell.” "Shall we go upstairs?" whispered Shot! of the house. In another moment the Hibbard. That was a new experience for this rich peal of an organ sounded from "Not till we have made sure that all room. No wound bad ever before dis within, followed by the prolonged Is right down here.” figured those who had fallen here, nos howling of Rudge. who. either from a A door stood slightly ajar on our bad any of the previous victims ts-eit too keen appreciation of hls master’s left. found lying on any other spot than ths music or In utter disapproval of It—no Pushing it open, wo looked in. A one over which that huge settle kept one. I believe, has ever been able to i well furnished parlor was before us. make out which—was accustomed to i "Here’s where the wedding took guard. As these thoughts crossed my add this undesirable accompaniment | place," remarked Hibbard, straining mind I Instinctively glanced again to ward the fireplace for what I almost to every strain from the old man’s his head over my shoulder. hand. The playing did not cease lie- | There were signs of tills wedding on refused to believe lay outstretched at cause of these outrageous discords. On | every side. Walls and ceilings had my feet. When nothing more ap the contrary, it increased in force anil been hung with garlands, and these peared there than that old seat of sin volume, causing Rudge's expression of [ still clung to the mantelpiece and over ister memory, 1 experienced a thrill pain or pleasure to Increase also. Tlie i and around the various doorways. The which poorly prepared me for the cry result can be Imagined. As I listened I clock occupying the center of the man which I now heard raised by Hibbard. "Look here! What do you make of to the Intolerable howls of the dog ! telpiece alone gave evidence of life. It cutting elean through the exquisite I had been wound for the wedding and this?” He was pointing to what, upon closer harmonies of his master I wondered If had not yet run down. Its tick-tick the shadows cast by the frowning came faint enough, however, through inspection, proved to be a strip of structure of the great Moore house the darkness, aa if it, too. had lost heart white satin ribbon running from on» were alone to blame for Uncle David's and would soon lapse into the deadly of the delicate wrists of the girl befor* us to the handle of a pistol which bad lack of neighbors. quiet of Its ghostly surroundings. fallen not fur away from her side, “It Meantime Hibbard, who was the "It’s — it’s funeral-like," chattered looks as if the pistol was attached to first to hear my signal, came running Hibbard. down the block. As he Joined me the I He was right; I felt as If I were her. That is something new in my light, or what we chose to call a light, I shutting the lid of a coffin when I final experience. What do you tliluk It means ?” appeared in the window toward which ly closed the door. Alas, there was but one thing it my attention had been directed. Our next steps took us Into the rear, could mean. The shot to which ah» “Some one’s in the Moore house!" I where we found little to detain us, and declared, in as matter of fact tones as then, with a certain dread fully Justi had succumbed had been delivered by herself. This fair and delicate creatur* I could command. fied by the event, we made for the Hibbard is a big fellow, the biggest door defined by the two Corinthian was a suicide. But suicide in this place! IIow could fellow on the force, and. so far as my columns. we account for that? Had the story own experience with him liad gone, as It was ajar like the rest, and, call me of this room’s ill acquired fame acted stolid and Imperturbable aa the best of coward or call me fool—I have called us. But after a quick glance at the Hibbard both, you will remember—I hypnotically on her, or liad she stum towering walls of the lonely building found that It cost me an effort to lay bled upon the open door in front and he showed decided embarrassment and my hand on Its mahogany panels. been glad of any refuge where bet seemed in no haste to cross the street. Danger. If danger there was. lurked I misery might find a solitary termina With difficulty I concealed my dis here, and while I had never known tion? Closely scanning her upturned face, I sought an answer to this ques gust. myself to quail before any ordinary “Come.” I cried, stepping down from antagonist, I, like others of my kind, tion. and while thus seeking received: the curb, "let’s go over and Investi have no especial fondness for unseen a