Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-08-13

The Door swung Open.
without finding a trace. He did not
look into the sick room. but he listened
in passing and heard the low tones OF
his mothers voice as she cOmforted
Louise. Presently he came to the
small chamber at the head of the main
stairs. LIZ was the first door he had
tried that did not open. The doctor
was sravely affected by this fact.
After a momentary hesitation he call
ed down the stairs:
Mrs. Hubbard. step into the hall.
please"
Betsey obeyed slowly.
Move a little way toward the other
side" said the doctor; that's right.
Now, can you see this door,
"Yes. sir" she answered.
"Will you remain there and keep
your eyes on il till / come down.
I'll try to-" said Betsey nervously.
The doctor continued his search, hur-
ryins, but neglecting nothing i'm thor
oughness. He descended TO the main
floor by the back stairs, and in the
course OF his search came to the
"shop." The door was open, and in
the gathering gloom all within it look
ed exactly as it did when he and Phil
IN hnid hieiut llth ltIIu1CtOI1 en-
animation. Mechanically he closed the
door. but before he had gone two steps
away he returned to open il again. He
found that he could not do SO. The
combination lock. had worked and he
knew there was no getting into the
shop now without the professors
knowledge of the combination unless
the door should he battered down or
/ the lock- no hlpNu RI ninpar
Regretting his thoughtlessness he
passed on, saw that Betsey was keep
ing her watch faithfully and that Mrs.
Appleton remained in the dining room.
and vent to the basement. The same
t~horoughness was applied there, with
the same result-nothing.
DR.. Williams returned to the main
floor.
Il haven't seen or heard a thing
said Betsey.
Very WELL" responded the doctor.
''go TO Miss Willis room and prepare
the table for supper. Mrs. Appleton
viii you help take some food up
stairs?r
The women. apparently treasured by
his tranquil manner. set about obeying.
by the way" said the doctor, I'm
~concernedly, did either OF you lock the
ledge door,
Il did," replied Mrs. Appleton. II
locked 1t and saw that all the windows
were fastened when we went up
stairs"
The doctor nodded. That settled a
good deal. The professor had not left
the house via the ledge, for the exits
were all fastened upon the inside: he
had NOT roma nv tho YaDI fa. n n,;.<
would have seen him. Taere was only
n other way-the Miniski. The pro-
fessor might have jumped from the
piazza or from some window, but the
doctor thought that very unlikely. The
one conclusion, therefore. was that
Prof. Drummond was still in Fairview.
and that he was even now in the little
chamber from which Starkweather had
been said TO disappear.
While the women were conveying
dishes and food to Amelia's room the
doctor kept his eyes upon the door of
the little chamber. He had Betsey
bring him writing materials. and sit
ting in the hall where he could see the
door. he wrote to Squire Taylor a brief
but urgent note, asking that the con-
stable be sent with all authority to
NV hOaot ILL lltAtht lItrl
When this was done he called the serv-
ing women 10 him.
II presume" he said. 'that you will
be willing TO take a message for me to
viIlage?"
Betsey glanced ut the outer door as
IL the growing darkness frightened her.
Mrs. Appleton looked calmly at the
floor.
There is NJ need of your staying
here" exclaimed the doctor, with some
Impotence. and if you hope for a
peaceful moment the rest of your lives
you'd better GO. Nothing can harm you
on the way"
I'D like TO 60, Martha" said Betsey.
II hate TO stay here"
Mrs. Appleton muttered an assent,
and the doctor gave the note to Betsey.
Deliver it," he said, ''and tell MI.
Taylor as much or as little as you
please. You may go to the hotel if you
like, and tell Mr.. Hawkins / sent you
to stay there tonight"
They went up TO their room for hats
aud wraps, and the doctor waited for
them In the hall. When they left the
house he bolted the door after them.
Then he went again to the chamber
door. After pressing upon it with all
his might he saw that it would not
yield, except ut the expenditure of
great violence. This he wanted to
avoid, IL possible. for Amelia's sake.
1t was his plan, IL the constable came,
to have the house guarded through the
night; then. II it seemed safe, he would
have Amelia removed, and all Fairview