Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-03-09
ytatIons rendered neces-

i
This was the third had been forced
to keep, and it was by far the most dis
NAL, for though the bolted door be-
tween me and the hall promised me
personal safety there presently rose in
some faroff place smothered repeti-
ton of that same rat, tap, tap which
had sent the shudders over me upon my
sudden entrance into the house early in
the morning Heard now, it brought q
weakness upon me which 1 did not
know existed in my nature, and while
with this recognition of my feminine
susceptibility to impressions there came
a certain pride in the stanchness Of pur-
pose which led me to restrain all &C.
acknowledgement of it by any recourse to
my whistle, was more than glad when
even this sound ceased and l had only
to expect the swishing noise of a skirt
down the hall, and that stealthy lock-
ing of a door / had taken the precau-
ton of leaving.
1t came sooner than 1 expected, came
just in the way it had the previous
night, only that the person paused a
moment to listen before fastening back.
The silence within must have satisfied
her, for heard low sigh like that of
relief before the steps took themselves
back. That they would turn my way
gave me momentary concern, but no,
l had too completely lulled their sus-
picions, or let me be faithful to all the
possibilities of the case, they put per-
haps too much confidence in the powder
with which they had seasoned my
nightly cup of tea for them to doubt
that I was soundiy a.lecr IL my uwl,
quarters.
Three minutes after had followed
those steps as far down the corridor as I
dared to go, for since my last appear
ance in it candle had been lit in the
main hall, and faint as was its glimmer
it was still a glimmer into the circle of
which I felt it would be foolhardiness
for me to step. At some 20 PAGES then
from the opening I paused and gave
myself up to listening. Alas, there was
plenty now for me to hear.
You have heard the sound; we all
have heard the sound, but few Of us in
a desolate structure such as l stood lis
tening in and at the hour and under the
influences of midnight. The measured
tread of men struggling under heavy
weight and that weight-how we'll l
knew it; as we'll as if had seen it, as l
really did in my imagination.
1t came from the adjoining corridor,
from the room had found no oppor-
tunity of entering that day, and it APP
preached surely and slowly the main
hall near which was standing, but in
such position it would be impossible
for me to see anything if they took the
direct course to the head of the stairs
and SO down, as there was every reason
to expect they would. I did not dare to
advance, however, so concentrated my
faculties anew upon listening, till sud
denly perceived on the great white
wall in front of me-the wall of the
main hail. l mean, toward which the
opening looked-the outline of a shadow
pass and realized that the candle had
been placed in such position that the
wall must receive the full shadow Of
this passing cortege. And so it was l
saw it, huge, distorted and suggestive
beyond any picture l ever beheld, the
passing Of body to its long home, car
ried by six anxious figures, four Of
which seemed to be those of women.
But that long home! Where was that
likely to be? 1t was a question SO i'm
portant that for moment could think
of nothing but how 1 could follow them
without running the risk of discovery.
They had reached the head Of the stairs
by this time, and l heard Miss Knollys'
low, firm voice enjoining silence. Then
they began to descend.
Ere they reached the foot a doubt
struck me. Would it be better to follow
them or to take the opportunity of every
member of the household being engaged
in this task to take peep into the room
where the death had occurred? l had
not decided when heard them take the
forward course from the foot of the
stairs to what to my straining ear
seemed to be the entrance to the dining
room corridor. But as in my anxiety to
determine this fact slipped far enough
forward to make sure that their destina-
tion lay somewhere within reach of the
AOWCI was 81 gu uSh Ny UllC uo-
vantages to be gained by cautious use
of the trapdoor in Williams room that
I hesitated 40 longer, but sped with
what swiftness I could toward the spot
from which I had SO lately heard this
strange procession come.
A narrow band of light lying across
the upper end of this long corridor
proved that the door was not only ajar,
but that second candle was burning in
the room I was about to so daringly in
wade, but this was scarcely to be regret
ted since there could be no question of
the emptiness of the room. The six fig
ures had seen 60 by embraced every
one who by any possibility could be
considered as having part in this trans
action-William, Mr.. Simsbury, Miss
Knollys, Lucetta, Hannah and Mother
Jane. No one else was left to guard
this room, so I pushed the door open
quite boldly and entered.
What saw there l will relate later,
or, rather, I will but hint at now.
There were a bed with sheet thrown
back, stand covered with Walls, bu-
reau with a mans shaving parapher-