Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-01-15
4 TERRIBLE SECRET
The Curse Of the More
lands.
BY LEON LEWIS.
CHATTER vI-1Continued.l


the glass of his guest a second time, "for
asking you to my table without having
had the honor Of previous acquaint-
ance."
~No excuses are necessary, my dear
sir" returned Radd, beginning to feel a
little more at his ease, although tremor
still shook him every time his gaze en-
countered the sleek Hindoo lowering
behind the masters chair. al am
delighted to make your acquaintance,
sirl"
hen permit me to ring at once for
our supper" said the host, touching a
siiVer-toned bell placed near him. "For
my part, am impatient to do it justice.
Tippool"
The Hindoo fastened to open the
kitchen door, at nod from his master,
when tall and robust Bengalese woman
came into the dining-room, bearing a
large tray which contained all the
essentials of a repast of several covers,
Including the fine loin Of roast beef
whose appetiZing odors had previously
fixed Radd's attention.
To describe the wild stare Of the
startled plOtter is no easy matter.
The huge, massive circletS of gold on
the fingers and in the ears of the East
Indian woman, the flaming bandana tow
ering upon her head, her tawny complex
ion; the deep, liquid blackness Of her
eyes; and the weird blending of colors
displayed by the folds of her ample robe
all gave Radd a sense of mingled Won
der and terror.
He could only continue to stare as
Tippoo gave his assistance to the new
conner, and the couple proceeded, with a
celebrity as wonderful as their silence, to
arrange upon the table a repast that
would have tempted the most Indifferent
Sybarite.
3 s'Of course you will try the roast beef,
Mr.. Moreland?" remarked the host, as he
seized carving-knife and fork and pro
ceed ID to carve the loin. "What is your
Preference"
81 am not at all particular, sir, " re-
piled Radd, pinching his hands as they
met under the edge of the table, to be
sure that he was not dreaming. "a lit
: tie of the fat with an outside piece, If it's
just as handy"
@Ah, well done, then?" returned the
host as he helped his guest. "Our tastes
agree perfectly. Kettle, the vegetables"
Host and guest were quickly helped to
everything they desired, and the manner
of the former continued so kind and at
.tentive that Radd readily assented to the
demands of his appetite, as sharpened by
the glass of wine he had taken, and be-
gan giving adequate attention to the
tempting repast which had been SO
strangely placed before him.
Little more was said, in fact, until the
appetite of the host and guest had been
in q great measure appeased, but not
once did Radd find the Hindoo and the
Bengalese woman near him, in the atten-
tive service they gave him, without pro-
found nervous tremOr, so deeply was he
Impressed by their appearance and man
ner.
AS the meal progressed, however, the
generous East India wine Radd con-
tinued to imbibe did not fail of its due
effects, and gradually he grew calmer
and less apprehensive, at length going so
far as to laugh heartily at some of the
pleasant observations of his host.
Il am glad to see you feeling more at
home with me, F" remarked the latter,
after one of these laughs. "You seemed
at first quite startled at my presence at
The Elmsi"
$50 was, SIR" returned Radd, "and
am likely to remain so if you do not
do me the honor of telling me who you
arel"
"What! are you ignorant of my iden-
tity?"
aAs much so, confess, as if my eyes
never had the pleasure of resting upon
you"
%Why, I am the very man of whom
you were speaking not long ago to Vance
Wyeville-"
@What-what man?"
"Mr. Chapman"
Radd started, pushing his chair back
from the table, and looking as If his
supper had suddenly sOured upon his
stomach.
~The husband of your niece, you
know" pursued the host, with a singular
smile.
Radd withdrew still further, staring at
his entertainer with wild, blood-shot
eyes.
@Yes, sir, Mr.. Chapman, the master of
a three-masted schooner which trades
between Chicago and Buffalo, =" continued
the host, as his strange smile deepened.
At have had terrible quarrel with Jes-
sic, and am not likely to visit this neigh
borhood again for some time to come,
but you and I viii always be good
friends, Mr.. Moreland."
Radd uttered a suppressed shrek,
carrying his hands to his head.
He comprehended 1t all, or at least
thought he did.
He was hallucinated-the sport of a
hideous Illusion.
He was being punished for lying.
He was taking supper with phan-
tom.
@Helpl murderi" he cried, running his
fingers through his hair and springing to
his feet; ave got 'em againI"
The host made a gesture to Tippoo,
who fastened to ignite something re-
sembling an ordinary psrlOr match and
pass it under Radios nose.
The next instant the guest reeled, and
would have fallen headlong If Tippoo
had not received him IN his stout arms
and lowered him gently to the floor.
1t must have been some ten minutes
later when Radd recovered his conscious
ness and opened his eyes.
He found himself in total darkness,
and could not at first make out where he
was or what had happened.
Gaining his feet, he CROPPED aimlessly
about few moments, and then lighting q
match, surveyed his surroundings.
He was still in the dining-room, but he