The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-10-26
sans. Why does he allow this disre.

means. Why does he allow this dlsre-
pairT'
II 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 or
the other side. For the rest, the house
is not furnished"
"Well. l suppose there is a servant
whs will Heavens! what is thatY
From somewhere within the house
there came a shrek, a cry of supreme
terror. Again and yet again it was re-
peated before 1t shrank away into 81
| lence. Graden ran across the court to
the main door, and I was hard upon his
heels. He pulled the bell and hammered
iercely upon the heavy oak panels; but
no one answered.
II don't believe the thing Is bolted," y
said he. Keep the handle turned, and
let me try what l can do"
He stepped back a dozen PAGES, and
then came running at the door like q
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 q great and
dusty hall, indifferently lighted. Against
the wall on my right I could dimly dis
Germ the figure of a woman crouehed 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 q white, pitiful
face.
| HE is dead-the master is dead!" he
whimpered.
Graden strobe up to him, and l fol-
| lowed at his heels.
Professor Peter Mechersky-for such
l knew it must be-lay huddled under an
old grey cloak that spread wing-wise
from his neck, blot upon the polished
| oak Of the floor. From his face, thin
though it was and wasted with disease.
he must have been a middle-aged man
who had preserved 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
to behold.
1t was not right that a body should
resemble an egg that is broken.
My cousin swept aside the cloak for
a moment, and replaced it reverently,
though with a hand that trembled.
He has not sound bone in his body"
he muttered, and then, turning to the old
servant How did this Aappenr' said
he.
He had been lit 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
tho stairs he tripped and fell. l ran
to his side and found him, as you see
him, hed-like-like@"
Like 4 toadr'
eyes, nein Herr. like 4 toad"
The man broke into hysterical weep
ing.
THE Englishman, Herr Wakefield, was
most anxious about my masters health"
he stammered out. THE Herr professor
| became indisposed some ten days after
his arrival; since then he has been most
kind, most considerate, sitting by the
| masters bed for hours. He would allow
no other doctor TO visit the master. He
is a kind, good man, this doctor, the
Herr Wakefield"
$50 1 believe. How came he to know
your masterY
II am not sure; but think he brought
Marnac, Of Heidelberg. a gentleman Of
whom my master disapproved, yet ad-
mired for his learning"
"And this Englishman, did he prescribe
for your master?Y
"Of course. They loved each other,
| and sat late into the night In their dis
cussions. When my poor master was
taken ill. Herr Wakefield took complete
charge Of him. Ach! If he did but know
what had happenedv
| 'Then he is not hereY'
mo; he drove to Lemsdorf yesterday
afternoon. He had to return to his own
country. Ach! If he did but KNOW
1t was plain enough-Marnac, the lin
gust, 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. I turned from the poor
monstrosity upon the floor and leaned.
shuddering, against the wall. AS 1 did
so. Graden strobe past me to tho open
door.
"Driver, can your horses take us
back?" 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 them?"
ut 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.
| I'm afraid it's the truth" he said.
And then turning to the dead mans serv-
ant, "Your master-had he horses? p he
asked.
Three. mein Herr. but they have
not yet returned from Lemsdorf, where
they went this morning with the big
sleigh fer provisions"
With a sharp order Graden sent our
driver hurrying to the stables. Then.
with his arm linked in mine, we fol-
lowed the old servant into a low-rcofed
dining-han. As I dropped upon an oak
settle before the great china stove. he
thrust his Task int my hands and. with
| s1sAnoH awAY