The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-07-23
CHAPTER Will.

I IL Al I'm III.
Has she came?' asked Sir Reginald
Glendenning Of Lady Constance, as he
distinctly heard a carriage stop before
the door, and his own coachman's voice
speaking to the horses.
she has: shall she be brought direct
~ to your presence"
Yes and see to it 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 husband 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-
vealng her sad, sweet face and large,
plying eyes.
"Oh, SIR said she. after an eager,
yet half naughty greeting. Il grieve to
see you so helpless. Have you just been
injured ?"
Yes: this morning | was thrown from
my horse, and am to lie here helpless
for months. | sent for you then, in an
swer to a letter received a few moments
before the accident from my sister, writ
ten before her death In that she asks
me 10 give you home for four months In
return for any service | may wish rem
dcred. ! sent, because | need assist
ance immediately of very peculiar ma
ture. Are you willing to undertake it,
at fair salary
Probably. | can tell better when
hear what the duties will be-"
Before | 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
purely confdenoial 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
tcrs and attend to my daily business af
fairs. The true duties will be perform
ed in half an hour each evening alone.
viii you swear on this book to keep my
secret?'
,, 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
troubling 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 the :. words: L. Ethel Nevergain
swear | will ell no person the nature of
my nightly duties. and that | will 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. so you
can hear, while | whisper the secret
| Now" he continued. listen to ME in
tently. | have in my possession very
rare animal, Que entirely unknown. IL
is the property of friend. and ! am
secretly taking care Of it for him. He
| is absent now abroad, searching for more
wonders TO add TO y collection. On his
return he is going 10 exhibit all. and ex-
pects to realize fortune by doing so,
| which ] am to share Now, although
wealthy, | love money. and always have;
| therefore, l take every care of this crea-
ture in order to obtain more gold. No
human being. save myself and its owner.
is aware of its existence. Ii in hidden in
ruined part of this house--in fac,, in
II concealed room. the existence of which
no one knows hut myself. aud in close
connection with. bur not in. n place We
| call The Haunted Tower What | wish
you to do is this: myself have always
fed this ape. or ourang out ang. for il 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 GER
tain place in the ruined part. person
l pay we'll comes every evening, under
a promise of secrecy, and puts food in
II. You must get this basket, go through
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 Ia hidden by a wardrobe.
Open II, and pass through, taking Z
knife OF peculiar shape that you will
find in bookcase drawer in your room
together with plenty Of candles and
matches for your use. also there: and &c
this drawer will give you the key.
l "Yeu viii Ind several Of these knives