The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1904-12-01
Tho oore hoVs.

SiJlSsiyS GN u &, t:.ssssi n 4 .{sSlfN
Gs - GzY
a ~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 n
too keen appreciation OF his masters
music or In utter disapprovai OF it-no
one, ! believe, has ever been able to
make out whlch-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 dlscords. On
the contrary. 1t increased in force and
volume, causing Ridges expression of
pain or pleasure to Increase also. The
result can be imagined As l listened
to the intolerable bowls of the dog
cutting clean through the exquisite
harmonies of his master wondered II
the shadows cast by the frownlng
structure of the great Moore house
were alone to blame for Uncle DAVID
lack of ncighbors.
Meantime Hubbard. who was the
first TO hear my signal. came running
down the block. AS he joined me tho
light, or what we chose to call light.
appeared In the window toward which
my attention had been directed.
Some ones In the Moore house" |
declared. In as matter of fact tones rs
! could command.
Hubbard Is big fellow, the biggest
fellow on the force, and, so far as my
own experience with him had gone, ms
stol!d and imperturbablc as the best of
us But after quick glance ut the
towering walls of the lonely building
he showed decided embarrassment and
seemed in no haste to cross the street
With difficulty concealed my dis
gust
Come" cried, stepping down from
the curb, lets go over and invest.
gate. The property is valuable. the
furnishings are handsome, and there Is
no end of costly books on the library
volverg"
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? II SO, I'm
quite willing to part with 'em for n
half hour"
was more than amazed at this evi.
dence of weakness in one had always
considered as tough and impenetrable
as flint rock. Thrusting back the hand
with which he had half drawn into
view the weapon | had mentioned. |
put on my sternest air and led the way
across the street. AS did so, tossed
back the words:
I'VE may come upon gang, You
do not wish me to face some half
dozen men aloner'
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 measure as
sumed and that l was not without
sympathy-well. let me say, for dog
who preferred bowling q dismal ac.
compartment to his masters music to
keeping open watch over nelghbor'
hood dominated by the unhallowed
structure now proposed to enter.
At the FIRST touch the door yielded
II was not even latched.
"Sol SOP thought |. This Is no
FOOLS job; some one Is In the house"
had provided myself with an ordi
nary pocket lantern, and, when | had
convinced Hubbard that fully meant
to enter the house and discover for my
self who had taken advantage of the
popular prejudice against 1t to make a
secret refuge or rendezvous Of its de
cayed old rooms, took out this
lantern and held It In readiness.
1--WE may strike hornets nest" I
explained to Hibbard, whose feet seem
ed very heavy even for man of his
size. "But I'm going In and so are
you Only, let me suggest FIRST tina,
we take off our shoes. We can hide
them in these bushes"
~ always catch cold when walk
barefooted," mumbed my brave com
panion; but receiving no reply, be
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 1t, stood wait
ing, while gave cautious push to
the door.
Darknessl Silence!
Rather had confronted light and
heard some noise. even IL It had been
the ominous click to which we are so
well accustomed. Hibbard seemed to