Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-12-27
OHAPTNR WI.
CocH rAL AGAIN..

OA06 A0h VIA.
cocH TAI AGAIN.
The doctor. now fully aroused and
conscious that there were dangers un-
der the shelter he had found quite az
great as those he had encountered ON
the mountains outside. followed the
wet footmarks across the floor and
opened Wide the door to which they
led.
At first he could see nothing on the
other side Of 1t; 1t was cold, 1t was
drafty, 1t was dark, but he knew that
he was not in the open air. he went
back into the kitchen, lit one Of the tai
low candles and carried It out into the
cavernous blackness, into q moldy.
damp smell, and into wide, covered
space, the floor Of which was partly
boarded and partly paved in the rough
est manner with broken stones. A
storehouse this evidently. There were
stacks Of wood and peat; there was a
built up mound Of roots, partly covered
with straw and earth. There was lum-
Der of all sorts besides, giving to the
place SO many hooks and corners and
hiding places that Mason knew IL
would be unwise IL not impossible 10
hunt out the person or persons who, he
felt sure. lay hidden there, watching
him az he moved.
For no could hear those slight. hard.
" distinguishable sounds which be.
tray the presence of a living creature
In concealment. He looked M and
saw that the roof was of rough beama
and boards, through which the snosw
came here and there.
ANY one herer he asked.
But no voice answered.
he repeated the question in firmer.
almost nenacing manner, and then .
figure appeared In the doorway behind
him.
He recognized in a moment the farm
ar himself.
"Why. Sir, what are you doing in
here7"
The question, uttered in a genial, hos
pitable tone. struck warmth into Mas
sons heart, He retreated at once into
the kitchen and turned toward his
host face which betrayed some Of
the sensations he had just expert
enced.
"Why, sir. you look a. IL you'd had i
fright. that you do" said the farmer
as he took the candle from the doc
tors hand and lit the remaining one
on the mantelpiece. "You haven't got
over your adventure on the hills, am
thinking. It's made you nervous
Some one has been in the room
while I was asleep" began Mason In
voice which was hardly steady.
But his host answered him at once.
Eyes, came down very soon to tell
you my girl had fallen asleep. But ~
You were having a nap yourself by
that time I thought It better not to dis
turb you. as you were going to sit up.
30 I went up stairs again and waited
till I heard you moving about, or, rath-
or, till heard you call out"
Although the farmers manner and
words were reassuring, Mason had
the evidence of more than his eyes to
counterbalance the effect of this state
ment. Pointing to the wet footmarks
on the floor, he said:
''Those are not your footsteps, are
they7"
The farmer glanced down at the wet
floor and shook his head.
mo, sir; they're not mine. By the
Size Of them they're Merricks."
And he went back to the door and
peered into the darkness beyond. Aft
er few moments, however. he came
back into the kitchen without having
called to any one.
sHe must have come through to have
a peep at you, sir, out Of curiosity"
said he. "But he's gone back to his
own place, now, ! expect. for there's
no sign of him in the outhouse."
Reginald Mason was standing by
the fire, with frown Of perplexity ON
his face. That remark Of the farmers
about the size Of the footmarks had
engendered fresh suspicion in his
mind,