The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-22

ts-~-~e
screwed and pulled the tender old cork
with the greatest care, and just man
aged to fetch it. away entire, though
crumbling.
Such an old cork needs very
steady hand" Crook said Have you
some spare decanters %
Decanters were found, and here, IN
Tar dlfferent circumstances, Crook be-
gan. to/repeat his performance OF two
nlghtS ago in Norie's studio. He turned
MS back toward where the gray man
was sitting, lifted the nagnun to the
light, and poured slowly.
me decanters We're fairly large, and
Two suf1ced to hold the contents of the
magnum. Steadily, slowly, Crook filled
the Hrst. and saw no sign of the great
jewel that was leading his quest. Slow
~ and steadily he filed the second,
watching and Watching, and no Green
Eye came to the neck. The matter was
settled. The Green Eye of Goona was
not IN Mr. Clfton's ma gnum.
Crook put the second decanter on the
table, and turned to make the best of
his dinner. He found large hocks
glass by his plate, and no other
This is indeed generous glass for
Tokay, he said, and half filed it.
Indeed, the wine was far too sweet
for dinner wine, but Crook made the
best of 1t. Surely no man would be SO
ungraclous as to grumble at this lavish
use OF SC noble and rare liquor IN his
honor, and Crook his turn served and
his work done, applied himself to the
meal.
His freakish host was agreeable and
sedulpus, though through it and with
it all Crock felt the discomfort of some
odd prepossession, some inexplicabie
x,c~fr f<.l
low, and, for all his politeness, IN sorue
strange way not altogether an agree
able fellow.
Bless mel" he exclaimed. presently,
t thought I had remembered every
thing. but I observe l have forgotten
the cheese. Odd I should have forgot
ten the cheese. 1 have a Stilton of
which really think you will approve
He rose and turned. about; and then
! added. suddenly, mo, no, 7 am wrong
here it is on the console table. Come.
hope you will like the Stilton. Mean
time, as l do not take cheese, is it
asking too much to beg you to excuse
me once more? I am really ANXIOUS
about that good soul, my heusekeeper.
Pray do not spare the wine"
Again Crook was left alone, and he
turned to the cheese which was in fact
excellent. The house was stin-euri-
ousiy still. But, as he sat, he presently
heard again that same slight cracking
noise, as Of stick or some wooden
thing broken and splintered, away in
some far room, behind thick doors and
curtains. And in a few minutes more
the sound was repeated.
Harvey Crook sat in silence slipping
his wine and listening for the return of
his host. But the silence of that strange
house was unbroken. Once he fancied
he heard a slight creak from the outer
gate-possibly the wind.
Presently the black eat came in, cau-
tiously, tentatively, waiting for mo-
ment to gaze hard at him from the
door, and so judge of what reception
to expect. Crook took a fragment from
his plate to tempt the animal, and ii
came cautiously still, stood yard
away. and mewed Crook dropped the
fragment and the cat ate it and came
closer.
Still he sat solitary, and there was
no sound from end to end of the house
Some of the candles began to gutter
down, and he rose and blew these out
The cat followed him.
1t began to grow late. What should
he do? Politeness dictated that he
should wait for his host, but everything
earthly has its limit. He stood an6
looked at picture on the wall, and the
cat rubbed against his legs, purring.
The picture hung on the wall oppo-
site the door, which stood ajar. Crool
fancied some cold watt of wind from
without, walked to the door, opened it
and peered into the dark beyond. Tht
cat came after him again, purring.
The house beyond the dining room
was black and silent, but cool fresf
wind came along the corridor, as though
an outer door were open. Should M
do anything to remind his host of hi.
r,rn IF h01lcpLyppnar
worse, perhaps, he might be of use, t
call doctor, or the like. He venturet
a loud cough.
The sound went through the hous'
with startling clearness, and through
the tense quiet dozen tiny echoe
came whispering back But that wa
ALL
. He stepped into the corridor, an,
pronounced aloud the name of the mas
ter of the house; and again there wa
? no answer but the whispering echoes.
| He returned to the dining room an'
took a candle from the manteipiece
: Right or wrong, he would see what thl
, thing meant.
Candle in hand, he strobe along tn
! corridor, the cat trotting at his heels
AS he came into the hall his light me
. a gust of air which nearly blew 1T ou'
The front door was open!
He pushed it to, stood by the STAR
I foot and called aloud: Mr.. Clifton
5 Mr. Clifton!" And again the hous
gave back no living voice.
: Behind the main staircase smalle
J. staircase descended, half-hidden py
: curtain which seemed to have latel
r been partly torn from its rings. tn
t torn curtain thus having taken hrs ey'
: Crook stepped toward it and descende
3 the stairs.
1t was short fight, for the base
: ment floor was low ceiled. At the bot
e tom he could see the kitchen door, ma
e shut, and jammed against some IndIs
: tinct objeet-a bundle of clothes, per
haps-on the floor.
v Crook held the light aloft and pushe
S the door wide open, and there lay th
e bundle of clothes-a woman; a stou