The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-01-16

49, ,a.l.asleAas4
Gathering up that .ponderous roll, the
disappointed author left the office with n
Sigh. He was not the first, nor will he be
the last t,author to heayc signs Of disappoint-
ment. Oh, ye hard-hearted publishers,
what dark account will yours be, when
all the sighs and tears OF disappointed
authors are arrayed against you on that
final day!
A day or two later, while Allen was
struggling between an article for the up
building OF Turkeys Point and the mystery
of the great stone house on the hill,
| he heard heavy step at his side and, look
| ing up, saw Mr., Strong
Sim not agwlnc 10 stand it, cried
Strong. ansrily
AS mildly as he could, the country editor
asked for nn explanation,
"Yer playin' NO Goul.n
"You arc labos.2g under grave mis-
take" Allen returned, making q great Of
fort TO keep his temper.
"No, I'm not; fur know ye ar, Didn't
ye promise me far en- squar' ye'd support
me fur sheriff.
ayes
"An' yer gwinc { 60 back on met"
"No, I'm not; unless you provoke me into
breaking my promise you will receive the
support of the Western Eepabie"
'I3ut they've got the yarn 'gwine all over
the country that yor pledged to Tom Sim
mons.n
"For sheriff, am pledged TO no one but
yourself, Mr. Strong,and at the proper time
you shall receive my hearty support" said
Allen, rising to his feet, his face flushed
with excitement "Now, pay no attention
TO the stories you hear, and keep your in
tentions TO yourself, until the time has come
for you 10 make your announcement.
II understand Well, Of yer gwiue TO
stand true TO me, it's all right, but ef ye do
go back ON me, I'm agwlne to knock the
props right out from under yc, an let We
fall hard enough to break yer own neck;
now we understand one another, don't wep
"I think we do"
"very we'll, good-day"
GOOD morning, sirh
Although pledges had been renewed, and
the ambitious candidate for sheriff had been
reassured, it was evident that he was not
fully satisfied. Both himself and Tom Sim
mons were suspicious uncOnsciously judg-
ing all men BY tholr own standard, they
were suspicious Of every body. Each feared
that some powerful influence, that great
unknown pressure which politicians early
come TO dread, would be brought TO bear
upon the editor 10 alienatC him.
They watched each other with hawk-lile
eyes, and one never went TO the printing
oillce that the other did not notice him, and
1t once surmise that he had come 10 buy of
the editor. Zach had vague belief that
the other was 10 be an opponent for the
office to which he himself aspired. That
they should be candidates for different
Offices never entered into the mind OF
either.
Allen Gray was not one to give up mys-
tory unsolved. Having fallen in love with
the young lady at the mysterious house, he
was fully determined on solution 10 the
mystery which seemed clOudlng her life
and crushing all her hopes. Notwithstand-
ing she had urged him for his sake and her
own to keep away from the stone man.
sion, on the evening after his interview
with Mr.. Strong he found himself on his
way toward the house on the hill. II was
dusk before he started, and the moon,
which had grown so old II would not shine
until late in the night, would give him no
aid.
The front part Of the house was dark and
silent as II il had been deserted for years.
This time he ventured up TO the great stone
steps and gazed through the iron wicket
gate. He could see the broad path leading
up 10 the house, which was composed OF fat,
dressed stones. A fountain was on each
side Of the path, but both were idle now.
No sign Of q living creature could be dis.
covered, nor from any Of those great, deep
windows was there 10 be seen single ray
of light. I
~ will go completely around the house." .
thought Allen, and more critically exam
inc 1t than have ever done"
On the east, west and north sides OF the !
house the walls were OF oak boards stand. I
ing upright. On his tour around the grounds
Allen frequently halted TO peep through n
crack In the wall, but could make no new
discovery.
Slight clouds almost completely obscuring
the starlight, the night had already grown
very dark. In places where the tall
oaks grew close 10 the wall II had already
become so dark that Allen was forced To
grope his way.
At last he reached the rear gate, which
was made Of thick oak boards, so close to-
gether as to be more Of door than gate