The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-04-16

q
an tell you what it is" reioined
Duncan; "the less you say about youl
last nights proceedings the better. It.
more and more evident to me that yor
had been dining out, and I'm not qnits
sure you have recovered from the effecti
yet"
Before he had finished the sentence
/ bad crossed the room, and was stand
ing in amazement before the old oat
press.
''What's the matter now?" asked Dun
can, seeing my look of establishment.
"What in the name of Heaven doe,
it all mean?" / gasped. al declare
that press was shut and locked when
left last night 1 know it was; for
wanted to get something out of it, and
couldn't find the key; now. here is the
key in the lock. and the door OPEN"
Come, come, that's too much! Con,
fess, at once, that you had exceeded
your usual quantum last night. It'i
evident, old man, that you don't quite
know what happened"
l thought he seriously believed what
he said, although he knew me 10 be one
of the most abstemious men living.
felt really annoyed.
"Duntan,' I rejoined, II never was
more clear headed than was last night
/ | remember, distinctly, every circum-
stance that occurred, to the minutest
particular. There is something more in
this than you seem to imagine, some
thing which impresses me more than
I have the power to express. l wish to
Heaven that ] could induce you to
| consider the matter in serious light"
Middleton had gone into his own
room.
Duncan turned and shut the door,
and then sat down on the sofa with a
more serious face than before.
"The fact is" he answered. II do re-
gard this in more serious light than
you imagine; only, as you and l are the
persons chiefly implicated, / don't wish
to alarm the house was impressed
with your face and manner when you
looked at the photograph, and your de-
scription of the person you saw is SO ex-
aetly that of poor Heseltine, that, who
ever it was, it amounts to more than a
coincidence. I can't attempt to explain
it; but it makes me feel anything hut
com Portable, can assure you Have
you made up your mind what to do?''
"What can be done? The figure, what
ever it was, took no notice of me, and,
with the exception of this open cabinet,
it has left no results"
"What is the day of the month";
Duncan suddenly asked 'i '- ,'a
"The goth. What has that to do with
it." 1tie- fs.a frf-- @
Duncan turned pale.
"This is the very day he died." he
said, in low tone,~sfand on this very
sofa. 1t was here ! found him, lying
with his head on one side, and with
quite peaceful smile on bis lips"
Duncan" said, after few minutes
reflection, will you come here with me
tonight? The thing may be all delu-
sion; some strange, inexplicable coinci.
dence, and flight of fancy but still feel
a sort of duty to try and solve the mys-
terry"
Unfortunately. it is impossible !
must go up to Folkestone this afternoon,
as l have to meet a man there this even
ing-a very particular appointment
about church window-before he goes
abroad. Stay, though" he added, "it
would be possible for me TO come back
by late train. On second thought, l
would rather not stay there over night.
Give me Bradshaw"
/ handed him the required book
While he was looking over it Middle
ton returned. He said he had been all
over the upper eoor, the rooms were
every one locked, and there was no sign
of any one having been there the pre-.
vious night.
1O0A nave DCCI
playing you trick" he said. "StiIl
it was an odd thing about the photo
graph"
Duncan left the room, taking the book
with him. "Ill see you again by and
by" he said, as he departed.
Middleton stayed to help me replace
the picture which had slipped out of it,
frame the night before. Half an houl
after We were all busy at our respective
tasks, and had to a certain extent ban
ished from our minds the strange event.
which had happened the night before.
Later in the day Duncan came to m'
again.
"I'll tell you what I have decided on,
said he. 81 cannot help thinking tha
this mysterious affair, coming at such
time when the family are in such need ha
something to do with the lest picture.
don't know why but It amounts almos
to conviction. I've made up my minC
to come back tonight, and will join yol
here if you will come. Ifnothing NOR
happens, think we may safely conclud
that it is some delnsion. Are you Ger
tain you never saw that photograph O
. poor Heseltine when looking over IN,
book.
: 81 am quite positive never saw il
for / meyer looked into your book; il
fact l never knew you had one in you
room. 1 am equally certain I never sa,
, any one like the figure | met in the hal
! for it impressed me deeply. must hav
r remembered it. What time shall you
back tonight"
81 find there is train which vii
, bring me to Charing Cross at 1875.
. it is in decent time / ought to be her
| by eleven o'clock. ! suppose you won
care to he inside alone. Will meet m
I at the door, say at eleven sharp?"
/ reflected few minutes.
: ~ don't wish to lay claim to any eA
4 traordinary amount of pluck" saiC
!. land if consulted my inclination,
!. should propose TO meet yon at the doc
IL 4