The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-07-21

this, he fairly studied that room.
He noted It's width, height anc
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 10 that
window, as If meditating over his pa
TENTS ca0e, 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 II 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 drive noticed small, we'll
trodden pathway leading up to a clump
of bushes. Instantly the thought struck
him that behind those bushes, conceal
ed from view, might be an open passage
to the place, although he felt certain
there was no doorway. The more he
thought Of this the more be was sure 1t
must be the case
Why that well used path through the
grass If not for some such purposef Yes;
some human feet were In the habit Of en-
tering there, and be resolved to return
IN ha ,aIs a ~.
and investigate those bushes.
Full of this discovery, and full Of hope
that he might yet penetrate to the mys-
terlous tower, he touched his horse with
the whip and drove hastily away.
But Just as he emerged again into the
ramble, he saw Mrs Belle Glendenning
gazing at him from an upper window,
and felt mortified that she should have
noticed his ride around the premises, az
conscience whispered It must speak to
her Of prying nature.
Feeling, however, that Il 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 II was that he suddenly
heard 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 fastenlngs and drawn her from her
peril
After he had left her at the Hall II was
hard to recall his truant thoughts to their
proper sphere, but with set teeth and
firm resolve, he plunged into study, and
active work, In order to be at peace with
himself.
The great suffering of new patient
even detained him by bis side until after
midnight the second evening, and 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 ragingl This
storm was, strange to say, the Arst tha
had occurred in the evening since his
night voew Of the haunted tower. and
its 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
drenchlng rain served to retard his prog.
ress 30 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 small dark lantern
he had wisely brought with him,
BY the aid of this he proceeded TO ex
anime what only seemed dull blank
wall. Close inspection, however, reveal
ed large stone that was loose, which
he easily drew forth, making clean
unobstructed passageway, through which
man could creep, and without heslta.
tlon In he went landing directly upon
an old, but still passabe floor
Lowering his light, he paused to ex-
anime this floor, and found to his sur
prize, wet tracks upon 1t, 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
Even while he paused to reflect upon
his next movement, distant footsteps fell
upon his ear, just beyond the door, and
hurriedly he darted back, extingulshing
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 unmitlgat-
ed surprise stood Ethel Nevergail, the
girl so much the object of his thoughts
since that narrow escape of hers, with a
lighted candle In her hand, peering into
the darkness beyond,
Had she seen him2 he asked himself,
creeping like a thief towards this unfor.
tunate house, and hearing bis steps, had
she come to warn him away2
mol the thought was absurd, and he
soon saw that she came seeking merely
a covered basket, not observed until then,
standing just beyond the door.
How pale SHE looked. as he viewed for
one moment her sad face and--yes! sure
ly, those were tears that fell from her
beautiful hazel eyes upon her cheek.
1he sight Of those tears caused him to
take one step toward her, but she fortu-
nately did not see him, but drew to the
door, after securing the basket, and he
then heard her little feet start down the
corridor.
Resolved not to be baked in his eff
forts to uurNvel this night one mystery
at least, DIR, Elfenstein pushed again to-
wards the door and to his JOY. it this
time yielded to his touch.
Poor Ethel! this night for the first
time had been required by Sir Reginald
Glendenning to visit the tower and follow
out directions he gave her In full, for
producing the Illusions that were to terri.
fy the unsuspecting public,
In great agitation then. and still weep
ing she had proceeded to the fulfllment
of her loathsome duty and In her grief
and excitement. for the first time forgot
to fasten the door, after possessing her
self of the food.
This forgetfulness accounts for the
entrance of the doctor into the corridor,
and enabled him TO follow her advancing
figure, softly In the distance.