The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-08-30
cHAPTER We

We entered the forest. IN every nand
stood the pines, stretching away in long.
melancholy avenues foored with driftel
snow. The laden branches bowed before
us. now and again, at the whirl of pass
ing gust. finging their burdens from
them. Once a willow grouse, white as
the snow beneath it, swept on steady
wing through the trees. Once from the
far. far distance, borne upon the eastern
breeze. there came a cry, weird, hope
less echo in the air, that set the horses
snorting. | knew what it must be-a
wolf who felt the first pangs of the win
ters hunger gathering round him. But
there was no sign of man nor marks of
sleigh tracks on the newly fallen snow.
We did not travel fast, though our
driver did his best. The snow had not
hardened and settled into that enchant-
ing surface on which the runners speed
so swiftly. Midday was past before we
saw. through a sudden gap in the forest
a rising mound crowned with low, grey
building. ''Castle Osterv cried our driv-
er. turning in his seat to claim our az
tention. In ten minutes more we had
halted at a gate set in high stone wall
Before we were clear Of the rugs the
driver lad slipped from his perch ani
tugged at rusty iron bell-pull. W.
waited without an answer. Again h.
rang: but Graden did not wait the result
The door was not bolted: it opened II
his vigorous arm, and we followed hin
into the broad courtyard of the castle.
Before us sprawled the main buildin,
f'anked by little towers, like the pepper
box turrets o. an old Scotch raansion
The windows were suffered: the chin
news were smokeIess save for one abovl
the central porch, from which a darl
plume rose and trailed away to the west
ward-the solitary sign of habitation- Il
our right and left were ranged outbuiId
ings. stables, coach-houses, and the like
but all in a condition of ruinous decay
Patches fallen from the roofs laid bar
the rafters: from the broken gutter
trailed long pendants Of ice. Agains
the old doors the snow had piled itself i
heavy drifts. No sound broke the brood
ing stiffness. 1t was a picture distress
ingIy forlorn.
HAS Professor Mechersky, then, n
servants?" asked Graden. of our driver
| noticed that he hushed his voice i
speaking; he. too, felt the uncanny IL
fuence Of the place.
1.-TWO. mein Herr-a man and
woman. / cannot think where they ca
be-"
at had understood he was man Q
means. Why does he allow this disrs
pairy'
Il do not think the professor carei
de shuts himself up with his experiment
when he is iere-which is not ofte
now. His rooms look TO the south o
the other side. For. the rest, the hous
is not furnished"
sWell, l suppose there is servar
who will Heavens, what is that 2
From somewhere within the hous
there came a shrek, a cry of supren
terror. Again and yet again it was r
heated before it shrank away into $
Ience. Graden ran across the court
the main door. and / was hard upon b
heels. He pulled the bell and hammere
6erceIy upon the heavy oak panels; b.
40 one answered.
Il don't believe tie thing is bolted
said he. Keep the handle turned, al
let me try what can do"
He stepped back dozen PAGES, ar
then came running at the door like
bull. The giant caught it squarely WI
the point Of his shoulder; there was
sharp crack: the next instant we we
both spraying on the floor within
We found ourselves in great al
dusty hall, indifferently lighted. Again
the wall on my right 1 could dimly di
Germ the figure of woman crouched I
the door, sobbing bitterly, her face buri
In her hands. She did not move, despi
our violent entrance. At the foot Of q
main staircase an old man was bendil
over something that lay motion'ess. 7