The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1891-02-07
4 Dead Mans Vengeance.
By EDGAR FAWOETT.
copyright. All r4xnts reservcd.l


Louis shook his head with a low, deep
sigh. Through the open window near
which he sat glimmered the placid level
of Long Island sound, blue in tho slant
afternoon sunshine as though it had been
one monstrous slab of polished turquois,
and fr1nyed ut it's rocky shore with dark
bosl,s of cedar, large leaved hickories
and small. yet stalwart, onlss. Loui; let
his eyes traverse the rolling lawn and
then rest on the exquisite sea view be-
yond. Presently, in u musing voice, he
said:
"You have never told me, once and
for all, Gerald, whether or no you be-
1ieve in the immortality of the soul. Do
your
Gerald looked puzzled for IN instant.
'sYou know it isn't much in my line,
Lou, to think at all on these questions, ~
he at length said. I'm sure," he went
On, Its my most earnest hope that we're
Immortal after death. As Cor my be-
lief, however,
you're like me there, !" broke in Louis,
turning his black eyes upon Gerald with
sudden intentness. Il don't believe: I
only hope. But I'd like to believe; I'd
like 1t above all other things"
SIS that the haunting idea you spoke
or asked Gerald.
''Oh, I suppose that's what makes me
% forlornly blue" ef
"At last you admit there IL something,
Louis. Well, all the more reason for
you to make q stout effort and crush
down the devilish nuisance. It hasn't
any real existence, anyhow; it's born
only Of an unhealthy fancy. Good heav-
ems! we've all got to die, and none Of u.
NO. not ono, really knows what life, II
nfe at all, waits beyond the grave"
I'D like to know-if could" muir
INJURED Louis in q low, stubborn voice.
IF you could! So would everybody
II he could"
Louis seemed to take no heed to this
rather sarcastic response. I'm certain
wsy." he pursued, ''you and !, Gerald.
are peculiarly placed. We both own es-
tates which we shall probably never part
with during our ifetimes. On either Of
these there is q family vault. The
chances of one Of us being buried In each
Of those vaults must be excessively
strong"
"In the name Of everything I'M
earthly" said Gerald, as his friend
paused, "what can you be driving at?''
"Simply this" replied Louis, whose
manner and tones were now as calm as if
he had been passing judgment ON some
very ordinary and prcsaic question; lit
would give me great satisfaction if you
would make compact with me, and
the compact to which allude has been
one whose most minute detail I have
carefully thought out" He went on
speaking for some little time after this,
and, as he finally paused, Gerald gave an
exclamation of acute surprise.
"Will Iagree?' rang his words. "Why,
Lou, it's altogether too crazy a kind Of
achemc: just imagine my going alone
ct midnight into the vault where you're
lying dead!' =
II somehow haven't been imagining
that" returned Louis. with quaint
little motion. of the head. "rve the
fancy, Gerald, that shall survive you
and perhaps by anumber Of years. You
see, I'm not especially strong Of consti-
tuition, yet live quiet life and put no
tax upon my forces of endurance. You,
however, who are as strong as an OK,
pay very little heed to your physical
powers. You're like a man who draws
thoughtlessly on large bank account,
and who may wake up some morning
to find his check politely returned by the
paying teller. I, on the other hand. am
like man with q small deposit, yet who
treats it in a most economic spirit, and
hence makes no mistake about the sur
plus that he might rely upon in case Of
any sudden embarrassment"
Gerald gave one of his loud, Joyous
laughs, and got up from his chair, going
to window and staring out of it, with
both hands thrust into his pockets.
II see, LOU" he said, "you calculate
confidently on my dying before you do"
"Oh, not confidently. But
''Yes, / understand. Well, this COM
pact could DO carried out by the survi-
vOr, of course, and in absolute solitude.
as you say. You could receive from me
a key to our vault. I from you key to
yours. Say that died before you did.
On the first night following my death
you could steal to the vault, unlock it
and wait inside with lighted candle
for the space of three hours, after hay
ing removed the lid of my coffin, so as
to make my face and part of my form
clearly visible. Then you could en-.
deavor by every possible effort of will to
receive some sign from me that was
aware Of your vigil. All this, as you
propose it, my boy, might be perfectly