Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-06-24

speaking to the horses.
"She has; shall she be brought direct
ly to your presence"
eyes; and see to 1t that no one enters
this room until they are summoned, as
wish to see this girl alone. Do you hear?
Alone! entirely alone!' replied the baro-
net.
Lady Constance withdrew, and very
soon reopened the door to usher in and
present to her sick sband Ethel Never
gail, his sisters adopted niece, then in
stantly retired, closing the door behind
her. Very beautiful looked the young
girl as she stood by the side of the bed,
her heavy Grape veil thrown back, re-
vealing her sad. sweet face and large,
pitying eyes.
yet half naughty greeting. 81 grieye to
injured 2"
eyes; this morning was thrown from
my horse, and am to lie here helpless
for months. I sent for you then, in an
swer to letter received a few moments
before the accident from my sister, writ
ten before her death. In that she asks
l.me to give you home for four months in
| return for any service I may wish rem
dered. I sent, because I need assist
ance Immediately of very peculiar ma
ture. Are you willing to undertake it,
| at fair salary?"
"Probably. 1 can tell better when 1
hear what the duties will be-"
Before l tell you that, wish you to
hand me the small Bible you see upon
| that table"
With wondering eyes, Ethel handed
him the book.
| "The duties to be performed are of a
purely confidential nature. No human
being must know what tell you. Wife,
| nephew, niece, man servant, nor maid
servant must ever know that you do more
than read to and amuse me, write my let
tiers and attend to my daily business af-
| fairs. The true duties will be perform
| ed in half an hour each evening, alone.
| Will you swear on this book to keep my
secretT'
| Il will swear, if you will assure me
that these duties can be done with pure
| conscience, and that they are perfectly
| proper for me to do"
| Il assure you you can do them with
perfect propriety. Will you take the
! oath?"
| Il WILL" came from the lips Of the
trembling girl, reluctantly, it must be
| confessed, but still came, because of the
promise given to her dying aunt that she
would not refuse his offer.
"Then kiss that book, and repeat af-
ter me these words: I, Ethel Nevergain,
| swear [ will tell no person the nature Of
| ny nightly duties, and that viii per-
form them to the best of my ability"
! Again Ethel shuddered, yet did as he
required; and, after kissing the book,
repeated the words.
| "Sit down, and come very close, 50 you
| can hear, while l whisper the secret
| Now" he continued, "listen to me in
| tently. I have in my possession a very
rare animal, one entirely unknown. 1t
is the property of friend, and I am
| secretly taking care of 1t for him. He
is absent now abroad, searching for more
wonders to add to a collection. On his
return he is going to exhibit all, and ex-
poets to realize fortune by doing SO,
which I am to share. Now, although
wealthy, I love money, and always have;
therefore, 1 take every care of this crea-
ture, in order to obtain more gold. No
human being, save myself and it's owner,
is aware of it's existence. 1t is hidden in
ruined part of this house-in fact, in
a concealed room, the existence Of which
no one knows but myself. and in close
connection with, but not In, place we
call The Haunted Tower What wish
you to dc is this: I myself have always
fed this ape, or ourang-outang, for it pos
sesses some of their. nature, and if he is
not attended to he will starve. About
ten every evening you are to do this for
me.
"a basket is always standing in a GER
tain place in the ruined part. A person
pay we'll comes every evening, under
promise of secrecy, and puts food in
it. You must get this basket, go through
a long, covered corridor that connects
this tower to the main building and opens
directly into a small hall, or passageway
near your room, and the door from your
room is hidden by a wardrobe.
"Open it, and pass through, taking 9
knife Of a peculiar shape that you will
find in a bookcase drawer in your room
together with plenty of candles and
matches for your use, also there; and to
this drawer L will give you the key.
"You will find several of these knives
put there, for fear one might accidentally
get broken. Take one, with a lighted
candle. say, go down the passage to the
tower, then count on the wall from the
door that leads up the tower stairs, back
ward, three panels, into a seeming crack
that you will see there insert the knife
point, and then turn it around three
times, when the panels will fly apart, re
vealing small opening, where set Of
| revolving iron shelves will be seen.
"On these place the food. Water is il
the room, where the creature can helI
himself, as he wishes it Keep and re
store the basket 10 its place; also be sur
{ and keep the knife. Push then th'
shelves, and they will turn slowly around
and come back to you with the plat'
} empty.
: after this, replace the panel and re
turn to your room silently. That will b.
all for about two or three weeks, whea
= shall add q small service, such a. p&ac
ing q light Of q certain nature In tn
tower, and winding up little machinery
Win you do all thar asked he. eagerly
"Yes," half moaned the poor girl
{ Whose soul shrank In horror fren tA