Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-03-15
small opening, put my eye to TINS and
u. 4

small opening, put my eye to this ana
Immediately drew back.
"They are moving nearer the gate, 4
] signaled to Loreen, at which she
orept along q few PAGES, but with 9
stealth SO great that, listening as was,
could not hear twig snap. I endeavi
ored to initiate her, but not with as
much success as could wish. The sense
of horror which had all at once settled
upon me, the supernatural dread Of
Something which l could not see, but
which felt, had seized me for the first
time and made that ruddy sky and the
broad stretch of velvet turf with the
shadows playing over it, Of swaying
tree tops and clustered oleanders, more
thrilling and awesome to me than the
dim halls of the haunted house Of the
Knollys in that midnight hour when l
saw body carried out for burial amid
trouble and hush and mystery so great
&c wnHld have daunted most spirits for
al. their lives.
The very swesoIess Of the scene made
its l,pi or. Neves have had such sem
s,itio,. never have felt go the power
of che unseen. yet that anything would
happen here, anything which would ex-
plain the total disappearance Of several
persons at different times without q
trace Of their fate being left to the eye
on this spot or in the house beyond,
seemed SO impossible that could but
liken my state to that Of nightmare,
where visions take the place Of realities
and often overwhelm them.
had pressed too close against the
hedge as I struggled with these feel
ings and the sound made struck me
as distinct, if not alarming, but the tree
tops were rustling, too, and, while Lu-
cetta might have heard. her companion
gave no evidence Of doing 80. We could
hear what they were saying now, and
realizing this we stopped moving and
gave our whole attention up to listen
ing. Mr.. Trohm was speaking. I could
hardly believe it was his voice, 1t had
so changed in tone, nor could see in
HE features, distorted as they now were
by every evil passion, the once quiet
and dignified countenance which had 80
lately imposed upon me.
"Lucetta, my little Lucetta," he was
saying. $50 she has come to see me;
come to taunt me with the loss Of her
lover, whom she says have robbed her
of almost before her eyesl I rob her
How can rob her or any one Of o man
with voice and arm of his own stron-
ger than mine? Am wizard to dissi-
pate his body in vapor? Yet is it here
in my house or on my lawn? You are a
fool, Lucetta; SO are all these men
about here fools! tits in your house,
"Hush |" she cried, her slight figure
rising till we forgot it was the feeble
Lucetta we were gazing at. "No more
accusations directed against us. It is
you who must meet them now. Mr..
Trohm, your evil practices are discover
ed. Tomorrow you will have the police
here in earnest. They did but play with
you when they were here before"
"You childl" he gasped, striving.
however, to restrain all evidences Of
shock and terror. "Why, who was it
called in the police and set them work
ing in Lost Man s lane? Was it not r.
eyes. that they might not suspect
You and perhaps that they might sus.
poet u.s. But it was useless, Obadiah
Trohm. Althea Knollys' children have
lAA hnR Su6HanA ~ ~ I'm n