Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-02-27

OIlc ACdlANOod' iul hight SoAAAG,
and he was able to set out for the house
with the feeling that, once he reached
it. he would at least know the worst.
| Even when he got to it he fingered
about the adjacent streets for long
time. fearing to go near it, but sum-
mcned courage at last to put his key in
the lock of the garden gate, and slipped
in. The rooms that We're usually in
habited We're lit up as usual, and the
sight of the friendly lights gave him
confidence. He let himself into the
| house and went up stairs. Cornelius
| Viewers, who had heard his step upon
| the stairs. came out to greet him.
| Not a word was said until the two
men were in the room and Nugent had
shut the door and set his back against
| it. Then he saw, by the look in the
eyes of Cornelius that something was
very wrong indeed: the placidity Of that
usually calm old reprobate was broken
up and gone.
well? What the dickens do you
stare at me like that for? What has
| happened?" he. asked, in sort of fierce
whisper.
Cornelius backed away towards the
| table, and stood leaning against 1t,
drawing one hand across his lips and
blinking his eyes. live only just
just come back from it," he whispered.
Come back from what? What are
you talking about?" asked the other,
coming forward from the door to look
more closely at the old man. "Why-
you've not been drinking, have you?"
Cornelius shook his head. mo, I've
not he retorted. This is all the
thanks a man gifts for lookin' after is
masters interests. I've just been into
| that-the other 'ouse."
| We'll, the sight of What was there
shook up your nerves, eh?' sneered
Leathwood. ut doesn't take much to
upset you-that's pretty evident"
THE sight might ave upset me-if
thered been any, retorted the old man.
But it was what wasn't there that
startled me-
Wasn't there? What are you talking
about? What wasn't there?"
The body" Mr.. Viewers nodded
| slowly, to emphasize his words.
Nugent Leathwood seemed almost to
have stopped breathing: he opened his
mouth once or twice, as though to
speak, and made a quick motion with
his hands; at last blurted out hoarse-
| ly: "The body not there? You must be
mad; you've looked in the wrong place
for it,
Gave I? Am I likely to forget where
| we put it; 'aven't I bin every step of
the way in my sleep, 'undred times?
in the wrong place, Indeed! I tell you
| the cupboard is empty; the dead man
might ave walked out of it, for all there
is of i'm left"
Don't talk like that" cried Leath-
| wood, with a shudder. you've blund-
| cred somehow, you must have done so.
Good heavens! the man was dead
enough, in all conscience: do you mean
to suggest that he has recovered and
escaped? Here-give me the light; I'll
go and look myself"
go and look, and then say I'm mad
afterward," said Cornelius, handing him
| candle. II don't know whether the
man was dead or not; I only know he
amt there"
It'll wager I'll find him fast enough"
said Nugent, with laugh. mot there,
| indeed! I almost wish he were not; this
| has been a laundering business, all
| through, and I thought to do it so neat
| w! Here-you can take the light and
go in front"
| In that order, with Cornelius leading.
| they went down stairs, and turned into
| that long passage which connected the
| two houses, and along which they had
carried the body on that night Of muir
der Near the end of the passage they
stopped and drew together; Cornelius
softly blew out the candle. Then they
could see through the chink of a door at
the farther end, little thin thread of
light.
What does that mean?" whispered
Nugent. WHO can be there?"
Cornelius, mastering up some cour-
age, stepped forward quickly; blundered
in the darkness, against his companion
and dropped the candlestick, with a
rattle, to the ground. Even while he
stopped to tumble for it, the thin
thread of light was gone. They got the
candle and relighted it, and went for
ward cautiously; opened the door and
passed into the room. Crossing it, after
q moments hesitation, they began to
ascent the stairs leading to the upper
| rooms.
Suddenly, Leatfwood caught at the
old mans coat and held him still. "Dc
you hear that?" he breatEed.
"What?"
"Scmecne going on in front of us. A
woman, should think: I can hear the
rustic Of a dress. Listen" Nugent
Leathwood turned to Cornelius, to see
if he could read in lis face that he also
heard the same sound.
The old man listened intently for a
moment, and then shook his head. cts
your fancy, he whispered. '"rhere
may be ghosts ere; shouldn't be sur
prised. But they're not likely to make
noise. Fancy, I tell you"
They went on again. Leathwood stop
ping every now and then to lsten-fret
ting himself with the thought that they
We're watched or that they might, in
any turn of the stairs, come across
something terrible and unearthly. But
they came at last. without adventure, to
the room that had once belonged to Gill
bert Rickerby-the room in which they
had hidden the body. Here Cornelius,
feeling that he was about to be vind!-
Gated, set down the candle and pointed
to the cupboard.
Now, Mr.. Leathwood. perhaps you
won't mind openn' that there cupboard