Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-08-23
With difficulty I concealed my d.,

gaze. Inc property is valuable, the
furnishings are handsome, and there is
no end of costly books on the library
shelves. You have matches and re-
volver2"
He nodded, quietly showing me first
the one, then the other; then, with
sheepish air which he endeavored to
carry off with laugh, he cried:
Have you use for 'em? II so, I'm
quite willing to part with 'em for
half hour"
l was more than amazed at this evil
dence Of weakness in one I had always
considered as tough and impenetrable
as flint rock. Thrustng back the hand
with which he had half drawn into
view the weapon I had mentioned, l
put on my sternest air and led the way
across the street. AS did so, 1 tossed
back the words:
I'VE may come upon a gang. You
do not wish me to face some half
dozen men aloneT
"You won't find any half dozen men
there" was his muttered reply. Never.
theless he followed me, though with
less spirit than liked, considering that
my own manner was in a measure as
sumed and that was not without
sympathy-well. let me say, for dog
who preferred bowling dismal &C
compartment to his masters music to
keeping open watch over neighbor.
hood dominated by the unhallowed
::ss:-':!cture l now proposed to enter
At the first touch the door yielded.
1t was not even latched.
$50! sol" thought I. 'sThis is no
FOOLS job; some one Is in the house."
l had provided myself with an ordi-
nary pocket lantern, and, when I had
convinced Hubbard that I fully meant
to enter the house and discover for my.
self who had taken advantage Of the
popular prejudice against it to make
secret refuge or rendezvous Of its de-
cayed old rooms, took out this
lantern and held 1t in readiness.
I'VE may strike hornets nest"
explained to Hibbard, whose feet seem.
ed very heavy even for man of his
size. But I'm going in and SO are
you. Only, let me suggest first that
we take off our Shoes We can hide
them in these bushes"
Il always catch cold when I walk
barefooted," mumbled my brave COM
panion; but receiving no reply, he
drew off his shoes and dropped them
beside mine in the cluster of stark
bushes which figure so prominently in
the newspaper Illustrations that have
lately appeared. Then he took out his
revolver and, cooking 1t, stood wait
ing, while gave cautious push to
the door.
Darkness! Silence!
Rather had I confronted light and
heard some noise, even IL it had been
the ominous click to which we are so
well accustomed. Hubbard seemed to
share my feelings, though from an en-
tirely different cause.
pistols and lanterns are no good
here" he grumbled. "What we want
at this blessed minute is priest with
q sprinkling Of holy water; and for
one
He was actually sliding off.
With a smothered oath drew him
back.
"see herew 1 cried, you're not a
babe in arms. Come on Or Well,
what now?"
he had clinched my arm and was
pointing to the door which was slowly
swaying to behind us.
Notice that" he whispered. mo
key in the lock! Men use keys, but
My patience could stand no more.
With shake rid myself of his clutch,
muttering:
'"There, go! You're too much of a
fool for me. I'm in for it alone" And
in proof Of my determination I turned
the slide of the lantern and flashed the
light through the house.
The effect was ghostly; but while the
fellow at my side breathed hard, he
did not take advantage Of my words
to make his escape, as half expected
him to. The truth is, was startled
myself, but was able to hide the fact
and to whisper back to him tiercely:
"Hushw
l had just heard something.
For moment we stood breathless,
but as the sound was not repeated /
concluded that it was the crealSing of
that faraway shutter. Certainly there
was nothing moving Near us.
"Shall we 60 upstairsf' whispered
Hubbard. so.
'Not till we have made sure that all
Is right down here"
A door stood slightly ajar on our
left.
Pushing 1t open, we looked in. A
we'll furnished parlor was before US.
Here's where the wedding took
place." remarked Hubbard, straining
his head over my shoulder.
There were signs Of this wedding on
every side. Walls and ceilings had
been hung with garlands, and these
still chung to the mantelpiece and over
and around the various doorways. The
clock occupying the center of the man.
telpiece alone gave evidence Of life. 1t
had been wound for the wedding and
had not yet run down. Its tick-tick
came faint enough, however, through
the darkness, as If 1t, too, had lost heart
and would soon lapse into the deadly
quiet of its ghostly surroundings.
"Its- It's funeral-like," chartered
Hibbard.
He was right; I felt as If I were
shutting the lid Of coffin when final
ly closed the door.
Our next steps took us into the rear,
where we found little to detain us, and
then, with certain dread fully justi-
fed by the event, we made for the
door defined by the two Corinthian
columns.
1t was ajar like the rest, and, call me
coward or call me fool have called