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About The Bend bulletin. (Bend, Or.) 1903-1931 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 14, 1906)
f "t The Trail of the Dead: THE STRANGE EXPERIENCE OF DR. ROBERT MARUND &! By B. FLETCHER ROBINSON (Csovrliht. ID03. by CIIAPTCK VI. (Continued.) It snowed that night, anil to ume ef fect, ax the morning light showed inc. The broad, slovenly street beneath my windows wa thickly coated; and though the fall hail ceased, a dull sky, streaked a with muddy whitewash, threatened a further downfall. It wm bitterly cold and I (lung on my clothe In a rile teui Jicr. Graden was militating before the Hots when I entered our breakfast-room, .with the strange book he had showu me during the Journey In his hand. "You look pale a a ghost. Are you qutte fit?" he asked kindly. "Oh. yea; though my night wai not particularly peaceful." "What do you mean?' I told him briefly of my unknown tIs Itor. He seemed greaty Interested, que turning mo minutely on Tarloua point. "Your theory may be correct," he con cluded. "Some guet may hare mistaken Ma chamber, nnd hurried orf on discov ering his mistake. Yet, If ho had a light with him, how came he to make such an obvious error; whereas. If It waa the striking of n match that roused you. what was the man doing wandering In the dark?" To tell the truth, when I first woke, I Jmiglned It was Marnae himself." "I hare considered that point. I do - . .. ,.. ,. n t i .. i... noi nuns 11 cuuiu uic un-u "And whyr "Before you were down this morning I had a talk with our landlord. The guests at hl house are of two classes commercial traveler and those having business at the dye-works. They do not flay long usually a week at most. Of the nine which he now has, none has ex ceeded that limit. Ho knowa them all personally six commercials, two dye works men, and a rich Englishman, one Ceorge Wakefield, who has been staying with some magnate iu the neighborhood. 3tut here la Herr Iteskl himself." "Gentlemeu." said the landlord, bow ing low, "your sleigh Is at the door." "How far It It, then, to Castle Oster7" I asked him. "Close on twenty miles; and with this fresh snow it will be heavy going." Ten minutes later we slid on our silent runners, to the tinkle of the Mis, out through the squalid, sprawling town, out through the wooden hovels of the sub urbs out past the dye-works, with their tall, melancholy chimneys, out Into the suow-clad levels beyond, and there from out of the east there sprang upon us a great arid bitter wind, chilled by Its long journey over the toundles steppes of frozen Itussla. Here and there, across the plains, a whiff of powdry snmv, like the smoke of heavy guns, would leap up before the fiercer blasts, only to burst and fall as they lulled once more. To the fiouth and east the pine woods ranged their formal ranks, black against the dazzling carpet at their feet. It was a scene of utter desolatlou. We drove in sileuce. Graden aat In a huddled mass, his chin burled in the great woolen comforter he wore, staring out over the plain with fixed, Introspect ive eyes. For myself, I sat amongst the rugs beside hint In vague speculation. What could be this danger that threat ened the scientist from St. Petersburg In lils home at Castle Oster? After all, wight not our whole Journey be a folly born of Gra ilea's Imaginings, a. blind guess that had dragged us half across Europe? I shivered, and shivering, mut tered anathemas on the climate. CHAPTKIl VII. We entered the forest. On trety hand Mood the pines, stretching away in long, melancholy avenues floored with drifted enow. The laden branches bowed before us, now and again, at the whirl of a pass ing gust, flinging their burdens from them. Once a willow grouse, white as the anow beneath ft, swept on steady wing through tint trees. Once from the far, far distance, borno upon the eastern breeze, there came a cry, a weird, hope less echo In the air, that set tho horses snorting. I knew what It must be a wolf who felt the first pangs of the win ter's hunger gathering round him. Hut there was no sign of man nor marks of sleigh tracks on the newly fallen snow. We did not travel fast, though our driver did bia best. The snow had not hardened and settled Into that enchant ing surface on which the runners