fresh shock which I did not hesitate to communicate to my now none gate. The property is valuable, the and mysterious perils. sensitive compunion. furnishings are handsome, and there is Hibbard, who up to this point had "Look at these features,” I cried, no end of costly books on the library followed me almost too closely, now shelves. You have matches and a re accorded me all the room that was neo- »eem to know them. Do you?" He growled out a dissent, but stoop volver?" essary. It was with a sense of enter He nodded, quietly showing n>e first lng alone upon the scene that I finally , ed at my bidding and gave the pltltql the one. then the other: then, with a thrust wide the door and crossed the, young face a prolonged store. When" sheepish air which he endeavored to threshold of this redoubtable room he looked up again it was with a pua- klod contraction of hls eyebrows. carry off with a laugh, he cried: where, but two short weeks before, a "I’ve certainly Been it somewhere^*' "Have yon use for ’em? If so. I'm fresh victim had been added to the quite willing to part with ’em for a list of those who had by some unheard he hesltntlngly admitted, edging slow ly away toward the door, “Verhnpa 1A half hour.” of, unimaginable menus found their the papers. Isn’t she like”— I was more than amazed at this evi death within its recesses. “Like!” I Interrupted. "It Is Veroni dence of weakness in one 1 had always My first glance showed me little save considered as tough and impenetrable the ponderous outlines of an old set ca Moore herself, the owner of thia as flint rock. Thrusting back the hand tle, which Jutted front the corner of I house and she who was married her» with which he had half drawn into I the fireplace half way out Into the two weeks since to Mr. Jeffrey. Evi view the weapon I had mentioned. I room. As It was seemingly from this dently her reason was unseated by th* put on my sternest air and led the way seat that the men. who at various 1 tragedy which threw so deep u gloom across the street. As I did so, I tossed times had been found lying here, had over her wedding.” back the words: fallen to their doom, a thrill passed CHAPTER III. “We may come upon a gang. You over me ns I noted its unwieldy bulk do not wish me to face some half nnd the deep shadow it threw on the OT for nn Instant did I doubt dozen men alone?” the correctness of this identifi ancient nnd dishonored hearthstone. “You won't find any half dozen men To escape the ghastly memories it cation. All the pictures I had there,” was hls muttered reply. Never evoked and also to satisfy myself that seen of this well known society theless he followed me. though with the room was really ns empty ns ft belle hail been mnrked by an Individ less spirit than I liked, considering that seemed, I took another step forward. uality of expression which fixed her my own manner was in a measure as This enused the light from the lantern face In the memory and which I now sumed and that I was not without I enrrfed to spread beyoml the point saw repented In the lifeless feature* sympathy—well, let me say, for a dog on which it had hitherto been so cf- before me. , who preferred howling a dismal ac- [ fectlvely concentrated, but tlie result Having sent the too willing Hibbard cotnpnniment to hls master’s music to i to notify headquarters, I was on the The dead bride keeping open watch over a neighbor point of making a memorandum of hood dominated by the unhallowed such details as seemed Important, structure I now proposed to enter. when my lantern suddenly went out, At the first touch the door yielded. lenving me in total darkness. It was not even latched. This was far from pleasant, but th* “So! so!” thought I. “This is uo effect It produced upon my mind wai fool’s Job; some one is In the house." not without Its result; for no sooner I bad provided myself with an ordl | did I find myself alone ami in the un nary pocket lantern, anil, when I bad relieved darkuess of this gravelike convinced Hibbard that I fully meant room than I became convinced that no to enter the house and discover for my woman, however frenzied, would make self who had taken advantage of the was to emphasize rather than detract her plunge Into nn unknown existence popular prejudice against It to make a , from the extreme desolation of the from the midst of a darkness only too secret refuge or rendezvous of its de ! great room. The settle was a fixture, suggestive of the tomb to which she cayed old rooms, I took out this I as I afterward found, and was