Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-07-05
CHAPTER XXl.-(Continued.J


proceeded at a good rate OF speed Tor
Ave and twenty yards. I suddenly turned
off the road and darted In among the
pines which, on one side, densely lined
the way. I forced myself to wait until
he had fully twenty minutes 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 the moment 1t
was very probable the doors would not
have been locked. for In so isolated a
placc--and place of SO evil repute-
there would not be much danger Of more
visitors for the Spider Farm that night.
At all events. | must take my chance.
Very carefully I picked my way. In
dread Of the dog. which might be abroad
for the night, and which would certainly
raise its dcep-tOncd voice at any unac.
c,istomcd sound. But the noise Of the
wind and rain was In my favor. a 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. l stole nearer.
The front of the house was barred and
suffered us before. Not 80 much as q
CLEAN of light came from clink or crev.
Ice.
Softly padding over the 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 window of the kitchen.
The shutters were only half closed, and
though every other window was pitchy
black, through this one filtered the dull
yellow light Of single lamp.
frat I cn,,lI sn., mn nua Oulv the
bare walls and few sticks Ut old furni.
ture already familiar to me. I knew
that Jonas Hcccklebcrry's pallet on tho
door was below my line Of vision, unless
climbed up. and this dared not do,
for fear Of the noise I might make. On
the table was the doctors bag.
Evidently Mr.. Nobody had received the
expected welcome. I thought, aud 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 doS
moving along the opposite wall.
The doctor set down the candle on the
table; he then walked over to that part
Of the room where knew the sick man
lay, and looked down regarding him.
Presently he flung himself into chair,
with stretch and great yawn, which
sounded plainly In my ears through the
cracked panes Of the window.
"'rhat's over!' he exclaimed. ITS q
nasty sight. Ii Jonas and you aren't
careful. thcre'll be some more digging to
be done under the pines. But we'll get
Jonas round again before long"
THAT'S u lOvey," crooned the nag,
warming her lean fingers ut the kitchen
range.
"Yes. I always was a lovey, wasn't l?
You couldn't get ON very well without
me, anyhow. a clear case 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 waiting"
"Who's 'hcr'T' curiously Queried Gran
ny.
l thought that l could have answered
the question, and my blood grew hot
with wrath against the doctor.
"Never mind her l say, old girl, list
en- to that rain outside. What does this
night remind You off,
II don't know. The rain makes my
head feel Iueerer nor ever. can't cal
up nothing at all"
''See IL l can't help you. Think back
mot many years ago. You'd Just moved
into this house, and things weren't set
tied yet. None of them had come here
A dark night, and the sound Of the guile
In the pines. A carriage drives up II
the door. Not from Market PeytOn-
oh, no! and what wouldn't the gossip
mOngers there have given to know what
was In It? You ran out to the door II
meet II. The wheels and windows are
splashed thick with mud. The driver
gets down off his seat"
Eyes, yes; l remember" shrillcd the old
woman, frantic with the JOY of recollec
ton. "The driver-that was yOu."
Fright YOU are. Nobody else could bt
trusted. And what does the driver fetch
out Of the carriage? Can you tell M
thatY'
"A woman. thought she was deat
mt first. Her face was white as the
snow that lies out there amVng the pines
in winter. l took hold Of her hand Il
see whether it was cold. and-ugh!
Jumped as though I'd been beat with my
own whip used to think so much of u
them days, when ] see what was on that
hand"
Inyoluntarily lat the words which tolt
me of a surety that the conversation wa,
yeering toward COnsuelo and her secret
that which Paula had called the use
cret of the pearls'C drew back stel
from the door. There was a faint creak
ing of a board under my foot, and tn,
dog responded to 1t with bell-tOneC
note.
whats that?" demanded Mr.. NObod,
of Nowhere, sharply, and his chair scrap
ed as he rose hastily to his feet. II didn
hear anything. but Grim did"
"Law. it's nothing!' whined the OLE
woman. "Grim's always doing that, ant
givin' me a start, II Jonas Is away"
"lll take look out into the passage
nevertheless" said the doctor. And
heard his fOOtstep moving across the un
carpeted floor.
Don't trouble" Granny returned. IL
twas anything, twas upstairs"
"!Ah. IL that's all!' calculated the man
with sigh Of comfortable satisfaction
II dare say you're right. won't bother
then. Now, for bit of bread ant
cheese"
! had a reprieve, and my "cue" as well
80. without another instant's hesitation
] set out upon my way upstairs. ! fell
my way along the landing. and at thu
] took out my match box.
] struck a wax vesta. and began de
liberate survey of my surroundings
Jonas room, from which had taken thu
bedding. was the first to the right, ant