speed HO swiftly. Midday waa past before we saw, through a sudden gap In the forest, a rising mound crowned with a low, grey building. "Costle Oster!' cried our driv er, turning In bis seat to claim our at tention. In ten minutes more wo had halted at a gate set In a high stone wall. Before we were clear of the rugs the driver had slipped from his perch and tugged nt a rusty Iron bell-pull. We (waited without an answer. Agalu he rang; but Graden did not wait the result. The door waa not bolted; It opened to lib) vigorous arm, and we followed him Into the broad courtyard of the castle. Before us sprawled tho main building Hanked by little towers, like the pepper box turrets of an old Scotch mansion. The windows wero shuttered; the chim neys were smokeless save for oue above the coutral porch, from which, a dark plume rose and trailed away to the west wardthe solitary sign of habitation. To our right nnd left were ranged outbuild Ings, stables, cooch-houses, and the like; but nil In n condition of ruinous decay. Patches fallen from the roofs laid bare the rfters; from -the broken gutters S and J. MALCOLM FRASER Joseph B. Bowles) trailed long pendants of Ice. Against the old doors the snow had piled Itself Iu heavy drifts. No sound broke the brood ing stillness. It waa a picture distress ingly forlorn. "lias Professor Meehersky, then, no servants?" asked Graden of our driver. I noticed that he hushed his vole In speaking; he, too, felt the uncanny In fluence of the place. "Two, rueln Herr a man and a woman. I cannot think where they can be." "I had understood he was a man of means. Why does he allow this dlsre pairi" "I do not think the professor cares. He shuts himself up with his experiments when he Is here which Is not ofteu now. His rooms look to the south on the other side. For the rest, the house Is not furnished." "Well. I suppose theje Is a servant who will Heavens! what Is that?" Prom somewhere within the house there came a shriek, a cry of supreme terror. Again and yet again It was re peated lefore It shrank away Into si lence. Graden ran across the court to the main door, and I was hard upon his heels. He pulled the bell and hammered fiercely upon the heavy oak panels; but no oue answered. "1 don't believe the thing Is hotted," said he. "Keep tho handle turned, and let me try what I can do." He stepped back a dozen paces, and then came running at the door like a bull. The giant caught It squarely with the point of his shoulder; there was a sharp crack; the next Instant we were both sprawling on the floor within. We found ourselves In a great and dusty hall. Indifferently lighted. Against the wall on my right I could dimly dis cern the figure of a woman crouched on the floor, sobbing bitterly, her face burled in her hands. She did not move, despite our violent entrance. At the foot of the main staircase an old man was bending over something that lay motionless. He looked up at us with n white, pitiful face. "He Is dead tho master Is dead!" he whlnqwrcd. Graden strode up to him, nnd I fol lowed at his heels. Professor Peter Meehersky for such I knew it must be l.iy huddled under an old grey cloak that spread wlng-wlse from his neck, a blot iion the polished oak of the floor, From his face, thin though It was and waMed with disease, he must have been a middle-aged man who had preserved a singular beauty. He bad died as a child might fall asleep. Yet the horror that he had escaped he had left to the living; for his attitude was abnormal, Impossible, and ghastly to behold. It was not right that a body should resemble an egg that Is broken. My cousin swept aside the cloak for a moment, and replaced it reverently, though with a hand that trembled. "He has not a sound bone Iu his body," be muttered, and then, turning to the old servant, "How did this happen?" said be. , "He had been III for some weeks, meln Herr, and we begged him not to leave bis room. But to-day he declared himself better. He Insisted that be should de scend to the library. Half way down tho stairs he tripped and fell. I ran to bis side and found him, as you see him, crouched like like " "I.Ike a toad?" "Yes, meln Herr. like a toad." The man broke Into hysterical weep ing. "The Englishman, Herr Wakefield, was most anxious about my master's health," he stammered out. 