Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-10-13
CHAPTER XIy.-fContinuedl

No sleep visited her weary eyes until
long after midnight, she was so unhap-
Ply and so unnerved by all the events of
the last twenty-four hours, and again and
again she prayed that all might go well,
and nothing terrible result from the loss
of that dreadful knife.
Rising with the alarm of the usual
bell that rang to awaken the household,
the poor girl again commenced to review
the problem that had presented itself to
be worked out the night before. Once she
asked the question:
Should she worry Sir Reginald by tell
ing him the accident that had befallen
her, or should she not?
Before deciding positively, she resolv-
ed to pay the corridor a morning visit,
and by listening. study out, if all was
going on as usual.
This resolve she instantly carried into
effect. Turning once more from her
room, down the corridor, she placed her
ear close to the panel, and listened in
tently to hear if any movement could be
discovered within the concealed room.
All was still! Not the faintest mo-
ton was perceptible; therefore, feeling
greatly relieved, she returned, quite sure
that all must be well, and firmly resolved
to say nothing of what had happened,
and while keeping silent endeavor to
drive the entire circumstance from her
own mind, and so be AZ peace.
The day passed on as usual, and when
night brought her to the shelves, she once
more found TO her satisfaction silence
reigning. and felt that now, indeed, all
was right Poor Ethel She little knew
the fearful consequences yet to ensue
from her first blunder.
The third afternoon had arrived. and
nothing had transpired to lead her to
apprehend the least trouble from that un
fortunate occurrence. She had, therefore,
regained the courage she had lost, and
was fast driving the entire circumstance
from her mind.
This afternoon Sir Reginald had ex
pressed a wish for music, therefore she
had brought her guitar TO his bedside
and had sung several ballads for his
amusement.
Il think at length he said. interrupt
ing her, that it grows cloudy. Please
look out and tell me if a shower is APP
preaching"
Ethel arose at his bidding, and after
examining the sky returned, saying, as
she resumed her seat:
There is, indeed. \ very black cloud
Is lying in the west, which foretells
har9 shower"
Then put aside your instrument and
draw close to me. as | have some pri-
vate instructions to give you in regard
to new work to be done tonight Are
we entirely alone 2"
I'VE are. Mrs. FREEDOM left the room
to prepare you some nourishment, and
your wife and niece are in the grounds"
replied Ethel, trembling, she knew not
why
Then listen intently to my instruc-
tons. If that storm RACES about half
past MIA, or ten O'Clock tonight, you
must visHthe Haunted Tower and put in
motion some machinery I have erected
there"
20. Sir Reginald" murmured the
shrinking listener, please do not ask that
of me-"
You just attend to my orders. and do
what l tell you to do. Never dare dis
pute my will"
The baronet then proceeded to give
minute directions for the lighting of each
light. and also for the movements of
the frightful and hideous image there
concealed. At its conclusion he remark
ed:
DO you think you understand every
particular of the work L now require to
be done %
Il do" replied Ethel; "but, sir, my
soul revolts from the whole thing. L /
consider it wicked deception, and beg
you to excuse me from undertaking it."
who cares what you think about it,
No one asked your opinion. Do it you
kali Il Il
word against it."
''Sir Reginald, l have faithfully per-
formed your wishes in regard to feeding |
the animal, whose life you value so high |
ly, knowing that to preserve the life of /
even the least of Gods creatures is a 1
duty, but | can see no possible necessity |
for striving to impose upon the credulity /
of the inhabitants of this quiet place"
THAT, tell you, is my business and
not yours" was the angry reply. ''You
are here simply to attend to my work,
and L have well paid you for doing So" |
Il know that; but surely l am at lib /
erty to point out an error in your wishes |
and Judgment. Sir Reginald, this thing
that you ask me TO do is wrong. and | |
entreat you to carry it no further. You |
say you have done this yourself for gen- |
ty-fve years; surely that can answer aug
purpose you may have to effect by it. /
Please, then. be satisfied, and let this
thing rest.
Il tell you / will not" replied the
baronet, fairly purple from rage; do
you not see that your obstinacy is throw I
ing me into a terrible and injurious ex-
element? l command you to obey my
wishes. If you dare refuse, you shall
leave my house this night, even though l
know you have not where to lay your
head. Do you hear?"
Il do" murmured the distressed girl.
"Win you obeyT"
No answer came, the only reply she
could make being a burst of tears Mad
dened by her silence aud sobs. the baro-
net started up until, leaning upon his ell
bow, a thing he had been expressly for
hidden to do, as /: would jar his hip,
he shook his fist violently in her face,
while he demanded in fury:
"Will you obeyT
81 willr' she at last gasped. between
her sobs. Poor grill seeing his violent
excitement, and remembering her aunts
last charges. she dared not refuse.
Then see that you do it, he return
ed, more calmly, as he saak back with
groan upon his pillow.
Thete was no escape from the dis l
graceful duty that awaited her. so at /
her usual time she took the lighted can
die in her hand and started with fearful /
eyes to attend 10 the task before her.
q CHAPTER XIV.
After DR.. Elfenstein had asked per /
mission of Sir Reginald Glendenning TO
search the Haunted Tower he felt ex-