Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1906-10-26

90 not tnlnK 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
who will Heavens! what is that?''
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 ST.
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.
II 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 a
bull. The giant caught it squarely with
the point of his shoulder; there was a
sharp crack; the next instant we were
both sprawling on the floor within.
We found ourselves in a great and
dusty hall, indifferently lighted. Against
the wall on my right l could dimly dis
Germ the figure Of a woman crouched on
the floor, sobbing bitterly, her face buried
in her hands. She did not move despite
our violent entrance. At the foot Of the
main staircase an old man was bending
over something that lay motionless He
looked up at us with a white, pitiful
face.
HE is dead-the master is deadv" he
whimpered.
Graden strobe up to him, and l fol-
lowed at his heels.
Professor Peter Mechersky-for such
knew it must be-lay huddled under an
old grey cloak that spread wing-wise
from his neck, a blot upon the polished
oak Of the floor. From his face, thin
though 1t was and wasted with disease,
he must have been middle-aged man
who had preserved a singular beauty. He
had died as a child might fall asleep.
Yet the horror that he had escaped he
had left to the living; for his attitude
was abnormal, impossible, and CHASTITY
to behold.
1t was not right that a body should
resemble an egg that is broken.
My cousin swept aside the cloak for
moment, and replaced it reverently,
though with a hand that trembled.
HE has not a sound bone in his body"
he muttered and then, turning to the old
servant, How did this happenT' said
he.
HE had been Ill for some weeks, mein
Herr, and We begged him not to leave his
room. But to-day he declared himself
better. He insisted that he should de-
scend to the library. Half way down
the stairs he tripped and fell. ran
to his side and found him, as you see
him, rouched-like-like-
Like Il toad"
eyes, mein Herr, like a toad"
The man broke into hysterical weep
ing.
1.-THE Englishman, Herr Wakefield, was
most anxious about my masters health"
he stammered out. 1.-THE Herr professor
became indsposed some ten days after
his arrival; since then he has been most
kind, most considerable, sitting by the
masters bed for hours. He would allow
no other doctor 70 visit the master. He
is a kind, good man, this doctor, the
Herr Wakefield"
$50 believe. How came he to know
your masterT
IL am not sure; but think he brought
letter of Introduction from Professor
Marnac, of Heidelberg, gentleman of
whom my master disapproved, yet ad-
mired for his learning"
"And this Englishman, did he prescribe
for your master2?"
"Of course. They loved each other,
and sat late into the night in their dis
cussions. When my poor master was
taken i'll. Herr Wakefield took complete
charge of him. Ach! If he did but know
what had happened!
Then he is not hereT
"No; he drove to Lemsdorf yesterday
afternoon. He had to return to his own
country. Achl II he did but knoww
1t was plain enough-Marnac, the lin
guist, was Wakefield, the Englishman.
1t was he, new from this thing that he
had done, who had come creeping to
my room in the night, being suspicious of
the strangers from the south. 1t was
he that had brought about this mysteri-
Gus horror. l turned from the poor
monstrosity upon the floor and leaned,
shuddering, against the wall. AS l did
SO, Graden strobe past me to the open
door.
"Driver, can your horses take us
back y l heard him say.
mot without rest and feed, mein
Herr. The snow is very bad, and they
are tired"
would a hundred marks to the driver
assist themT"
1T is impossible. They could not
reach half way. Wait, mein Herr, and
it may be done"
My cousin came up to me and laid his
great hand upon my shoulder
am afraid it's the truth" he said.
And then turning to the dead mans serv-
ant, "Your master-had he horsesT' he
asked.
"Three, mein Herr, but they have
not yet returned from Lemsdorf. where
they went this morning with the big
sleigh for provisions"
With a sharp order Graden sent eur
driver hurrying to the stables. Then.
with his arm linked in mine, we fol-
lowed the old servant into a low-rOofeds
dining-hall. As l dropped upon an oak
settle before the great china stove. he
thrust his flask into my hands and. with
a word Of eouragement, slipped away.
knew that he was examining the body,
but, doctor though was, the spirit of
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