'The Herr professor became Indisposed some tell days after his arrival; since then he has been most kuYl, moat considerate, sitting by the master's bed for hours. He would allow no other doctor to visit the master. He Is a kind, good man, this doctor, the Herr Wakefield." "80 I believe. How came he to know your master?" "I am not sure; but I think he brought a letter of Introduction from a Professor Maniac, of Heidelberg, a gentleman of whom my master disapproved, yet ad mired for bis learning." "And this Englishman, did he prescribe for your master??" "Of course. They loved each other, and sat late Into the night In their dis cussions, Wheu my poor master was taken ill, Herr Wakefield took complete charge of him. Ach! If be did but know what had happened!" Then he Is not here?" "No; he drove to Lcmsdorf yesterday afternoon. He bad to return to bis own country, Ach! If he did but know!" It was plain enough Maniac, tho lin guist, was Wakefield, the Englishman. It was he, new from this thing that he bad done, who had come creeping to my room In the night, being auspicious of the strangers from the south, It was be that had brought about this mysteri ous horror. I turned from the poor monstrosity upou the floor and leaned, shuddering, against the wall. As I did so, Grades strode past me to the open door. "Driver, can your horses take us back?" I heard him say. "Not without rest nnd feed, meln Herr. The snow Is very, bad, and they are tired." "Would a hundred marks to the driver assist them?" ! "It Is Impossibles They could not reach half way. Wait, meln Herr, and It may bo done." My cousin came up to mo nnd laid till 1 great hand upon my shoulder. "I'm afraid It's tint truth," he said. And (hcu turning to the dead man's serv ' ant, "Your master hud he horses?" lit asked. "Threo, meln Herr, but they hnvt " not yet returned from Lemsdorf, wltert they went this morning with the bl sleigh for provision.' With a sharp order Graden sent out driver hurrying to tho stable. Then, I with his arm linked In mine, we fob lowed tho old servant Into a low-roofed dlulug-hall. As I dropped upou an oak settle before the great china stove, h thrust his flask Into my hands and, with a word of encouragement, slipped away, 1 knew that he was examining tho body, but, doctor though I was, the spirit ul Investigation had gone out of me. I could 110 more have assisted him Chan a medical student can watch, unmoved, tils first operation. In about twenty minutes he returned, bearing a tray upon which was set bread and cheese, flanking a great bam. 1 turned from the food with disgust; but my cousin fell to diligently, complaining the while at my fully in not eating wheu I had the chance. "You must pull yourself to together," he protested, with his mouth full. "Try this ham now. It isn't half bad." More to humor him than with any In tention of following hi advice, I drew my seat to the table. "Come, now; that's U'tter," he cried, carving away, 'To tell the truth, I haven't tho slightest Idea what that villain Maniac ha been up to. But what I do know Is that we've got to catch him dead or alive. Therefore I recommend you to stoke up your body with this ex cellent hallo!" "What the matter now?" I asked Ir ritably; for, I1nle.1l, his hearty appetite, annoyed me. Pur answer he rose and pealed the bell. The old manservant, with the brandy flushing his white cheeks, tot tered into the room. "I am sorry to trouble you," said Gra den courteously, "but we both set such store by your hams that we wish to know where they can bo obtained. Do you cure them yourself?" "No, meln Herr, but It Is done near by," answered the man, with a look of blank surprise. "Indeed. The I.emsdorf ham Is a dis covery; It should make a stir. I wonder I bad not heard of Its merits before." "You ee, meiu Herr, the big curing station ha not long been established." "A new enterprise?" "Yes, meln Herr, It belongs to Herr Drobin, a South German. Two year ago be took the big farm at Gran, which you passed on your way here. It Is this side of the dye-works. He has many pig ill the forest. His hams arc becom ing fa minis from Warsaw to Konlgsberg. It Is said be has some secret In the feed ing or curing no one knows which." 