Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-11-20

through which l had come, and ran
down the passage leading towards the
main part of the house. On through
the second and wider one I went, open
ing a door here and there, but finding
only darkness and emptiness within.
| reached the large entrance hall at
last, and shouted loudly: Here. you!
John James. not knowing in the
absence of the master and his guest
whom to call upon.
No one answered, and after the hor-
ror of the unearthly cry that l had
heard, and now the sound OF my own
lusty voice, the silence that fell seemed
curiously brooding and ominous.
| shouted a second time, and was
then rewarded by the sight of the re-
spectable-looking butler. His face ap-
peared-or l imagined it-even more
SNUG than before in its expression,
and there was something suggestive OF
injured dignity as we'll.
Did you call, sir?~ he inquired
with an irritating meekness.
Il did, indeed l returned rather
sharply. I've been looking every
where for bell but couldn't find one.
| have every reason to believe that
this house is on fire, somewhere in the
left wing, near the room into which
you took me, and it is certain that
someone has got caught in the flames.
+ Or Heavens sake show me the en-
trance to the tower. and come with
me to do what can be done,"
The snug look was gone, chased away
by one of blank amazement, which did
not, however, seem the sort of Mortified
surprise that might have been ex-
pected to follow on my startling an
nouncement.
I'm sure you must be entirely mis-
taken, sir he said. There is no fire,
I'm quite certain of that. There-there
may have been a cry, for as it happens
there's just been an accident-in the
kitchen
"An accident in the kitchen?" 7
echoed incredulously.
Yes, sir. You see, it was this way,
sir" Ohe fellow stammered and breath
ed hard between his words, | thought ::
The coOk-an awkward woman-set
some methylated spirit on fire, and up
set the stuff over her foot She-Im
afraid she did give a scream, sir. You
know what women are at such times.
But it's all right now The flames were
put out on the instant, sir, and one OF
the other servants is helping cook bind
up her foot. Very kind of you to take
this trouble and be anxious. sir, I'm
sure"
He was glib enough now, but his
shifty eyes were moving about. as
though looking with a certain appre-
hensiOn for some one TO arrive.
4 saw smoke and sparks coming out
of the tower as I came up to the door,
| said. doubtful about accepting this
hating explanation.
The fellow flushed to the roots of his
black oiled hair as | watched him.
Did you see that, sir?" he exclaimed
ingenuOusly. It's masters laboratory
ND there though you'd never think il
from the outside, would you? Some
things gone wrong with one of the
the apparatuses, sir-I don't know the
name for it-and the fact is, | did
suppose you were the gentleman who
had come to examine into the trouble
He was to have arrived to-day, and sc
I thought But I see, sir, as you
refer to the sparks, and seem not to
understand what makes them, must
have been mistaken"
Eyes, you are mistaken" I returned
only half satisfied, yet not caring to
allow myself morbidly to scent a mys-
terry where mystery there was none.
Would you step in here, sir, and
wait for my master?" he went on has
tily, drawing aside the portiere from
door close by. 81 shouldn't have
given you the bother of going so far
before, only I thought you'd come on
business which would take you to that
part Of the house This is the draw
ing room, sir, if you'll be pleased to