The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-04-06
"Am I so very sickY" she asked.


"No, dear. You was fevcrish and
your mind wandered little, and
was out of place and told DIR. Leigh.
ton could stay with you q day or
two as well us not for my board. I
hain't forgotten the jackets as Willie
outgrew that you sent to my Bobbie;
and had feeling for young girl with
no mothers hand in the hour O.
need"
"Oh," moaned theyoung girl. "I'm
not sick, Pm worn out! Oh, this
dreadful house! | have not slept
soundly all winter"
"Why, dcarie?"
ooh, Mrs. Hodsdon. there is some.
body in this house beside ourselves.
Beside me and the boys, | mean.
Somebody crceps about and am al.
ways listening for that step. 1t is
killing me! Oh, don't tell anyone,
did not mean to tell you, but l am so
weak. Don't, don't say o word to
DIR. Leighton. Unjust bear it. because
its all the home we have, and the boys
never had such a pretty, nice home
before, and they are doing so we'll.
and are SO good. I was not afraid at
! first. ! am not afraid now, only for
them. There may be some evil about,
though nothing has ever harmed us.
But rs soon rs !all asleep start up
and listen"
Cara was begging the old woman not
to bctray her confidence. when Dr.
Leighton came into the room.
"Iou must tell me the whole story,
Cara lie said. "Yon shall not lose
anything by it," he added.
But Cara broke out, crying, in her
weakness giving way to her emotions.
and Tor Il time the tumult would have
its way. She was brought to listen to
reason at last. .
"lt was two months alter We came
hi re-" she said, that | first heard
those creeping, creeping steps. tried
to think it was the trees. or the wind,
or the eat. but heard them when
there was no wind at all, and the cat
was n eep OH the foot OF my bed, and
the things We're moved from their
| places about the house, and lately |
nave missed food. That's since
would not allow myself to believe TINT
u spirit haunted the place. / have
searched every spot and nook in this
house. There is only the space above
no stairs"
ooh, DIR. Leighton" groaned Mrs.
1lodsdon, "then, OF course, it's
spirits"
"Nonsense."
DIR. Leighton contentcd himself will,
prescribing for the sick and over.
wearled girl, and after a few days OF
care arranged drive for her in his
new buggy, with her brother Jack as
attendant.
"lou are to take q nice long drive.
| and not be back under two hours, +"
he said, smiling.
The kindness and care surrounding
Cara was new and Very pleasant to
her. AS the wheels rolled away from
tho door in the brightness of the
spring day, her trouble fell away
from her like n nightmare, and the
color came back to the p; .tty cheek.
Five minutes alter her departure
from Thistle Cottage two men were
inthe house with DIR. Leighton. They
went rapidly through it, beginning with
the cellar. Every wall was tried, with
the idea OF discovering any unknown
space or passage. Nothing unknown
was developed. at length a short
ladder was brought, and the men as
cendcd to the attic.
1t was only q hollow space beneath
the center OF the roof. quite unlighted.
But enough light penetrated the place
to show IN unkempt tigure rising from
il Iinp of cfrn 80,
ncr.
whats this? Are you after me?"
ne said, in hollow tones.
The men silently gazed on this object
with establishment, repulsion and
pity. 1t was man, but SO thick the
mask OF dirt and grim, 50 ragged the
beard and hair, grotesque the costume
of tatters from which fell feathers and
straw, it seemed some unknown crea-
ture instead OF human being.
"Great heavens! It'll is Simon Leland"
cried DR.. Leighton.
This only added to the consterna.
ton OF the other men. for Simon
Leland was the halt crazed boy who
murdered his father at Thistle Cottage
five years before. But want and
misery had given him the appearance
OF an old man.
81 don't care what you do with
me-" cried the hollow voice. "Only
give me something to eat"
Come with us and you shall have
all you want" said Dir. Leighton, not
unkindly.
Where? Down there, where the
fire and the light and the girl is?" ask
ed the wretched being and when they
nodded, he caught up q rough ladder
OF rope, quickly adjusted it and swung
himself down before them. But he
was SO weak he staggered, and they
were obliged TO help him down the
stairs to the kitchen, where Mrs. Hodg.
don, shaking with excitement and
CONSERVATION, placed food upon the
table from which he snatched it. with
out any pretence of eating from n
plate, devouring it like a half.famished
animal. When he had filled himself
he would have laid down on the
floor and gone to sleep. but that the
unaccustomed plenty sickened him.
and he began to groan and roll about.
IN short time, the sheriff, who had
been sent for, arrived, and he was
taken away. No one believed that
the poor, unidentified, half.dyin,
creature was fit subject for punish.
ment, but the county Jail was q clean
and comfortable refuge for him in his
restitution. Here he remained until
consigned to the almshouse. No re-
liable account af his career could be
obtained from him, but it is probable
that lie had sought refuge at Thistl.
Cottage in its desertion, and existed
miserably there great while before
discovered. He had prowled about
ut night searching for food, of which
he found a scanty supply, Stealing from
corn bins. pigs and poultry. and roll
bling hen roosts, eating the flesh of IT,
fowls raw. 1t was the occasional ii.
covery OF his miserable figure which
had called into existence the story o:
the place being haunted by his ghoS..
But so reduced had he become lie
! would probably have died in his lair
but for DIR. I.eighton's discovery OF
him.
DIR. Leighton kindly saved Cara from
witnessing SO much miserv. She new.
er saw Simon Leland. Her nerves
had already borne much, and that
she had been willing still to suffer in
secret for the sake OF preservin, q
good home for her young brothers was
Il fact which became known and ell.
'leared her to many hearts. Her
friends multiplied, and, when she nc.
ccpte'l as u lie companion, DIR. Leigh
t ton, the oldest friend OF all, hearty