'Thank you that Is all." The door was scarcely shut when I turned hotly upon Graden. "How dare you sit here In this homo of murder and talk of the excellence of tho food?" I cried furiously. "It Is shameful. Inde cent!" "Yet wc will visit the farm of Gran on our way back. I have some lit 1 1 Inquiries to make." "We shall do nothing of the sort," I snarled. "If you were a soldier or an explorer, Cousin Itobert," he said, leaning across and tapping mo kindly on the arm, "you would know that In any expedition one alone can be responsible. The rest obey, whether they be few or many. As It Is, I beg you to recognize that fact and to obey." He waa right, and I knew It. But to save appearance I walked to the win dow and stood drumming upon It with my fingers for a while before I answered him. "Well, do a you please," I said at length. "I think the sleigh may be ready by now," he said. "Come, let us go out and Inquire." There I no need to dwell on this mis. erable drive. The tired horses dragged slowly forward, the driver, sullen and frightened, urging them on with blows and curse. Mile after mile of pine woods marched past us, but we did not speak, crouching In the furs. At last, as night was falling, wo reached the edge of the forest and swung aside from the main road Into a track that skirted tho edge of the pine. The ground sank nwny Into a hollow like the palm of tho baud. At the lowest point I could .e a square, wooden building flanked by row of out building. It was, as I Imagined, tit farm of Gran. But before wo reached It, our driver suddenly drew up his horses. A. man was advancing toward us through tho trees. Our driver turned, and with a wave of the whip explained the situation. "It is Herr Droblu," said ho. (To be continued.) (ilnle HI Tlmt. "It Is very seldom that they dorvo actors with II vo different kinds of veg ctahlcH," wlilsjiorod tho short coinedluu in tho quick-lunch room. "Oh, I don't know," sighed tho Innky trugedlun. "Ono tlmo I was served with tweuty-llvo different kinds of vegetables." "You don't say? In what hotel?" "No hotel. Tho uudlouco supplied thorn." , Tbelr fJrrnt He lie me. "Havo you nnd your wlfo quar reled?" "No; why?" "I notice tlint when you tako n trip you always go on different trains." "That's for tho children's sako. If either ono of tho trains should bo wrecked, the kids would havo at loast one parent left," Cleveland Loader. ls hjffS OP Purls to the American tourist Is of ten 11 dhnp'Hiliituicnt 011 the first view. Llttlo iicculnmcd convenience nre missing. .Miiuiu'nt of living which our forefathers knew continue, to prevail, Citmlles nml smoky lumps are used. At soino place the Ixith tub I hauled to n bouse on n cart, tho owner waits on the curbstone till hi client I through with Ida ablution, and cart It a way. The grand hotel aro extortionate, nnd tho "tip" system la I it full awing. The lioulovnrd change their untiles every time they iiinko 11 clinugo Iu direction. In tho middle of everything oil nn Island In tho river Iu tho oldest part of Purls, retaining Its lnimrtnnce 011 account of the Church of Notre Dame. I'K)ii It tho episcopal palace, the old est hospital, tho Inw court nnd the jiollcs headquarter nrt located. The right bank of tho river I the center of moneyed luxury nml of eory fnd nnd folly which wealth priMlucc. Hero aro tho principal boulevard, tho inn Jorlty of tho theater, ningulflceiit nve nue, palatini house nml handsome square. The national library I hen, nnd the city's great center of coin inorco mid tliintnis Tlu park nre beau tiful, nml each Iiiih Its distinctive cluinn. The garden of the Tullerle tinvo their Innumerable stntuc. the Bol do Boulogne Is exquisite with the natural Inanities of foil a go nml long woodland lHtns, and tho park of tho Butte. Chntituoiit on Its hilly site alxive the town, lias It ejeclnl at traction of casondi- nml n Hue stalac tite grotto. A to tho 1 .011 v re. It inn torpleces rpprvM'iit almost every school of painting, nml this famous structure contain tnoro nrt trensurea than any building north of tho Alim, The prefecture of ollee occupies n grout square, alongside of which nins the Ittio ile Lutece. This name re minds of the sMt wherein the city of I.utetln stood In Cn-snr's time, the germ of Purl. Tbero Is 110 gront illlllciilty In getting n permit fnim the director of prison to vllt the conclergerle. Tho