Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1903-02-13

6be Ne6e, a.
H. Arabian x
Mig BIS

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friends, and one of them my own born
brother, have persisted in the enter
prise. He himself, or am much de-
ceived. is taken in the same fatal
tolls. But at least he still lives and
still hopes. as this billet sufficiently
proves" -
And the speaker. no other than Colo
mel Geraldine. proffered letter. thus
conceived:
! Major Hammersmith-On Wednesday at
! a. m. you will be admitted by the small
| door to the gardens Of Rochester House,
| Regents park. by a man who is entirely
! In my interest. I must request you not to
| fail me by second. Pray bring my case
of swords and. if you can find them, one
| or two gentlemen of conduct and discre-
ton to whom my person is unknown. My
! name must not be used in this affair."
J. T. GODALL.
Prom his wisdom alone, if he had
no other title" pursued Colonel Ger
aldine when the others had each salts
fed his curiosity, my friend is man
whose directions should implicitly be
followed. I need not tell you, therefore,
that have not SO much as visited the
neighborhood of Rochester House, and
that am still as wholly in the dark
as either of yourselves as to the nature
of my friends dilemma. I betook my
self as soon as had received this Or
der to a furnishing contractor, and in a
few hours the house in which we now
are had assumed it's late air of festival.
My scheme was at least original, and l
am far from regretting an action which
has procured : ae the services of Major
| O'Roohe and Lieutenant Brackenbury
Hich. But the residents in the street
will have a strange awakening. The
house which this evening was full of
| lights and visitors they will find unin-
! habited and for sale tomorrow morn
| Ing. Thus even the most serious con-
| cerns," added the colonel, shave
merry side"
"And let us add merry ending"
said Brackenbury.
The colonel consulted his watch.
1T Is now hard on 2" he said.
I'VE have an hour before us, and a
swift cab is at the door. Tell me If I
may count upon your help"
During long Hfe,' replied Major
O'Rooke, II never took back my hand
from anything nor so much as hedged
a bet"
Brackenbury signified his readiness
In the most becoming terms, and after
they had drunk glass or two of wine
the colonel gave each of them loaded
revolver. and the three mounted into
the cab and drove of for the address
in question:
Rochester House was magnificent
residence on the banks of the canal.
The large extent of the garden isolated
1t In an unusual degree from the annoy
ances OF the neighborheod. 1t seemed
the pare aux cerfs Of some great noble
man or millionaire. AS far as could be
seen from the street there was not a
gl1mmer Of light in any of the nu-
merous windows Of the mansion, and
+ the place had look of neglect, as
though the master had long been from
home.
The cab was discharged, and the
three gentlemen were not long in dis
; covering the small door, which was a
sort of postern in lane between two
garden walls. 1t still wanted ten or
| fifteen minutes of the appointed time.
The rain fell heavily. and the adven-
turers sheltered themselves below some
pendent ivy and spoke in low tones Of
the approaching trial.
| Suddenly Geraldine raised his finger
to command silence, and all three bent
their hearing to the utmost. Through
the continuous noise of the rain the
steps and voices of two men became
audible from the other side of the wall,
! and. as they drew nearer, Brackenbury,
whose sense of hearing was remarka-
bly, acute. could even distinguish some
| fragments Of their talk.
lis the grave dug?" asked one
! 1T is" replied the other; behind the
laurel hedge. When the job is done,
we can cover it with pile Of stakes"
The first speaker laughed, and the
sound Of his merriment was shocking
to the listeners on the other side.
I'm an hour from now" he said.
And by the sound of the steps it was
| obvious that the pair had separated
and were proceeding in contrary direc-
lions.
Almost Immediately after the postern
door was cautiously opened, a white
face was protruded into the lane and
q hand was seen reckoning to the
watchers. In dead silence the three
passed the door, which was Immediate
| ~ locked behind them, and followed
their guide through several garden al
| legs to the kitchen entrance of the
house. A single candle burned in the
great paved kitchen, which was desti-
tute Of the customary furniture. and.
as the party proceeded to ascend from
thence BY fight Of winding stairs, a
prodigious noise OF. rats testified still
more plainly to the dilapidation Of the
house. 1"' , - :fIi@>g-,.s5 4
Their conductor preceded them, car
Tying the candle. He was a lean man,
much bent, but still agile, and he
turned from time to time and admon-
lshed silence and caution by his ges-