The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-01-15
CHAPTER v.-CoNrINurp.


The sound of the voice was intermit-
tent There would be a few words,
then pause, and so on. could make
NO gen'f of the few disjointed sentences.
II lasted but few minutes. Indeed, so
brief was the conversation, il that Is
what 1t was, there was no time 20 make
I. an investigation.
After long period of anxious listen
Ing settled down again for sleep. And
when at last slumber came, IL was
troubled. Vague, shadowy dreams fit
ted across my consciousness, and
Through them all was sort Of premo-
milton OF future events, which seemed
TO have bearing upon the robbery.
The next morning was awakened by
the sun shining in my face. Hardly
had l got my eyes open and my senses
aroused to my new surroundings, when
loud and long-continued humping
on the front door caused me TO spring
out of bed. Hastily DOMINIC few gar
ments, went to the door and opened
H.
Mrs. Snyder was standing there, and
an unmistakable look of relief came
49, AtA AaNC Nhtn BIC saw II
"Ach myl you schleep so sount vas
afrait somesing de matterl" she said.
"Breakfas' vas retty long dime alretty."
All right. I'll be right over and eat
It," l replied.
While was dressing the recollection
of the strange voice OF the last night
came to me. Now. in the broad glare OF
the forenoon, when all mystery takes
flight and the Authorizations of the
darkness become trivial. wondered If
), my imagination had played me a trick.
1t seemed as though / had heard the
voice In dream, so unreal did the cir
cumstance appear now.
was standing by the huge chimney.
|xhen again, breaking in upon my
thoughts, came the sound OF that mys
terions small voice.
AS on the night before, there were no
completed sentences; only word be-
tween pauses of various duration. The
sounds were palmer, however; not loud.
CT, but more distinct.
Here was a mystery indeed, one which
did not choose only the shades OF night
for its manifestations, but came in the
daytime. as though possessed Of such
subtle and unaccountable qualities that
II might defy research.
After the voice had ceased, and con-
tinued my toilet, the sound of talking,
coming from the walk outside, reached
me.
glanced out of the window, and saw
Sarah and Mrs. Snyder again in most
earnest conversation.
Somewhat surprised TO sec my old
nurse SO early in the day, called TO
her:
Hello, Sarahl What's the trouble?
What brought you here at this timer"
zach, Mel, bud am glad TO see you'll"
she exclaimed. 81 couldn't schleep all
night"
Now, that was too bad" 1 said.
"What kept you awaken
II vas thinlin' of you all alone IN dis
on house, and so much strnngeness
aloud it," the good soul replied, with
her honest old face Upturned TO me.
"That was very foolish. Nothing js
going TO happen TO me-" ] said, lightly,
nEsthough was not so sure Of il now.
u When / went outside the two women
were still talking. and there was an
awe-striclxen expression on each face.
what are you two superstitious old
girls doing now?" asked. Matching
up more mysterious tales"
Mrs. Snyder gravely shook her brad,
N though seriously condemning levity
on supernatural subjects. Sarah rest
ed her hand on my arm, and gazed up
into my face. There was deep concern
In every line of her counteuance.
mel, you como wiz me-" she said,
leading the way. i followed around
the corner Of the house, and she stopped
before n window, the shutters of which
were closed.
"Looki" she exclaimed, pointing to-
ward the shutters. Mrs. Snyder says
dat vas not dere yesterday"
Like those OF most Pennsylvania
lighthouses, the downstairs windows
were provided with solid board shut
ters.
In the center of this particular pair
,vns small round hole. from the edges |
OF which few chips running with the
grain of the wood were broken.
"welI. what OF it?" asked, hoping |
that / could avoid giving an explana-
ton. for / was trifle ashamed of my
self for firing at my own reflection.
.Somepody shot through de shutter
and try to kill you, maybe. lisa bullet
hole. nint it7 oh. Mel, didn't you near
r.? Mrs. Snyder heard IL from her
house. md she look out her window and 1
snw a man runnin' AMY down de road. :