The Cairo bulletin., 1904-04-13

heard some noise, even if IL had been
the ominous click to which we are 50
well accustomed Hubbard seemed to
share my feelings, though from an en-.
tireIy different cause.
pistols and lanterns are no good
here Inc grumbled what we want
at this blessed minute is Il priest with
a sprinkliug Of holy water; and for
one"
He was 4'tually sliding off.
With smothered oath drew him
back.
"sce here" l 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. "No
key in the lock! Men use keys, but
My patience could stand no more.
With a shake rid myself Of his clutch,
muttering
There, 80, You're too much Of a
fool for me. I'm in for it alone" And
in proof Of my determination | turncd
the slide Of the lantern ana flashed the
light through the house.
The effect was ghoStly; but While the
fellow at my side hrcathod hard, he
ala 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 hercely.
'Ilush"
! had just heard something.
For moment we stood GREATNESS
but us the sound was not repeated /
concluded that it was The orc;kn@ Of
that PARKWAY shutter Certainly there
was nothing moving near MS.
"Shall we so upstairsY whispered
Hibbard
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. \
well furnished paror was before us.
Here's where the wedding took
place, remarked lIibbard, strainus
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 mantelpecc md 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 ana
had not vet run down. Its tiek-tick
came faint enough. however. through
the darkness, as il it, too, had lost heart
ana would soon lapse into the deadly
quiet Of its ghostly surroundings.
ITS it's funcral-like," chartered
Hbbard.
lie was right; | felt as il | were
shutting the I'D Of coffin when final
" closed the door.
our next steps took us into the rear,
where we found little to detain us, and
then. with certain dread fully JUST
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-I have called
Hbhard both. you will remcmber i
found that ii cost me an effort to lay
my hand on It's mahogany panels.
Danger, if danger there was. lurkcd
here, and while had never known
myself 10 quail before any ordinary
l. like others Of my kind,
have no especial fondncss for unseen
ana mysterious perils.
IIibbard who up to this point had
followed me almost too closely. now
accorded me all the room that was nee
cssary. IT was with a sense of enter
ing alone upon the scene that finally
thrust wide tho door and crossed the
threshold of this redoubtablc room
whore, but two short weeks before. Il
fresh victim had been added to the
list of those who had by some mhcard
Of, unimHginablc means found their
death within it's rccesscs.
Ny first glance showed me little save
the pondcr0us outlines of an old set
tie, which iuttcd from the corner Of
the fireplace half way out into the
room AS It was seemingly from this
scat that the men. who nj various
times had been found lying here. had
fallen to their doom. Il thrill passed
over me as ! noted its unWicldy bulk
and the deep shadow il threw on the
ancient and dishonored hcarthstone
TO escape the CHASTITY memories it
evoked and also to satisfy myself that
the room was really MS empty as it
seemed took another step forward
This caused the light from the lantern
| carried 70 spread beyond the point
on which it had hitherto been so Of
fcctiyely concentrated. but the result
The dead bride