The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-06-30

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food In small pieces, consisting of broken
biscuits bits Of chicken, potatoes, and
: quite a quantity of meat, cut In mouth
fuls This she placed on the shelves
upon the wooden plate on which 1t was
heaped. Then gently showing the shelves,
they slowly whirled around, and when
the same side returned to her, the plate
stood upon 1t empty, ready to be placed
again in the basket.
"That ape must have been trained" :"
she thought, ITO empty the plate and re-
turn ltp
She listened for moment, but all was
still. Showing to the panels, she found
that they relocked themselves, SO taking
mp candlestiek, knife and basket, she
placed the latter again outside the door,
fastened 1t securely, and reached her own
room in safety.
The task required of her had been a
singularly unpleasant one. She was a
brave young girl, and had endured but
| few feelings Of fear, but she had trem-
bled, because the thing required SO much
secrecy She disliked mysteries Of all
kinds, and her honest, open nature re-
/ VOlIeu from lHt WHOlt NDThs
One thing she decided to do, she
should take some morning hour to ex-
plore the ruins, and that Haunted Tower,
so that she might become accustomed to
oil the dangers and peculiarites Of the
place before other offices were required
at her hands.
With this resolution still In her mind,
she sought the luxurious bed that await
ed her, and there fell at once into a
pleasant sleep, from which she never
aroused until the bright rays Of another
morning sun stole into her room.
Springng up, she dressed as soon as
possible, and opening her door, found
by questioning maid that the family
did not rise until late, as their breakfast
hour was from ten to eleven.
All being quiet In the room Of the In
valid, she returned to her own apart
ment, and fastening the door securely,
resolved at once to start upon her explor-
ing expedition, as she felt that she would
be for at least an hour and a half unob-
served, and mistress Of her own time and
motions.
With n little Of the trembling nerv-
BUSINESS Of the night before, the brave
girl opened the intervening doors and
stepped into the corridor. All was fold
ed In the same solemn stiffness that made
the place oppressive on the previous
night.
She resolved 10 explore the ruined
parts before she sought the tower, there
fore unlocked the door, and stepped out
As she did so, she noticed that the Gov
cred basket was still there.
The door opened directly into a small
rickety hall that led into several large
rooms, all dusty, mouldy aud more or less
dilapidated. Broken windows, torn wal
papers, bare rafteS, seen through i'm
mense places where ceilings had fallen
were everywhere visible Some roomi
were filled with broken furniture, piecei
of old china and fragments Of time-worn
castoif clothing.
Ethel looked at these dilapidated OBJ
jects, and found herself wondering VIII,
| Sir Reginald had not had the whole pull
J ed down and removed? Its destruction
certainly would heighten the value of tn,
properly, while Its presence only spok
Of neglect and untdiness,
One thing she observed in her ramb
I. there was an easy mode Of egress and in
!. gress to this part into the hail. an,
{ marks of recent footsteps on the foo
+. told that this formed the entrance plac
to the person who prepared and brough
n the food she was nightly to place on tn
4 iron shelves.
II Another thing struck her; In all tn
!. premises there was not the slightest M
3 pearance Of the concealed room. Only
i bare, blank wall appeared upon the sid
where she knew It must be.
!. Retracing her steps after all had bee
v examined she refastened the door, an
4 then sought the Haunted Tower. Th
4 door leading to this was closed, but no
bolted, so she opened it, and crossin
- quite large square place, she began ai
cendlng a long flight Of stairs. The step
,. were steep, and not at all easy, and sh
y became very tired before she reache
q the top, but pressing on, she did reach Il
- but not before she paused to rest upon
q broad Hat landng paused, too, with hoI
h ror, at nm unexpected sight that ther
presented itself,
"a II was the stuffed Image Of mar
. fixed upon wires, that worked upon tn
same principle as the jumping Jacks ofte
,. bought to amuse children,
!. This, however, was nearly as large a
v life Its head was hollow, with red glas
\ In place where the eyes would be, so tha
4 a lighted glass lamp, placed within
/ would give flaming appearance to thos
eyes.
A From each side horns projected, an,
she could easily imagine what the who'll
. terrific effect must be to an outside be
q holder. This figure she saw could b,
, elevated and put In motion by winding
up a crank to which II was attached, Ar
rangements for different colored lights
, were also on every hand,
After carefully examining all the ma
, chinery, until she perfectly understood IT.
! workings and the whole wicked plan L
give supernatural appearance to the tow
! er, Ethel passed upward until she coul
= gaze without hindrance from the tall wir
: dows of this lofty place
Then exclamations of delight escape
her for there she could catch an unOl
structed view of the grand panorama tbs
stretched for miles and miles away o
II every side, But she did not linger, feaI
l. Ing she would be seen by some Of h
D. villagers. and her presence reported
le Sir Reginald.
lie This visit she knew would be dispea
t. ing to him. ii he wished it to be paC
'e that should fill every heart with fea
te in order to keep from it visitors by da
as well as by night,
I. CHAPTER NJ.
4. Day after day passed, during whic
a Ethel became quite accustomed to h,
ID routine Of work, and quietly persevere
ID in her duties. Nothing difficult to accon
plish was required at her hands; nothin
II beyond spending a couple of hours eaC
n. morning In her own room writing letter