Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-07-22

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five and twenty yards, suddenly turned
off the road and darted III among the
pines which, on one side, Gensely lined
the way. | forced myself 10 wait until
he had fully twenty minute5 start. He
must have been in the house for some
time now, / told myself, and would have
entirely abandoned all idea Of my return.
In the excitement of tho moment it
was very probable the doors would not
have been locked, for in SO isolated
place--and a place OF 50 evAl repute-
there would not be much danger of more
visitors for the. Spider Farna that night.
At all events. Unjust take My chance.
Very carefully | picked my way. in
dread of the dog, which might be abroad
for the night, and watch wonld certainly
raise its deep-toaed voice at any unac-
customed sound. But the noise of the
wind and rain was in my favor. gale
blew among the pines on the hill behind
the house, and the rain ratified against
the bricks as loudly as though each drop
had been a hailstone. | stole nearer
The front of the house was barred ana
suffered as before. Not So much as
CLEAN of light came from elnk or GREY
ice.
Softly padding over tie wet gravel and
through mud TO the back OF the house.
round the path along which had boldly
walked in the morning. | was successful
in reaching the wincow of the kitchen.
The shutters were only half closed. and
though every other window was pitchy
black. through this one filtefed the duh
yellow light of single lamp.
At first | could see no obe. only the
bare walls and a few sticks 1T old furni-
ture already familiar TO me-. | knew
that Jonas Hecckleberry's pallet on the
floor was below my line Of vision, unless
l climbed up. and this | daeed not do,
for fear of the noise ! might make. On
the table was the doctors bag.
Evidently Mr.. Nobody had received the
expected welcome | thought, and as the
words formed themselves in MY brain the
door from the passage into the kitchen
opened and the doctor himself came in.
He was accompanied by the old woman
and | could see the shadow of the dog
moving along the opposite wall
The doctor set down the caadle on the
table; he then walked over to that part
of the room where | knew the sick man
lay, and looked down regarding nm.
Presently he flung himself into a chair
with stretch and a great yawn, which
sounded plainly in my ears through the
cracked panes of the window.
That's overw lie exclaimed. Its a
nasty sight. If Jonas and you aren't
careful, there'll be some more! digging to
be done under the pines. But We'll get
Jonas round again before long"
That's a lovey," crooned the bag,
warming her lean fingers at the kitchen
range.
"Yes, l always was a lovey, wasn't !?
You couldn't get on very well without
me, anyhow. A clear ease of luck ! had
the appointment With Jonas to-day"
went on Mr. Nobody of Nowhere. Il
should like TO know how he Jared last
night, and what he got out of her. Con-
found him for getting into this mess, and
keeping me waitingw
who's 'her'?" curiously que.ied Gran
ny.
l thought that could have answered
the question, and my blood grew hot
with wrath against the doctor.
"Never mind her | say, old girl, list
ensto that rain outside. What does this
night remind you or"
Il don't know. The rain makes my
head feel queerer nor ever. l can't call
up nothing at all"
"See il / can't help you. Think back
mot many years ago. You'd just moved
into this house, and things weren't set
tied vet. None OF them had come here.
A dark night, and the sound OF the gale
in the pines a carriage drives up to
the door. Not from Market Peyton-
oh, no! and what. wouldn't tie gossip
mongers there have given to know what
was in it? You ran out 20 the door TO
meet it. The wheels and windows are
splashed thick with mud The driver
gets down off his SEAT
Eyes. yes; l rememberF' shrillcd the old
woman. frantic with the joy of recollec-
ton. ''rhe drivers-that was YOU"
fright you are. Nobody else could be
trusted. And what does the driver fetch
out of the carriageg Can you tell me
thati'
"A woman. / thought she wac dead
at first. Her face was white as the
snow that lies out there among the pines
in winter. l took hold OF her hand TO
see whether it was cold, and--ugh! /
jumped as though III been beat with my
own whip l used to think SO much of in
them days. when ! see what was on that
hand"
Involuntarily tat the words which told
me of surety that the conversation was
veering toward CoAsuelo and her secret
that which Paulai had called the ''se-
cret of the pearls / drew back a step
from the door, These was a faint creak-
ing of a board under my foot. and the
dog responded to is with a hell-toned
note.
whats that?" demanded Mr.. Nobody
of Nowhere. sharply. ANA his ehair scrap
ed as he rose hastily 70 his feet. II didn't
hear anything. but Grim did"
Law, its nothings' whined the old
woman. "Grim's always doing that, and
givin' me a start. il Jonas : away
I'm take look out into the passage.
nevertheless" said the doctor And l
heard his footstep moving across the I'M
carpeted floor,
"Don't trouble" GRAVITY returned. If
'twss anything. twas upstairs"
"Ah. If that's air. calculated the man.
with sigh OF comfortable satisfaction,
II dare say you're right. | won't bother.
then. Now. for a bit et bread and
cheese"
had a reprieve. and my "eue" as Wen;
SO, without smother lnstSnt's hesitation.
! set ont upon my way upstairs. l felt
my way along the landing. and ar the
top OF the short fight which wound above
l took cut my match box
I struck wax vesta. and began 2 de-
hberate survey Of my SURROUNDINGS.
Jonas room. from which had taken the
bedding, vas the first 10 the right. and
a long. narrow passage. with four or Eve
doors on either side. running from the
back TO the front cs the house, lay
straight before me.
On the left the passage was divided
midway by another. the entrance 10
which gsped darby, and l could see that
there Was \ descent II shallow. worn
step or TWO. On the oppessSs size. &c
-eording to my calculations. III relsheuld
have been similar intersection. ont in
stead there was an additional foor--a
low. broad door. such as might be ex-
pected 10 give access 10 an attic e store
r,,,s,s r,aSvs,a1 a ,ss,n hif,a and Secured