Omaha daily bee., 1896-04-12

| saw an arched stone roof above our heads and
broad deal shelves all round u.s. covered with
| dusty dishes. 1t was the pantry.
"I'll show you round" said Jim, merriy
and pushing the door open, he led the way
| into the hall. / remembered the high oak
| paneled walls with the heads of deer jutting
| out and a single white bust which sent my
| heart into my mouth, in the corner. Many
| rooms opened out of this, and we wandered
| from one to the other, the kitchens, the still
| room, the morning room, the dining room,
| all filled with the same choking smell Of dust
| and of mildew.
This is where they played the cards,
Jim,'' said in hushed voice. 1T was on
| that very table,
"Why, here are the cards themselves, !"
cried he. and he pulled brown towel from
something in the center of the sideboard.
Sure enough it was pile Of playing cards
forty packs, / should think at the least
which had lain there ever since that magic
game which was played before 1 was born.
'I wonder where that stair leads" said
Jim.
Don't go UP there, Jim" cried,
clutching at his arm. THAT must lead to
the room Of the murder"
How do you know that?"
"The vicar said that they saw on the
ceiling-Oh, Jim, you can see 1t even now!'
He held up his candle, and there was a
great dark smudge upon the white plaster
above us.
81 believe you are right" said he, "but,
anyhow. I'm going up to have look at it."
Don't Jim, dont! ! cried.
Tut, Roddy, you can stay here IL you are
afraid. won't be more than a minute.
There's no use going on ghost hunt unless
my God, there's something coming down
the stairs!'
heard it, too, shuffling footstep in the
room above and then creak from the steps,
and then another creak, and another. l
saw Jim's face as IL it had been carved out
OF ivory, with his parted lips and his staring
eyes fixed upon the black square of the
stair opening. He still held the light, but
his fingers twitched, and with every
twltch the shadows sprang from the walls
to the ceiling. As to myself, my knees
gave way under me, and I found myself
with a scream frozen in my throat. And
still the steps came slowly from stair to stair,
Then, hardly daring to look and yet un-
able to turn away my eyes, saw hgure
dimly outlined in the corner upon which the
stair opened There was silence In which
could hear my poor heart humping, and
then when looked again the figure was
gone, and the low creak, creak was heard
once more upon the stairs Jim sprang
after it. and was left half fainting in the
moonlight.
But 1t was not for long He was down
again in minute, and, passing his hand un-
der my arm, he half led and half carried me
out of the house. 1t was not until we were
in the fresh night air again that he opened
his mouth.
"Can you stand, Roddy?"
''Yes, but I'm shaking"
80 am l." said he, passing his hand
over his forehead. ~ ask your pardon,
Roddy. I was fool to bring you on such
an errand. But / never believed ip such
things / know better now"
Gould 1t have been a man. Jim?" asked, |
plucking up my courage now that / could
hear the dogs barking on the farms.
'It was a spirit. Roddy."
"How do you know?"
Because / followed 1t and saw 1t vanish |
into a wall as easily as an eel into sand |
Why, Roddy, what's amiss now?"
My fears were all back upon me- and |
every nerve creeping with horror. Take |
me away, jim! Take me away" j cried.
/ was glaring down the avenue and his
eyes followed mine. Amid the gloom Of
the oak trees something was coming toward
us.
"Quiet, Roddyv whispered Jim. by
heaven, come what may, my arms are going
round II this time"
We crouched as motlonless as the trunks
behind us. Heavy steps ploughed their way
through the soft gravel, and broad figure
upon II like a tiger. You're not a spirit
any way" he cried.
The man gave shout OF surprise, and
then growl OF rage. What the deuce"
he roared and then, I'm break your neck If
you don't let 60"
The threat might not have loosened Jim's
grip, but the voice did. "Why, uncle! he
,ried.
"Well I'm blest II 1t isn't Boy Jim! And
what's this? Why, it's young Master Rod
ley Stone, as I'm living sinner! What In
he world are you two doing up at Cliffe
Royal at this time OF night?"
'Wo had all moved out into the moonlight,
md there was Champion Harrison with a
zig bundle on his arm, and such look Of
mazement upon his face as would have
rought a smile back onto mine had my
eart not still been cramped with fear.
Were exploring" said Jim.
Exploring, are you? Well, I don't think
ou were meant TO be Captain Cooks, either
you. for never saw such q pair OF peeled