conclergcrle Is port of the jxtlmv of Justice, nml I interesting a the place of conllneinent of the victims of the revolution. The place of chief In terest I tho evil In which Mario An toinette wns Imprisoned for two month and u half. The tiled floor I the some, nml the diHir Is the same, with tlie upHr jHtrt Imrn-d that she might Iu going out Ih forced to bond her hood. Kho had said she would never lw txifore them, mid so they iiiiide her do so literally. Near by In the gruveynnl where her A BETTER V ' wrXsM2" "No you can't sell me no patent rights, Itglitnfti' rods nor earthquake rtv iurnnce, but If you want a Job In tho harvest field I'll pay you more wages than you enn mnko out of uny old fnke." Ht. Paul Dispatch. Illrd In tha Hmiii). In n cortala Western town tbero wns a political olllco to bo filled last spring, paylnjf tho tnuutflcetit salary of 250 per yoar, Tho opjwsIuk political par ties wero about orouly bnlnuced, nnd there was keon opposition and n lively campaign for this small plum. Ono of tho candidates wns a shrewd old fellow and was well liked. It lookod as though ho would bo successful, as n neat llttlo sum bad been subscribed and turned over to him as a campaign fund. But to tho astonishment of every ono, how ever, ha was defeated, "I can't account for It," said ono of the political leaders, gloomily. "With that money wo should have won. By tho way, bow did you lay It out?" HWell, it wns this way' replied Ui hiM rvM;t waieo' ppqpB jiJU..s,yv,N,v..s,-j body lay for tunny years till It wns llnnlly taken to Ht. Denis, tbero to rest aiming tho king of France. In this little tviiiolery Ho tho l,(XX Hwls guard who died nt the Tullerle, nnd tbero nro rom blooming nbovo them "In memory of tho queen, for she loved rose." The Pmttlieon I one of tho notnblo building of Purl, mid Notre Daunt 11 chief jxiliit of Interest. This grent church la n miiru'l of nrchltocturnl grandeur. It has one eighteen ton Ml which require eight men to ring It. It I n orfcct miracle of stained gins nnd Innumerable stntucs of king nnd saint. It gorgoyle, representing various Inrgo nuliiiiiU, nro unique, a ml striking feature of the genentl archi tecture The shop of Pnrls nro nn Interest Ing fonturo of the grent city, ctqieclnb ly tho small ones, mid the msiik passed on tho street the tourist always remem ber. Two-wlieeled carts nro seen ev erywhere, some pushed by melt III blue blouses, some by bareheaded women, crowned each by n stiff white iniistln cup. The cart contain tlsh, fruit mid vegetnble. The purchaser cnii buy a handful of strawberries, mid curry thetii home either In n brawn pnHr i-ortiucopln or n big green leaf. A gar He seller crle hi wnre n he proceed along, lien. I n lender, who tins dry twig for snle. Here I a limn who pol ishes floor, lie carries n little iclvet bog. Iu It nre til sllpMr, with the brushes on the lttoiu of them, nl n plevo of yellow wax, nnd screwed Into a ferniled stick which ho carries Is n claw llko soildlers use. Mot Pnrlslnn barter nre linlr dre-wer. nnd ilo not have separate risiins for women. The rutrnno-s of building nre put to commercial use. At one I n milk stand with two or tlires- weather tieatcn U-nclie holding Imwls nnd inensiirv of 'different sizes. Great cans of milk mid cream stand oil tho sidewalk. A big tint basket of roll mid bread Is fastened to the wall. Pero l.nchnlo I the great city ceme tery. The tourist reads wnne famous names Iwre Itnchel, llosn Boiiheiir, Felix 1'iiure, Alfred lie Mussel, tho (KN-t. There nre tunny great musician, Chopin mid Clieriiblul among them. Hero Is the iimueof Hahnemann, found er of lioinesMtthy, It I Interesting iimi to observe that there I n Jewlh ceme tery, mid far to 0110 side n Mohamme dan cemetery, eoiitiiluliig n small inquo wherein Ilo the queen of Oudli and her son. GAME. defeated candidate, slowly, pulling his whiskers, "you see, that ofllco only pays $2W) u year salnry, nn I didn't seo no senso In pnyln' f8f0 out to get tho Job, so I Jlst bought nieself a llttlo truck farm Instead." Hound to Ile ComfurULiW. A Phllndelphln man went to Maine on Ills vacation nnd ho found tho nights very cold nnd bedclothes scarce. "Aro theso all tho bedclothes you give?" ho Inquired of tho chnuiboruinld. This Is all that goes with ono room," she replied. Tlion glvo mo a counlo of rooms," tald ho. It takes more fortitude to llston to tho average man's Jokes than It does to listen to his troubles. Ilo I asked her to tell 1110 her nge, and she snld "IM." Hint Well-did you? Brooklyn Lifts "v"hy do you refer to hi fortune ns hush money?" U'agg He 111111I0 It Iu soothing syrup. I'hlliidelphlu Itecord. "Do you leave your valuable hi llm hotel safe when you go to a summer resort?" "Only when I leave." Judge. Htelln Isn't that Mr. Bachelor kind nnd gentle? Belln That's Just tho trouble; he stands without hitching. Brooklyn Life. 