Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-01-29
Here. here. What's the

Here! here! What's the matteA
with your" cried an imperative voice.
/ had heard it before | remembered.
1t was that of the eminently-
able-looking servant who had so
cleverly defended his masters reputa-
ton on the occasion of my former
visit TO the House by the Lock
If you're a burglar" remarked the
voice, you'd better go away while you
can. have a revolver. and my hand
is on the trigger now"
Il am no burglar" l returned. 'This
is not exactly the time of night to ex-
pect such gentry, is it? But you've
kept me waiting out here long enough.
l wish to see your master and mistress,
who l happen to know are here this
evening, and | don't mean to go away
without doing ii.
The man inside chuekled.
Mice way of amusing yourself amt
it, sir? But as it happens you'll have
to go elsewhere TO see my master and
the new mistress. | don't know where
they are-it amt likely | shouldn't
l do know they aren't in this house,
where there isn't a solitary soul but
me. AS for the time of night, that's
neither here nor there so long as I'd
chosen TO go to bed: and ! can't dress
all of minute to please anybody that
likes to come banging at the door.
You deserve to be had up for dam
aging the house, thaS> you do, whoever
you may be"
There was a ring of virtuous indig-
nation in the voice, and for a few sec
onds' length l hesitated. Perhaps, af-
ter all, the fellow was telling the truth.
| was very certain of his capacity for
lying, but it might we'll be that Will.
dred and Karine had not really come
here. Still
Far away door slammed sharply.
and just in time to decide me. The
man had lied. He had just told me
that he was alone in the house. and
this one sound had Enthusiastically
proved the falsehood. 1t was not the
sort of noise with which the wind
shuts a door, even had the wind been
violent enough to do so, and windows
open TO admit it. The latch had been
lifted by a human hand.
The servant, who was entirely out OF
my sight, began talking hurriedly, jab-
bering Amy nonsense, as though to
cover what happened. l listened in
tently. and through his chattering I
fancied that l could hear-subdued with
distance and intervening walls-the
sound of a womans crying.
My heart seemed to leap into my
throat l could feel the blood throb-
bling almost to bursting at my tenn
pies.
You liar!" l roughly exclaimed.
They are here, and l will see them, If
have to break the door down."
Try it, them" the man cried taunt-
ingly. Just try it, and you may try
all night. Ia, ia! Goodbye. and
good luck to you!"
heard his feet tapping swiftly along
the uncovered floor as he ran away y
Another door was opened and closed,
and he was out of earshot
Desperately ! again endeavored to
find the lock. 1t was no use. Thrust
in my arm as far as / could. ] could
not touch it, and though | broke the
narrow pane on the other side as well,
the fastenings of the door were be-
yond my reach.
With all my strength / flung myself
against the panels OF the door, but
the heavy wood stood firm as though
it had been a sheet OF iron. There
was evidently no hope in that direc-
ton, and, dizzy with my own rage and
desperation, | began attempting some
of the windows. But all were secured
18th tho W, ra..~ 49, IT. t--A4---- --s.I
bars inside. and it would have seemed
that the inmates of the House by the
Lock were prepared to stand siege.
CrO be continuedl