The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-23
CHAPTER VIII.
On the Stairs.

room was so dark that I do not know
as I should have awakened then, If
my habits of exact punctuality had not
been aided by gentle knock at my
door.
Who's there?" [ called, for 1 could
not say Come in till 1 had moved
my bed and made way for the door
to open.
Hannah with warm water" said
voice, at which I made haste to rise.
Hannah was the woman who had wait
ed on us at dinner.
The sight of her pleasant counte-
nance, which nevertheless looked tri-
file haggard 1 thought, was a welcome
relief after the somber features of the
night. Addressing her with my usual
brusqueneEs, but with quite my usual
kindness, I asked how the young ladies
were feeling this morning.
Her answer made a great show of
frankness.
"Oh, they are much as usual" said
She. Miss Loreen is in the kitchen
and Miss Lucetta will soon be here to
inquire how you are. 1 hope you pass
ed a good night yourself, maam."
l had slept more than I ought to
perhaps and made haste to reassure
her IS to my condition. Then seeing
that little talk would not be unwel-
come to this hearty woman, tired to
death possibly with life in this dreary
house, made some excuse for keeping
her few minutes, saying as I did so:
What an immense dwelling this IS
for four persons to live in, or have
you another inmate which [ have not
SEEM"
I thought her buXom color showed a
momentary sign of failing, but it all
came back with her answer, which was
given in a round, hearty voice.
"Oh, I'm the only maid, madam. I
cook and sweep and all. [ couldn't
abide another near me. Even Mr.. Sims
bury, who tends the COW and horse
and who only comes in for his dinner,
worrits me by spells. 1 like to have
my own way in the kitchen, except
when the young ladies choose to come
in. Is there anything more you want,
ma'am, and will you nave tea or COT
fee for breakfast"
I told her that [ always drank cof-
fee in the morning and would have lik-
ed to add another question or two but
she gave me no chance. AS she went
out 1 saw her glance at my candle
stick. There was only a half burned
end in it. She is calculating, too, how
long I sat up, thought l.
Lucetta stood at the head Of the
stairs as I went down.
''Will you excuse me for few mo-
ments?" said she. Il am not quite
ready to follow you, but will be SOON"
Il will take a look at the grounds"
ment; then her face lighted up. BE
sure you don't encounter the dog" she
cried and slipped hastily down a side
hall 1 had not noticed the night be-
fore.
"Ah, a good way to keep me in
thought I. But 1 shall see the grounds
yet, if 1 have to poison that dog" Not
withstanding, 1 made no haste to leave
the house. Some might think that Lu-
cetta had got the better of me, but
that is not good reason for placing
myself in uncalled for danger. 1 don't
believe in tempting Providence, espe-
cially where a dog is concerned.
Instead of that I stood still and look
ed up and down the halls, endeavoring
to get some idea of their plan and of
the location of my own room in ref
erence to the rest.
1 found that the main hall ran at
right angles to the long corridor down
which I had just come, and noting that
the doors opening into 1t were Of a size
and finish vastly superior to those I
had passed in the corridor just men
toned judged that the best bedrooms
all lay front and that I had been quar-
tered at the end Of what had once
been considered as the servants hall.
At my right, as I looked down the
stairs, ran a wall with a break, be-
yond which was what looked like an
opening into another corridor, and, In
deed, I afterward learned that the long
series of rooms of which mine was the
last had its counterpart on the other
side Of this enormous dwelling, giving
to the house the shape of a long, square
U.
was looking in some wonderment at
this opening and marveling over the
extravagant hospitality Of those days
which necessitated such a number Of
rooms in a private gentleman's home
when / heard a door open beyond 1T and
two voices speaking. One was rough
and careless Enthusiastically that Of Will
liam KnollyS. The other was slow and
timid and was just as Enthusiastically
that of the man who had driven me to
this house the day before. Ihey were
talking of some elderly person and I
had good sense enough not to allow my
Indignation to blind me to the fact that
by that elderly person they meant me.
This is important, for their words were
not without significance.
"Ifow shall we keep the old girl out
of the house till it is all over?" was
what heard drop from Williams surly
lips.
"Lucetta has a plan,' was the hardly
distinguishable answer. Il am to
take"-
That was all I could hear; a closing
door shut off the rest, but that was
in this house Of a dark If not mySter
ious character, and the attempts made
by these two interesting and devoted
girls to cover up this fact by explana-
tons founded on their poverty had been
but subterfuges after all. Grieved on
their account, but inwardly grateful to
the imprudence of this more than reck-
less brother for this not to be mis-
taken glimpse into the truth, I slowly
descended the stairs in that state of
complete self possession which is given
by a secret knowledge of the intentions
formed against US by those whose &C
tons we have reason to suspect.
Benceforth I had but one duty-to
penetrate the mystery of this house
hold Whether it was the one suspected
by Mr. Gryce or another of a less evil
and dangerous character hardly mat
tered in my eyes. While the blight Of
1t rested upon this family eyes would
be lowered and heads shaken at their
name. This, if 1 could help it, must no