Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-08
I0fce feSS of the
//trdnd. sR so 1T l nEA1f
corrRlGr1I. nE1sPapEn ENTERPRISE .As5n

once-quick!'
In a moment was at his side.
Tins is the very room where it Stood"
said
l ran to the window and looked down.
De Castro followed me. Helen had not
moved. She was still gazing up-the moon
light fell full on her white face.
you saw 1t, too?" gasped De Castro.
Yes, said, "and so did Helen. 1t stood
by this window"
"I was awake" he said, "and heard your
shout. I rushed to my window; 1 saw the
specter distinctly and followed it to this
room. You swear you saw 1t? 1t was the
face of the abbot"
My brain was working quickly, my cour-
age was returning. The unfathomable ter
ror of the night scene was leaving me. l
took De Castro suddenly by both his arms
and turned him round so that the moon
light should fall upon him.
You and l are alone in this tower. Helen
Sherwood is in the courtyard. There is not
another living being in the whole castle.
Now listen. There are only two possible
explanations of what has just occurred.
Either you are the specter or it is super
natural"
l?' he cried 'Are you mad?"
II well might be-" I answered, bitterly
"But of this am certair-you must prove
to me whether you are the apparition or
not. I make this suggestion now in order
to clear you from all possible blame; 1
make 1t that we may have absolute EVIL
most searching tribunal Will you now
strip before me? Yes, before you leave the
room, and prove that you have no mask
hidden anywhere on you. If you do this
but in case like the present there must
be no loophole."
"of course. I understand you." he said.
I will remove my clothes"
In five minutes he had undreSsed and
dressed again. There was not treachery on
his part. There was no mask nor any pos
sible means of his Stimulating that face on
his person.
almost with bitterness "By heavens.
wish there was. The awfulness of this
thing Will drive me mad. Look at that
girl standing by herself in the courtyard
must return to her. Think of the courage
of woman who would stand there alone"
He made no answer. 1 saw that he was
shivering
why do you tremble?" said suddenly.
because of the nameless fear" he re-
pied Remember I saw her father-I saw
Eim with the terror on him-he ran along
the battlements; he threw himself over-he
died He was dashed to pieces on the very
spot where she is standing Get her to
come in, BRUCE"
II will go and speak to her." said
4 went back to the courtyard 1 rejoined
Helen and in a few words told her what
had occurred.
You must come in now," said. you
will catch your death Of cold standing
here"
She smiled slow, enigmatic sort of
smile
II have not given up the solution yet"
she said, NOR do 1 mean to-"
AS she spoke she took her revolver from
her belt and 1 saw that she was strangely
excited. Her manner showed intense ex-
element, but no fear.
E Il suspect foul play" she said. "As I
stood here and watched you and Uncle Pc
tro talking to each other by that window
l felt convinced am more than ever con-
vinced-"
She broke off suddenly.
"Look!-oh heaven, look! what is that?"
She had scarcely uttered the words be-
fore the same face appeared at another
window to the right. Helen gave a sharp
cry and the next instant she covered the
awful face with her revolver and fired. A
shrill scream rang out on the night air.
1T Is human after all" said Helen; Il
thought it was. Come"
She rushed up the winding stair; follow
ed. The door of the room where we had
seen the specter was open. We both dash
ed in Beneath the window lay a dark,