The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1905-05-10
she Deserted House
[Original.l

I plunged beyond the town limits. My
four acetylene lamps forced a circular
hc,e in the darkness, and there would
have been no difficulty in my getting
on had not the snow increased, while
the wind, rising to fury, blew it into
drifts. My pace grew slower, and
with each drift was in danger Of be-
ing stalled. The cold was intense, and
began to grow sleepy.
At last 1 was stalled. My lamps
showed me, not fifty yards ahead, a
stone bridge, beyond which the road
forked at the foot of a large tree. Be
yond on the left fork thought 1 saw
a light Putting on all the force there
was in my machine, 1 plowed through
the snow and drew up in front of a
massive stone house, with pillars rising
the whole height of the building, such
a house as was in vogue about 1910.
raped with the brass knocker, and
q man opened the door. He was not a
servant but a well to do looking per-
son of the country class.
l told him my story, and he invited
me to take my automobile around to a
shed In the rear and to spend the night
in his house. When 1 returned from the
shed, he met me at back door, brush
ed the snow off me and led me into the
living room, where his wife and chill
dren were sitting about blazing wood
fire.
There was something uncanny about
these people, and for my life couldn't
tell what it was. They were all as
white as if they had been long i'll and
seemed hungry, not for food, for they
gave me a supper, never touching a
morsel themselves, but for something
the nature Of which could not guess
The wife and mother spread her hands
before the fire to warm them, and
could see the fame behind, not through
red blood, but white flesh. The chill
dren, too, had a blue white look about
them that made me cold. 1 attempted
to caress a little girl of six years, seiz-
ing her hand, but she quickly drew it
away, and was glad she did, for it
was cold and stiff, not the least of that
warm softness in it usual to childhood.
was glad when my host showed me
to sleeping room.
In the night 1 awoke suddenly with
suffocation. A mouth was glued to
mine, and some one was drawing my
breath from my body. was Just in
time to place my hands upon a pair of
shoulders and hurl the figure away.
In another moment would have been
powerless. Gasping, awaited the per
sons return, but when no one came I
listened. There was no sound, and aft
er time wondered if / had not had a
spasmodic closing at the mouth of the
windpipe and dreamed the rest. 1 was
all In tremor and resolved to remain
awake for the rest of the night. Never
theless l became drowsy, and the LAST
remember was struggling with sleep.
was awakened by some one shak-
ing me, the mouth Of a flask put be-
tween my lips and liquor in my mouth.
| swallowed a considerable draft. after
which l opened my eyes to be blinded
by powerful light, the light from an
automobile. Two men were chafing
me. When assured that l was alive |
they told me that they were passing in
their automobile and had found me in
mine apparently frozen. They had
reached me just in time to save me.
Ahead Of me was the stone hridoa 7
had seen, beyond which the road
forked at the foot of the oak tree.
was still stuck in the drift from which
L thought had gone to the house Far
ther on. / said nothing to nv rescuers
about this, and after they had turned
my machine l went with them bacl, 10
the village, where ] spent the remain
der Of the night.
Inc next morning was bright cold
ma still, and after a hot breakfast
on my way, passed the point
"here l had been stalled ana pnsbad
'n by the left fork. What was INV os.
-ohlshment 10 see that the house M
which J had stayed the night before
vas where J thought II, But Instead ~ ,
'elng occupied Il was deserted
was Daralyzed with n fdqbtfm
Tread. Fortunately ! had notbing ~
~ put nod the steering wheel to NM
he horrible place behind me. Reacbing ,
Farm house D short diefonoe bevonf T,
s'opiel and leaying my outomobile
n',N'Ni a woman ome ~ me- door
lp4 know flo house half IA ma
.Hrh op ipif sio M ne road tane
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