Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-07-02


crossed the little chamber to the win
dow. Placing his hand on the sash, he
asked:
Who occupies this room
Nobody" replied the professor, his
voice hardly louder than a whisper
The window is fastened" said the
doctor, and he looked down at the river
in order to conceal all signs of excite
ment that was growing within hiL.
Yes" muttered Professor Drum
mond, "he couldn't have got out that
way; but he was dead, tell YOU
dead"
DR.. Williams turned. He saw Louise
and Amelia, more frightened, appar-
emily, than if the corpse of Stark
weather lay before them. They were
Clingng to one another, their awe
stricken gaze fixed on the professor in
amazed inquiry. The professor him
self was trembling violently.
There is nothing to be gained or
learned by standing here" exclaimed
the doctor. Let us so below. Miss
Drummond, if you have spirits in the
house, or even VINE. you'd better get a
glass for your father
Il don't need anything, protested
The professor, starting slowly toward the
stairs; but Louise had darted away at
the doctors suggest ton, and when her
father reached the main floor sna was
waiting for him with brandy and water.
He took the drink eagerly and tossed
it off with a single gulp Meantime,
DR. Williams had quietly and quickly
opened every door Iear the heal of the
stairs, and glanced into the chambers.
lie had felt that the professor must be
somehow mistaken about having placed
StarkweatEer's body on the bed il, the
little room. AS he made his invcstiga-
ton and found nothing to suggest that
any Of the other rooms had been re-
Gently occupied, his mind became more
and more bewildered, until he started
downstairs in profound irritation
1t is not a common experience TO face
what appears to be a fact, and IN inl-
possibility at the same time. Every
body, however knows what it is 10 mis-
lay some familiar article, pen, Il book,
or an article of clothing, and to look
vainly all over the house for it. One is
convinced that the missing article Is
somewhere within reach, and yet what
seems to be an absolutely thorough,
systematic search fails to reveal it,
Then the searcher is inclined to stamp
the foot and rail at the universe in
sheer mental helplessness.
Such a condition of mind but hun
dred times more intense, was the doc
tors. A scientist, 50 far as his train
ing went, he had a horror of mysteries
and in the plain facts of life, b. they
commonplace or tragic, he could not
admit what is generally known as a
mystery. He would not admit one
here-but when he tried to explain the
situation, to think of causes, he Gound
his mind in confusion, his thoughts and
impressions chaotic He said to him
self impatently that Professor Drum
moi was crazy; that he had been the
victim of hallucination, and that Stark
weather most likely would walk calmly
in upon them before the morning was
over.
Before he came to the bottom of the
stairs it occurred tic him that demon
strati0n of her fathers insanity would
be a terrible blow to Louise The pro-
fessor, glass in hand, was leaning
against a mantel over a fireplace in the
broad hall.
You will know how to pardon my
agitation, doctor" he said The dou-
BILE snock of this event has unnerved
me-"
There is nothing harder to bear re-
sponded the doctor quietly than that
that is incomprehensible Let's sit
down and review this matter method
ally. We shall doubtless come to an
understanding of it that will make all
clear"
Il am afraid not" said the professor,
obviously. He hesitated a moment,
and then, saying, Come on, led the
way TO the dining room
Doctor" whispered Louise, catching
him by the sleeve, and speaking IN
whisper. do you think something IS the
matter with papa?'
Il cannot tell yet" answered DR..
Williams, unable TO prevaricate even to
save her feelings when thus directly
addressed.
Don't keep anything from me- she
pleaded, regarding him wistfuly.
mo, Miss Drummond, shall tell you
the truth" he said and his heart beat
with painful eagerness as he saw her
eyes fixed hopefully and trustfully upon
him.
She returned to Amelia, seeing that
the doctor wished to speak to her
father alone. Professor Drummond
had sat down, and was resting his head
on his hands when the doctor entered.
1T was this way" he began, immedi-
ately, looking up He and | had just
finished breakfast. There had been
some general conversation, in the
course of which he remarked upon his