almost was hastening. It was not in nature, lantern and held it in readiness. the only article of furniture to be seen not in woman’s nature, nt nil events. “We may strike a hornet's nest.” I on the wide expanse of uncarpeted Either she Imd committed the final act explained to Hibbard, whose feet seem I floor. There was a table or two In hid before such daylight as could filter ed very heavy even for a nmn of hls ing somewhere amid the shadows nt through the shutters of this closed up size. “But I'm going in and so are I the other end from where I stood, and room had quite disappeared — a hy you. Only. let me suggest first that possibly some kind of stool or settee, pothesis instantly destroyed by the we take off our shoes. We can bide but the general Impression made upon warmth which still lingered in certain them in these bushes.” me was thut of a completely dlsmnn portions of her body—or else the light "I always catch cold when I walk tied place given over to moth nnd rust. which had been burning when she barefooted," mumbled my brave com The elegance of tlie heavily stuccoed pulled the fatal trigger had since been panion; but receiving no reply, lie celling, ndmitted to be one of the finest carried elsewhere or extinguished. drew off hls shoes and dropped them specimens of its kind in Washington, Recalling the uncertain gleams which beside mine In the cluster of stark as well ns the richness of the carvings we had seen flashing from one of the bushes which figure so prominently in ornamenting the mnntel of Italian upper windows, I was inclined to give the newspaper illustrations that have marble rising above the accursed some credence to th* former theory, lately nppeared. Then he took out Ills hearthstone, only served to make more but was disposed to be fair to both. So revolver, and, cocking It. stood wait evident the extreme neglect into which after relighting my lamp I turned on Ing. while I gave a cautious push to the rest of the room had sunk. Being one of the gas cocks of the massive the door. anything but snxlous te «object myself chandelier over niy head and applied Darkness! Silence! further to It* unhappy Influence and a match. The result was Just what I Rather had I confronted a light and qnlte convinced that the place waa In anticipated; no gas in the pipes. A heard some noise, even If It had been deed a* empty aa It looked, I turned to meter had not been put In for the wed- the ominous click to which we nre so leave when my eyes fell upon some ding. Thia the papers had repeatedly well accustomed. Hibbard seemed to thing *o unexpected and so extraordi Stated tn dwelling upon the garish *f- »hare my feeling», though from an en nary. aeen aa It wan under the Influ feet of the daylight on the elaborate eoetumee worn by the ladles. Candl** tirely different cause ence of the olid tragédie« with which "Pistols and lanterns are no good j (TO BX COIVTTXttXD.) here," he grumbled. "What we want | my mind was neceaaarily full, that I paused, balked In my advance and well at thin blessed minute is a priest with j a sprinkling of holy water; and I for | nigh uncertain whether I looked upon a real thing or on some strange and ■ ew *e de«* Ceaaba. one"— terrible fantasy of my aroused imagi If it can be avoided, never wash He was actually sliding off. combs, ao the water often make* the With a smothered oath I drew him nation. A form lay before me. outstretched teeth epi ft and render« the tortoise back. “See here!” I cried, “fon're not a on that portion of the floor which bad obeli or bom of which they are made babe In arm«. Come on or— Well, hitherto been hidden from me by the rough. Small brushes manufactured half open door- a woman’s form, purposely for cleaning combs may b* what now?" He had clinched my arm and was which even in that first casnal look purchased at a trifling cost. With one pointing to th • door which was slowly Impressed Itself upon me as one of of these the combs should be well aerial delicacy and extreme refine brushed and afterward wlpc-J with a swavlnx to brL.nd us. "Nor .- t'. t, he whlspere<l._ "No ment; and thia form lay as only the towel or ciotL ¿end lie; the dead! And I had been lue v, a burglar — peru..r you don't know that there are rare treasures on the bookshelves of the great library—or whether it Is the fan tastic illumination which frightens fool folks and some fool dogs. I’m done with It and done with you. too. for to night" As he said this he mounted to hls door and disappeared under the vines, hanging like a shroud over the front