Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-04-26

!
tastic illumination which frightens
fool folks and some fool dogs, I'm done
with it and done with you, too, for to-
night"
| AS he said this he mounted to his
| door and disappeared under the vines,
| hanging like a shroud over the front
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 q
too keen appreciation Of his masters
music or in utter disapproyal Of it-no
one, 1 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 l listened
to the intoerable bowls of the dog
cutting clean through the exquisite
harmonies of his master wondered II
the shadows cast by the frowning
structure Of the great Moore house
were alone to blame for Uncle David's
lack of neighbors.
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 light,
appeared in the window toward which
my attention had been directed.
"Some ones in the Moore houser' I
declared. in as matter Of fact tones as
could command
Hubbard is big fellow, the biggest
fellow OFT the force. and. so far as my
own experience with him had gone, as
stolid and imperturbable as the best Of
us. But after 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 I concealed my dis
gust.
Come 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 re-
volver?"
He nodded, quietly showing me first
the one, then the other; then, with
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 a
half hour
l was more than amazed at this evil
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 I had mentioned,
put on my sternest air and led the way
across the street. As did SO, / tossed
back the words:
Eve may come upon a gang. You
do not wish me to face some half
dozen men aloneY'
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 was not without
sympathy-well, let me say, for dog
who preferred bowling dismal &C
compartment to his masters music to
keeping open watch over q nelghbor-
hood dominated by the nnhallowed
structure now proposed to enter
At the first touch the door yielded.
1t was not even latched.
$50! sOr' thought I. "This is no
FOOLS job; some one Il in the house."
had provided myself with an ordi
nary pocket lantern, and, when I had
convinced Hubbard that l fully meant
to enter the house and discover for my
self who had taken advantage Of the
popular prejudice against 1t to make
secret refuge or rendezvous Of Its de-
cayed old rooms, took out this
lantern and held it in readiness.
I'VE may strike hornets nest l
explained to Hubbard, 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 that
we take off our shoes. We can hide
them in these bushes"
II always catch cold when I walk
barefooted." mumbled my brave COM
panion: but receiving no reply, he
drew of 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 1t had been
the ominous click to which we are 80
well accustomed. Hubbard seemed to
share my feelings, though from an en-
tirely different cause.
"Pistob and lanterns are no good
here he grumbled. What we want
at this blessed minute is priest with !
a sprinkling of holy water; and I for
one
He was actually sliding of.
With smothered oath / drew him
back.
"See heres' I cried, you're not a
babe in arms. Come on Or Well,
what now?"
He had clinched nv arm and was