'That man hits n very shndy business record." "Why, what has bo been do ing?" "Ilo puts up awning." Balti more American. Haphedde A jieiiuy for your thoughts, Ml Pert. Ml Pert They nro not worth It. I wns merely think lug of you. Philadelphia Itecord. Hiivhitiid (nugrlly) I don't see why I ot er married you. You nro n fool. Wife (tiilliily) 1'iidoubte.lly. Other wise I would havo refused yuu. GrIL On An Divan Liner. The Wife Shall 1 have your dinner brought to your nMim, dear? Ilubmid (fi-ebly) No. Just onler It thrown overboard, CllplMll. "Out of n Job. eh?" "Yeh. de Ihis said bo wit loslu' money 011 do Plug I wns uiaklu'." "Dat so? Wot was you uiaklir?" "Mlslnkes," Philadelphia Pre. Dentist (prodding n patient' gum In search of a fragment of mot) Funny, I don't seem to feel It, Patient (Ironi cal Iu spite of the jhiIii) You'ro Iu luck! Ie Alltiales. "Who I It that rah us while wo nm nshvp?" asked the teacher, tr Ing to get tho class to mII the word "burg lar." 'De gas meter!" shouted the boys In unison, Chicago New. Assistant This poet says that tho last two vers- of his poem may Im omitted, If you think It I desirable. Alitor I'll do better than that. I'll omit the whole mmhii. Suincrvlllo Jour nal. 'They found n cigar In a safe that had fallen down the storte In Kan Francisco nnd wasn't the least bit dutii nged by fir" "Ye, I'le tried toslimko scleral of those cigars." Cleveland Lender. "Konlly, you know, 1 don't think Ml Huiuinergnl look nt nil atbletle." "Well?" "Well, you told me she wns always engaged Iu some college spirt." "Stupid I I said 'engaged to.' "Phlln delphln Pre. Mistress What made you angry with the doctor nml tell ti I tn not to euiuo any more? Bridget ll-oain he ntd ho thought ho would end mo to a warmer climate, nnd I mil on ter him. Ijs Angeles News. "Do you think that wealth brings pine?" "No," answered Mr. Dtistlu Htai. "It doesn't bring happiness. But It give a man a little bit of option about the kind of worry ho will tako 011." Washington Star, "Pn, what's the difference lietweon n profession and n trade?" 'The man who works at n trade quits when his eight hours nro up. The man who fol lows n profession ha to keeji 011 until hi work I done." Chicago Iteconl Herald. "Don't you like to hear tho wind whistling through tho wood?" nsked the xietlcal one. "Well," replied tho practical one, "If I'm out In tho forest I do; hut If tho wood I Hindu up Into n ?'.' II lite, I can't say that I do." You- ker StiiliMinnu. "Yes," said the condescending youth, "I am taking fencing lossons." "Good !" answered Parmer Corutossel. "I alius said you was goln' to turn Iu an' do aoimithlii' useful. What's your special ty golu' to be rail, stono or bnrlied wire?" Washington star, "Well, sir," brusquely Inquired tho girl's father, "what can 1 do for you?" "Why er I called, sir," stammered tho timid suitor, "to seo If er you would glvo assent to my marriage to your daughter." "Not n cent, sir I Not a cent ( Gooddny." Scissors. A school lonelier, ono dny during tho hour for drawing, suggested to her pu pils that each draw what ho or sho would llko to bo when grown up. At tho oud of the lesson ono llttlo girl showed nn empty slnto. "Why," snld tho teacher, "Isn't there anything you would llko to bo when you grow up?" "Yes," said tho llttlo girl, "I would Ilka to bo married, but I don't know how to draw It." Life. Ill llrusuii, "My dear Mr. Mngnute, why don't you suu that fellow who Is openly ac cusing you mid your trust of using cor rupt methods In business?" "My dear sir, I would not dignify the fellow's charges with n reply." "Noi I suppoMi a reply wouldn't an swer." Baltimore American. It Is every married mau'a opinion that all wives aro frank. . I . ,i ..Aj