Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-09-12


food in small pieces. consisting of broken
biscuits. bits of chicken, potatoes, and
quite a quantity of meat. cut In mouth
fuls. This she placed on the shelves
upon the wooden plate on which 1t was
heaped. Then gently showing the shelves,
they slowly whirled around, and when
the SAME side returned to her. the plate
stood upon 1t empty, ready to be placed
again in the basket.
"That ape must have been trained"
she thought. ito empty the plate and re-
turn it,
She listened for moment. but all was
still. Showing to the panels. she found
that they resocked themselves. so taking
up candlcstick. knife and basket. she
placed the latter again outside the door.
fastened Ii securely, and reached her own
room In safety.
The task required of her had been a
singularly unpleasant one. She was
brave young girl. and had endured but
few feelings Of fear, but she had trem-
blcd. because the thing required so much
secrecy. She disliked mysteries Of all
kinds. and her honest. open nature re.
volted from the whole work.
One thing she decided to do, she
should take some morning hour to ex-
plore the ruins. and that Haunted Tower.
no that she might become accustomed to
all the dangers and peculiarities Of the
place before other offices were required
at her hands.
With this resolution still In her mind.
she sought the luxurious bed that await
ed her, and there fell at once into a
pleasant sleep. from which she never
aroused until the bright rays Of another
morning sun stole into her room.
Springing up. she dressed as room as
possible. and opening her door, found
BY questioning a maid. that the family
did not rise until late. as their breakfast
hour was from ten to eleven.
Q All being quiet In the room of the in
valid, she returned to her own apart.
ment. and fastening the door securely.
resolved at once to start upon her explor-
Ing expedition. as she felt that she would
be for Mt leaff an hour and a half unob-
served. and mistress Of her own time and
motions.
With a little Of the trembling nerv.
BUSINESS Of the night before. the brave
girl opened the intervening doors and
stepped into the corridor. All was fold
ed In the same solemn stiffness that made
the place oppressive on the previous
night.
She resolved to explore the ruined
parts before she sought the tower, there.
fore unlocked the door. and stepped out
As she did so, she noticed that the GOV.
cred basket was still there.
The door opened directly into a small
ei.,kotv hutI that lad tnt Il.
rooms. all dusty. mouldy and more or less
dilapidated. Broken windows. torn wall
papers, bare rafters. seen through I'M
mense places where ceilings had fallen,
were everywhere visible. Some rooms
were filled with broken furniture. pieces
Of old china and fragments Of time.worn
castoR clothing. =,
Ethel looked at these dilapidated oh
jects. and found herself wondering why
Sir Reginald had not had the whole pull
ed down and remOvedY Its destruction
certainly would heighten the value Of the
property. while Its presence only spoke
Of neglect and untidiness.
One thing she observed In her ramble
there was an easy mode Of egress and In.
gress to this part into the hall. and
marks Of recent footsteps on the floor
told that this formed the entrance place
to the person who prepared and brough,
the food she was nightly to place on the
iron shelves.
Another thing struck her; In all the
premises thefe was not the slightest ap
pearance Of the concealed room. Only q
bare. blank wall appeared upon the sid,
where she knew 1t must be.
Retracing her steps after all had beer
examined, she refastenai the door, and
then sought the Haunted Tower. The
door leading to this was closed. but moi
bolted. NO she opened 1t, and crossing
quite large square place. she began a.
cending long flight Of stairs. The step,
were steep. and not at all easy. and she
became very tired before she reached
the top, but pressing on. she did reach It.
but not before she paused to rest upon q
broad Hat landing; paused, too, with hOr
rOr. at an unexpected sight that there
presented itself.
1t was the stuffed image Of 4 man
fixed upon wires. that worked upon the
same principle a. the jumping jacks Otter
bought to amuse children.
This, however, was nearly as large q,
life; its head was hollow, with red glas,
In place where the eyes would be, 90 thai
a lighted glass lamp. placed within
would give flaming appearance to thos,
eyes.
From each side horns projected, ant
she could easily imagine what the Who'll.
terrific effect must be to on outside be
holder. This figure she saw could b,
elevated and put In motion by windins
up a crank to which II was attached. Ar
rangements for different c0lOred light,
were also on every hand.
After carefully examining all the ma
chinery, until she perfectly understood 1t,
workings and the whole wicked plan Il
give supernatural appearance to the tow
err. Ethel passed upward until she could
gaze without hindrance from the tall win
dows Of this lofty place.
Then EXPLANATIONS Of delight escaped
her, for there she could catch an unOb
structed view of the grand panorama tha
stretched for miles and miles away OF
every side. But she did not linger. fear
ing she would be seen by some of the
villagers. and her presence reported tt
Sir Reginald.
This visit she knew would be displeas
ing to him, II he wished It to be place
that should I'LL every heart with fear
In order to keep from 1t visitors by day
as well as by night.
CHAPTER N.
Day after day passed. during which
Ethel became quite accustomed to heI
routine of work, and quietly persevered