Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-07-22
her usual time she took the lighted can
die in her hand and started with fearful
eyes to attend 30 the task before her.
CHAPTER XIV.

After Dr. ElfenSteIn had asked per
mission of Sir Regin&ld Glendenning to
search the Haunted Tower he felt ex-
| ceedingly puzzled over his future course.
Resolved as he was to penetrate the mys-
terry of that place, he could not under
stand how the thing was to be accom-
plished.
In all his visits to Sir Reginald, al
though reserved in manner, his every
nerve had been on the alert. He had
been told that the room occupied by the
present baronet was the one where Sir
Arth UT had met his sad fate. Knowing
this, he fairly studied that room.
He noted it's width, height and
breadth; the height of the two windows
from the floor, the size Of those win
dows, and particularly he noted the one
from which the rope had dangled that
had been used to lower the body to the
ground. ~
He had several times walked to that
window, as if meditating over his pa
| tents case, and looked out, surveying
the ground below, and the distance from
| it to the lake, which was visible through
the trees.
From the house. which he visited daily
in his professional calling, he often drove
around, examining the stables and out
buildings, and sometimes slowly went
| around the tower to view the ruined part,
and to see if by any means he could ever
effect an entrance.
One day, 1t was the one on which
Ethel started for the eventful walk, he
in such a drive noticed a small, we'll
trodden pathway leading up to a clump
OF bushes. Instantly the thought struck
him that behind those bushes, conceal
cd from, vie ,srrh,+ h.
to the place, although he felt certain
there was no doorway. The more he
thought of this the more he was sure it
must be the case.
Why that we'll used path through the
grass If not for some such purpose? Yes;
some human feet were in the habit Of en-
tering there, and he resolved to return
to the place, under cover of darkness,
and Investigate those bushes.
Full of this discovery, and full of hope
that he might yet penetrate to the mys-
terious tower, he touched his horse with
the whip and drove hastily away.
But just as he emerged again into the
ramble, he saw Miss Belle Glendenning
gazing at him from an upper window,
and felt mortified that she should have
noticed his ride around the premises, as
conscience whispered it must speak to
her of prying nature. ,
Feeling, however, that it was done,
and could not now be recalled, he passed
on, and proceeded to visit the homes of
several sick persons who needed his ad
vice and assistance.
On his return it was that he suddenly
heard a wild shrek of terror, and looking
around, had seen Ethel in that dangerous
situation, while the nearing train told
of the death that awaited her. Springing
to the ground, he had rushed to her as
sistance, and had wrenched apart those
stiff fastenings and drawn her from her
peril.
After he had left her at the Hall it was
hard to recall his truant thoughts to their
proper sphere, but with set teeth and a
firm resolve, he plunged into study, and
active work, in order to be at peace with
himself.
The great suffering of a new patient
even detained him by his side until, after
midnight the second evening, and a third
time had night folded the earth before
relief came to the weary one, and Earle
Elfenstein was at liberty to pay the
lonely ruin the desired call
Then violent storm was raging! This
storm was, strange to say, the first that
had occurred in the evening since his
night voew of the haunted tower, and
it's dancing demon, just five weeks be-
fore.
Not wishing to be seen by any of the
inmates, he did not venture out until af-
ter nine o'clock. Then the wild wind and
drenching rain served to retard his prog
ress so much that it was full Quarter to
ten before he felt the worn pathway
and crept behind the clump of thick, wet
bushes, where, once concealed from view,
he paused to light a small dark lantern
he had wisely brought with him.
By the aid of this he proceeded to ex-
anime what only seemed a dull. blank
wall. Close inspection, however, reveal
ed large stone that was loose, which
he easily drew forth, making clean,
unobstructed passageway, through which
a man could creep and without hesita-
ton in he went, landing directly upon
an old, but still passable floor.
Lowering his light, he paused to ex-
anime this floor, and found to his sur
prise, wet tracks upon it, that told plain
ly that very recent footsteps had passed
that way. Following these, the young
man walked in a direct line across the
building, until he reached door, which,
upon trying, he found to his chagrin, Sc
curely fastened.
his next movement, distant footsteps fell
upon his ear, just beyond the. door, and
hurriedly he darted back, extinguishing
his light as he did so.
just in time was this movement made,
for hand unlocked the fastening, open
ed the door, and there, to his unmitigat-
ed surprise. stood Ethel Nevergail, the
girl so much the object of his thoughts
since that narrow escape of hers, with
lighted candle in her hand, peering into
the darkness beyond.
Had she seen him? he asked himself,
creeping like a thief towards this unfor-
tunate house, and hearing his steps, had
she come to warn him away?
No! the thought was absurd, and he
soon saw that she came seeking merely
a covered basket, not observed until then,
standing just beyond the doors
How pale she looked, rs he viewed for