Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-10-12

the old doors the snow had piled itself in
heavy drifts. No sound broke the brood
ing stiffness. 1t was a picture distress
ingly forlorn.
HAS Professor Mechersky, then, no
servapts?' asked Graden of our driver.
l noticed that he hushed his voice in
speaking; he, too felt the uncanny in
fuence of the place.
"Two, mein Herr-a man and
woman. l cannot think where they can
be-"
81 had understood he was a man of
means. Why does he allow this disre-
pairW
81 do not think the, professor cares.
He shuts himself up with his experiments
when he is here-which is not often
now. His rooms look to the south on
the other side. For the rest, the house
is not furnished"
"Well, l suppose there is a servant
1 who will Heavens! whatis thatW
From somewhere within the house
there came a shrek, a. cry of supreme
terror. Again and yet again it was re-
peated before it shrank away into 81
lence. Graden ran across the court to
the main door, and | was hard upon his
heels. He pulled the bell and hammered
fercely upon the heavy oak panels; but
no one answered. 80
81 don't believe the thing is bolted,
said he. keep the handle turned, and
let me try what can do"
He stepped back a dozen PAGES, and
then came running at the door like 6
bull. The giant caught it squarely will
: the point of his shoulder; there was {
sharp crack; the next instant we wer,
both sprawling on the floor within.
: We found ourselves in a great anc
/ dusty hall, indifferently lighted. Agains
: the wall on my right | could dimly dis
e cern the figure of woman crouched ol
g the floor, sobbing bitterly, her face burie
!. in her hands. She did not move, despit
our violent entrance. At the foot of tn
: main staircase an old man was bendn
over something that lay motionless. III
y looked up at us with a white, pitifu
face.
IS He is dead-the master Is dead"' h
whimpered
1t .Graden strobe up to him, and l fo
1t lowed at his heels.
1t Professor Peter Mechersky-for sue
b. | knew it must be-lay huddled under q
ir old grey cloak that spread wing-w
lie from his neck, blot upon the polish'
m oak of the floor. From his face, tn
a though it was and wasted with diseas
lg he must have been middleaged ms
Of who had preserved singular beauty. l
SIS had died as a child might fall aslee
le Yet the horror that he had escaped
up had left to the living; for his attitu
st was abnormal, impossible, and ghast
he to behold.
ed 1t was not right that a body shou
he resemble an egg that is broken.
a My cousin swept aside the cloak
a moment, and replaced it reverent
a though with hand that trembled
he He has not sound bone in his body
ng he muttered, and then, turning to the
ct servant, "How did this happenT' ST
,St he.
IN. HE had been i'll for some weeks, m'
at Herr and We begged him not to leave
in room. But to-day he declared hims
ILL., better. He insisted that he should
lily scend to the library. Half way do
nd the stairs he tripped and fell.
oss to his side and found him, as you
ut him, crouched- ed-like-like-
Like a toadY'
''Yes, mein Herr, like a toad
The man broke into hysterical we
md ing.
ng, Ihe Engnsnman, 1err w ahehe'u' y
ted most anxious about my masters healt
ore he stammered out. THE Herr profes
.ss- became ndisposed some ten days at
ON his arrival; since then he has been m
as kind, most considerate, sitting by
,dy masters bed for hours. He would al
the no other doctor to visit the master.
ern is a kind, good man, this doctor,
,pe- Herr Wakefield"
'ses 80 L belleVe. HOW canie he " nj
"a your master"
vim 81 am not sure; but l think he brou
But a letter of Introduction from Profe'
of Marnac of Heidelberg, a gentleman
Y. whom my master disapproved, yet
our mired for his learning"
not "And this Englishman, did he presc
ant for your master?T'
,eed "Of course. They loved each OF
we and sat late into the night in their
est. cussions. When my poor master
,rey taken i'll, Herr Wakefield took comp
Iriv- charge of him. Ach! If he did but k
at what had happened"
had ''Then he is not here?"
vail: "No; he drove to Lemsdorf yesteI
tile afternoon. He had to return to his
and country Ach! If he did but know
We 1t was plain enough-Marnac, the
he guist, was Wakefield, the Engishr
suit. 1t was he, new from this thing tha
4 to had done, who had come creeping
him my room in the night, being suspicion
). the strangers from the south. 1t
ding he that had brought about this mys
,per- Gus horror. turned from the
sion. monstrosity upon the floor and lea
him shuddering, against the wall. AS |
bove so, Graden strode past me to the
dark door.
vest "Driver, can your horses TAX
|. To back?" l heard him say.
uild- "Not without rest and feed,
like: Herr, The snow is very bad, and
ecay. are tired"
bare "Would hundred marks to the d
tiara ssist themT