Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-09-10
CHAPTER VIII.

iMASts <: We're not as frequent
fs& M: as could wish for my
iy2k Al:::| purpose, but this did
T/fN ~: not by any means ar
que that they did not
meet often. On the contrary, l found
that Mr.. Goddard had almost daily
meetings with the doctor in his office
and that the latter was subjecting him
to course of treatment for the mys-
FERROUS disease that had been inherited
from past generations. Curiosity to
know what this complaint was and
what DR.. Squires was prescribing for
Its cure possessed me, and dixie my
other fits of inquisitiveness) | deter
mined to satisfy it upon the first pos
sible occasion.
About week after the occurrence
just related was called into my mas
ter's room. He had not yet risen from
his bed, and knew by the pallor of
his face that he was not as we'll as
usual
"William, want you to take a note
for me around to DR.. Squircs. can
not keep my appointment with him
this morning."
Eyes, SIR" said, waiting for him to
give me further instructions.
He closed his eyes for moment as
If wincing from some secret pain.
II do not feel like writing" he said
moment later. "You can take yer-
bal message, William, can't you?"
Certainly. will repeat it word for
word
"Well, believe you are to be trust
ed. have taken great fancy to you.
My other man never felt that could
trust, and, if he had been honest, he.
was always so stupid that he would
get everything mixed up. But think
you are gifted with more than ordi-
nary intelligence
simply bowed my head and made
no comment
"And as modest as intelligent" he
added, with faint sign of n smile.
"Some day maybe you can help me in
higher way than at present"
II should be delighted to do anything
for you, sir" l answered sincerely.
you will find me faithful enough to
trust with anything-secrets or any
thing"
He looked long and inquisitively at
me and then said, with the most i'm
perturbable smile on his face:
"Do you know that l sometimes
fancy I've seen your face somewhere
before-that is, before you came into
my employment"
l knew that this was test question,
and answered it accordingly:
Probably. We often meet faces by
chance in the world and forget them
until reminded of them by some later
incident"
"Yes, true: You're quite philoso-
Enough to accept life as 1t comes
without a demur," answered.
"Well that is more than I can do
sometimes. But to return to business.
You know that have appointments
with DR.. Squires nearly every day.
Well, this is one Of the mornings, and
do not feel energetic enough to keep
1t. Go and tell him that cannot come
before tomorrow. If he sends any an
swer back, remember it and tell me.
That's ALL"
He dropped his head back upon the
pillows and closed his eyes. 1 with
drew as quietly as could.
took one of the horses from the sta
BILE which John said needed exercise,
and cantered slowly down the road
toward the Doctors house. AS 1 ap-
preached it l looked with interest at
various objects that had become indel
IDLY impressed upon my memory from
the experience Of that eventful night
when l attempted to enter the house.
had by no means given up all idea Of
exploring the interior of the haunted
house. but was merely postponing the
second trial for a more opportune time.
Meanwhile everything about the prem
Uses assumed some special Importance
to me.
wished very much to see the int
rior of the house in the daytime, and
determined to force an entrance at
all hazards in delivering my message
to the doctor. l feared the doctor
would come outside on the piazza or
that his servant might insist upon tax
ing the message in to the doctor. To
avoid this, if possible, l stopped some
distance from the place, hitched my
horse to tree and approached the
house on foot, keeping well in the
shadow of trees and strawberries to
prevent anybody seeing me.
! succeeded so well In this ruse that
reached the piazza without being dis
covered. The bell, which rang ech-
oed throughout the gloomy interior Of
the house SO discordantly that it made
one think Of ghosts and departed spir-
! its. l seemed to hear the scurry of
footsteps, as If the bell had given the
alarm to innumerable rats and mice,
but moment later l was satisfied
that the noise was made by human
feet.
The DOCTORS servant-a dark, dried
up specimen Of a mummy from India
glided toward the door, making the
scuflling noise with his sandals. The
mans eyes We're small and beadlike,
and his arms and fingers were long and
bony, but they We're nevertheless
strong and active. He shutlled to-
ward the door with an anxious look
on his face. He was evidently dis
turbed by the thought that somebody
had approached the house without at
tracing his attention.
He refused to open the door more
than foot and stood there making
cultural sound as If trying to ask my
GRAND.
81 have n message for DR.. Squires,"
said.
He stuck out long. bony hand as If
to take the letter which he supposed
had. At least he could hear and was
familiar with the English language. l
also believe that he could speak and
that his dumbness was merely pretend
ed. But there is no way to make n
man speak If he doesn't want to, or at
least not under ordinary circumstances,