Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1904-05-07
The Moore house

a
Of the house. In another moment the
rich peal of an organ sounded from
within, followed by the prolonged
bowling of Ridge, who, either from a
too keen appreciation of his masters
music or in utter disapproval of it-no
one, believe, has ever been able to
make out which-was accustomed to
add this undesirable accompaniment
to every strain from the old mans
hand. The playing did not cease be-
cause of these outrageous discords. On
the contrary, it increased in force and
volume, causing Ridges expression of
pain or pleasure to increase also. The
result can be imagined. AS I listened
to the intolerable bowls Of the dog
cutting clean through the exquisite
harmonies of his master 1 wondered if
the shadows cast by the frowning
structure Of the great Moore house
were alone to blame for Uncle David's
lack of neighbours
Meantime Hubbard, who was the
first to hear my signal, came running
down the block. AS he joined me the
light. or what we chose to call a light
appeared in the window toward which
my attention had been directed.
"Some ones in the Moore housew
declared. in as matter of fact tones as
could command
Hubbard is a big fellow, the biggest
f0I1nrU ,n 70
own experience with him had gone, as
stolid and imperturbable as the best of
us. But after a quick glance at the
| towering walls of the lonely building
he showed decided embarrassment and
seemed in no haste to cross the street.
With difficulty 1 concealed my dis
gust
Come" I cried, stepping down from
the curb, "lets go over and investi-
gate. The property is valuable. the
furnishings are handsome, and there is
no end of costly books on the library
shelves. You have matches and a re-
volver?"
He nodded, quietly showing me first
the one, then the other: then. with a
sheepish air which he endeavored to
carry off with laugh, he cried:
"Have you use for 'em? If so, I'm
quite willing to part with 'em for
half hour" ss FIJI. IL. L. :,sszap
I was more than amazed at this evil
dence of weakness in one had always
considered as tough and impenetrabln
as flint rock. Thrusting back the hand
with which he had half drawn into
view the weapon l had mentioned,
put on my sternest air and led the way
across the street AS did so, tossed
back the words:
"We may come upon gang. You
do not wish me to face some half
dozen men alOne?'
"You won't find any half dozen men
there" was his muttered reply. Never
theless he followed me, though with
less spirit than liked, considering that
my own manner was in a measure as
sumed and that l was not without
sympathy-well, let me say, for a dog
who preferred bowling q dismal &C
compartment to his masters music to
keeping open watch over neighbor-
hood dominated by the unhallowed
structure now proposed to enter.
At the first touch the door yielded.
It was not even latched.
$50! sov' thought l. ''This is no
fools job; some one is in the house."
had provided myself with an ordi
nary pocket lantern, and, when had
no f,,J1 nf
to enter the house and discover for my
self who had taken advantage of the
popular prejudice against it to make
secret refuge or rendezvous of it's de-
cayed old rooms, took out this
lantern and held it in readiness.
''We may strike a hornets nest" l
explained to Hubbard, whose feet seem
ed very heavy even for man of his
size. But Pm going in and so are
you. Only, let me suggest first that
we take off our shoes. We can hide
them in these bushes"
81 always catch cold when / walk
barefooted," mumbled my brave COM
panion; but receiving no reply, he
drew off his shoes and dropped them
beside mine in the cluster of stark
bushes which figure so prominently in
the newspaper illustrations that have
lately appeared. Then he took out his
revolver. and. cooking it, stood wait
ing. while gave cautious push to
the door.
Darkness! Silence!
Rather had confronted light and
heard some noise, even if it had been |
the ominous click to which we are so
well accustomed Hubbard seemed to