Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-01-09
CHAPTER x.

opEnuR eStAlRnI AZ A6t0r o race.
CHAPTER <.
CAPTAIN KINGSTON BETS SAIL ToR ron
E1GN PARTS.
Reaching Chichester without further
mishap, at length drew up before the
door of our hotel, the windows Of
which were in complete darkness. The
good folk had evidently retired for the
night, but clamorous ringing of the
bell soon brought sleepy servant on
the scene. Pushing by him, left the
dripping machine in the hall and flew
impatiently toward the stairs, up
which stumbled in the darkness. But
having trodden them 80 often l knew,
Is 1t were. every stair by heart, and in
few moments was vainly endeavor-
ing to turn the handle Of our room, for,
as have already said. we always used
one room when it was impossible to get
two which were connected by door.
next knocked loudly and, waiting,
knocked again. Then impetuously
shook the handle, the rattle resoundins
through the quiet house. But still no
answer. "Father! Fatherr whis-
pered through the keyhole, but might
as well have spoken to the air. No
sound, no movement. The ominous
stiffness set me shivering painfully.
My wet clothes chung icily to my limbs.
My body was frozen. but my brain
burned like fire.
Fearing that something was amiss
and acting upon sudden impulse, I
hurled myself violently against the
door. and the lock gave way. For q
moment stood upon the threshold and
called to my father once more, but re-
ceivlng no reply made my way
through the dark to the mantelpiece,
where knew should find the candle
and matches. Striking one, instinc-
lively turned toward his bed, and in the
dim light created by the match dis
tinctly traced the outline of his figure
there. called again, "Fatherg but he
did not move. Tremblingly applied
the flame to the candle and then turned
to make closer Investigation.
He lay perfectly still, entirely envel-
oped in the bedclothes, and for little
while ! stood staring at him, not hav-
Ing the courage to lift the sheet from
his face. But the sound of footsteps
in the passage outside suddenly recall
ed me to my senses. and with a desper-
ate movement flung back the cover
ing.
At first a horrid mist seemed to blur
my sight: but, quickly passing, 1t show
ed me deathly pale face with wide,
distorted eyes and brow scared with
the purple sign Of the egg. 1t was the
same sign as that which had seen up
on my mothers forehead.
With cry of horror turned aside
and confronted the landlord, who, can
die In hand, had come to investigate
the meaning of the noise caused by my
breaking down the door.
He began to splitter, as landlord
naturally would, but my CHASTITY face
arrested the outburst
"God in heaven!" he cried. Have,
you seen a ghostT
beckoned for him to advance, and
he came cautiously toward me.
"My father" gasped, my father
has been murdered. Lookw and held
the light over the pale face and showed.
the projecting eyes and the vivid sign.
"Murdered!" he echoed. "Good God"
And to make sure he came close, quite
close, and bent over the body and
touched the pale, cold face. The icy
contact made him shiver. He stepped
back with an Involuntary cry.
This is awful" he continued. when
could 1t have occurred? saw him of
to bed myself ut half past 8. He was
very worried about you and thought Of
sending to the police, but guessed It
was the rain that caused the delay, and
SO soothed him. Half an hour later
he rang to know If you had yet return
ed. Then he troubled us no more"
looked long into the CHASTITY face,
scarcely needing the meanings of the
landlord, though seemed to hear as
through the noise of the surf roaring
afar off his whining of the misfortune
that had befallen his house. But I
could now look on the face and think
despite the awful GOODNESS which en-
veleped me, the deadly weight about
the heart, and some mention of "sui-
eide" in the landlords lamentations
caused me to loosen the collar of the
dead man, and saw that his neck was
encircled by CHASTITY purple line, and
thought that the fumes Of ether or
chloroform rose from his beard.
The landlord saw and realized. He,
too, smelled the heavy, sickly odor Of
the anasthetic, and in dull way he
continued to call upon the Deity. Like
most goddess wretches, the name Of
God was always on his tongue. And SO
he wrung his hands and continued to
ask blankly what he should do.
1.-THE police must be communicated
with at once" said. though they will
never lay their hands on the man who
did this"
"Why do you say thatY'
because know him."
you know himY The landlord open
ed his eyes-a wide, incredulous look.
"Well, saw him tonight. He Is q
dark faced, foreign looking man of me-
dium build. with black hair and strange
little Sits of eyes"
"Heavens!" cried the landlord once
again, and his ford face turned pale,
and his dull eyes seemed to start from
their sockets. "That is an exact de-
scription of the stranger in o."
Gle came
'Tonight-about 10 o'clock. He went
direct to his room. ! was to call him
early, as he was going up to London"
"There will be no necessity to call
him. He has gone already"
No. % was the next room to ours, and
though the landlord instantly ran and
knocked upon the door no reply was
vouchsafed. He turned the handle on
ly to find the door locked. Then he
came toward me, and the candle that
he held shook ominously.