The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-09-04


mind; you see 1t; you know it for an
actual occurrence. But it has no time.
There's nothing to tell you whether the
thing is going to happen hundred
years from now or whether 1t happen
ed hundred years ago.
There's the little matter Of clothes"
suggested Reedy.
i Donald showed mild surprise.
II "You don't always see clothes, Of
course said Donald as If he couldn't
bring himself to believe that Reedy
had been serious "You see the thing
that has no need of clothes or of flesh
and bones-the essence of an action.
If you should strike me with a knife,
Mr.. Reedy, do you suppose that there'd
be nothing in the act except your arm
and the weapon? You might as well
say that there'd be nothing but your
coat sleeve or your skin. Within the
sleeve, within the skin, within the mus
Gle and the bone, is something far more
important
81 guess you're getting out of my
line" said Reedy. There may be
! something Of the kind, but never saw
it."
II am surprised" replied Donald
but the point is, F" said Kelvin. bring
ing his practical mind to bear upon the
! question, shall we get hold Of that pa
| peri Now, let's bring 1t right down to
business. I'll give you or any other
man 1000 for 1t. Yes, and I'll hear ar
| gument on the question Of more mon
ey."
expected to see Donald get up and
walk out of the house, but he seemed
to be too deeply absorbed in his own
| thoughts or visions, or whatever they
can be called, to take note of what
Kelvin had said
I'VE shall know all about this mat
| ter in a few minutes" said Reedy,
| looking at his watch. "If Cobb doesn't
come, it's all off. And he'll be here on
| time If he's coming"
We waited, therefore, with such pa
| tience as we could command. At TWEEN
ty minutes past 8 Kelvin went into the
library, which was dark. Thereafter
we looked at our watches at least once
a minute until a quarter before TO-
when Kelvin came to the door and said
In tone of disappointment:
1.-THE fellow hasn't shown up"
There's no use in waiting any Ion
| ger" said Reedy. mo Cobb; no deed
Your title is safe, Mr. Kelvin. The
whole thing was a fake"
There is a deed, though" said Don
aid so softly that no one but Bum and
heard him. "And somebody, some
body, will deliver IT here-the same man
whom I have seen. BY heavens dead
or alive, he will produce that docu-
ment this night"
Bum took me suddenly by the arm,
and could feel that he was trembling
with excitement
There are queer things in this world.
Mr. Harrington" he whispered II
don't know Just what to expect do
your
II expect Walmsley's ghost, If you
ask me-" said 1, with a laugh. and the
remark lacked very little of being per-
| fectly sincere
At 10 o'clock Kelvin gave up the vigil
and summoned us all into the library
He had turned up the lights, and the
room was bright.
II am sorry to have given you all this
trouble. Mr., Harrington said he, but
! had reason to expect a different end
ing of this affair"
Il don't think that it's ended yet"
responded Donald says that the deed
will be restored"
"Well," said Kelvin, Il hope he's
right I'd like to get the thing Off my
mind. 1t would be worth money to
me, as I've told you. I've got other
things to think about"
was well aware that one of the
things to which he referred was my
own destruction, but this was time
of truce in our warfare. and felt I'M
der obligations to let the subject rest
Indeed, my attention was almost imme-
diately attracted to Donald, who had
advanced to the end of long and
heavy table OF black oak. the top OF
which was bare He was staring down
at this table. and his attitude was
rigid. Bum spoke to him twice and
even laid hand upon his arm, but the
boy did not stir.
Presently, however. he shook him
self and stood erect
II have a curious fancy" be said
''Mr. Kelvin. may ask you where you
got this tablef It's queer question
THAT was In the house." said Kelvin
tits very old"
Donald tapped upon it with his I'm.
ger,
What made that mark r he asked
The mark extended across a corner
Of the table and may have been ten
inches long. 1t was quite deep at one
end and mere scratch at the other.
II don't know" said Kelvin. examin-
ing It. From the looks of the thing
should say that 1t was made long
time ago.
Before you were born, my son" said
Reedy to Donald Looks as If some
body had hit 1t withaa cleaver"
Donald drew in his breath through
his closed teeth. and 1t made a pecul-
larry eerie sound. glanced hastily at
his face, and it wore very strange
and almost terrifying expression. II
was as II he We're dead; as If the spirit
bad departed out of him.
He stood by the end Of the table,
and we fell into sort of group around
It, The light was above, and it showed
our inverted images in the black and
polished surface.
cit was oil In the mast SAID TAonald