The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-06-23

ytl naiL naughty BreeuuHs krSfo "
see you so helplessl Have you just been
injuredT
"Yes; this morning l was thrown from
my horse, and am to lie here helpless
for month"; l 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 to give you home for four months In
return for any service l may wish rem
dcred. | sent, because I need assist
ance Immediately of very peculiar ma
ture. Are you willing to undertake 1t,
at a fair salaryT
Probably. can tell better when /
J hear what the duties will be-"
Before tell you that, wish you to
hand mo 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
ters 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
secretT ft
Il will swear, II you will assure me
that these duties can be done with pure
conscience, and that they arc perfectly
proper for me TO do"
at L. uytAA
perfect proprlety. WIN you take the
oath :"
II WILL" came from the lips Of the
trembling girl, reluctantly, II 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 there words: I, Ethel Nevergain,
swear | will tell 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 l whisper the secret.
Now" he continued, 'lsten to me in
tently. / have In my possession a very
rere animal, one entirely unknown. 1t
ls 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 a collection. On his
return he is going to exhibit all, and ex-
poets to realize fortune by doing so,
which | am to share. Now, although
wealthy, | love money, and always have;
therefore, / take every care Of this crea-
ture In order to obtain more gold. No
human being, save myself and Its owner,
10 aware Of its 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, a place we
call The Haunted Tower. What wish
you to do is this; myself have always
fed this ape, or ourang.outang for 1t pos
sesses some Of their nature, and II he Is
not attended to he viii starve. About
ton 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
|
a promise Of secrecy, and puts food In
II, You must get this basket, 20 through
long, covered corridor that connects
this tower to the main building and opens
directly into small hall, or passageway
near your room, and the door from your
room Ia hidden by a wardrobe,
open 1t, and pass through, taking a
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 to
this drawer | will give you the key.
You will find several Of these knives
put there, for fear one might accidentally
get broken. Take one, with 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 seeming crack
that you will see there insert the knife
point, and then turn II around three
times, when the panels win tly apart, re.
veallng small opening, where a set of
revolving iron shelves will be seen.
ION these place the food Water Is In
the room, where the creature can help
himself, as he wiahes II. Keep and re-
store the basketlbo Its place; also be sure
and keep the knife. Push then the
shelves, and they win turn slowly around,
and come back to you with the plate
empty.
After this, replace the panel and re-
turn to your room silently. That will be
all for about two or three weeks, when
shall add small service, such as plac-
ing q light Of certain nature In the
tower, and winding up little machinery
VIII you do all thiaf asked he, eagerly.
Yes" half moaned the poor girl,
whose soul shrank In horror from the
task; IF you assure me | will not be
harmed by the beast"
"You never will He Is chained to
heavy iron bolt; besides, this room he 10
In has no windows or doors, being light
ed from the ceiling, and there Is no mode
Of reaching him, save by those shelves.
could not; you can never even see him,
or be seen by him. When my friend re-
turns, and wants him, we will unserew
the iron shelves, and so take him hence.
"Will you stay now, as he must be seen
to this very night2" asked Sir Reginald,
hAhtl n HuuHts IOu CdH heuu luF your
trunks when you wish. will pay you
twenty pounds month"
81 will stay"
"Then please ring the bell you see yon-
der, as must inform my wife"
The bell brought a footman, who took
the desired message, and Lady Constance
soon appeared.
Miss Neyergail Ia TO remain She IA
to be my amanuensis, reader, and assist
you and the nurse generally, In my care.
| wish the room next this prepared for
her immediate use."
"Why that onef 1t will not bs wise TO
put her there"
"Wlse or not, there she goes, so have It
In readiness"
CHAPTER TX.