Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1907-01-05


the point Of his shoulder; there was e
sharp crack; the next instant we were
both sprawling on the floor within.
We found ourselves In a great and
dusty hall, indiferently lighted. Against
the wall on my right could dmly dis
Germ the figure Of q 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, pitifu
face.
He Is dead-the master Is deadp' he
whimpered.
Graden strobe up to him, and fol
lowed at his heels
Professor Peter Mechersky-for such
knew 1t 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 1t was and wasted with disease.
he must have been a middle-aged man
who had preserved a singular beauty. He
bad 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 body should
resemble an egg that is broken.
My cousin swept aside the cloak for
moment, and replaced 1t 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 happen7" said
he.
HE had been III fer 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, ed-like-like-"
Like a toadT
YES mein Herr, like toad"
The man broke into hystercal weep
ing.
1.-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 considerable, sitting by the
no other doctor to visit the master. He
is a kind. good man, this doctor, the
Herr Wakefield"
$50 / believe. How came he to know
your masterl"
Il am not sure; but l think he brought
a letter of Introduction from Professor
Marnac, Of Heidelberg, a gentleman of
whom my master disapproved, yet ad-
mired for his learning"
And this Englishman, did he prescribe
for your masterir'
"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. Achl If he did but know
what had happened"
Then he is not here?"
mo; he drove to Lemsdorf yesterday
afternoon. He had to return to his own
country. Achl If he did but known
1t was plain enough-Marnac, the lin
gulst, 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. Ii was
he that had brought about this myster-
GUS horror. l turned from the poor
upon the floor and leaned,
shuddering, against the wall. As / did
so, Graden strobe past me to the open
door.
Driver, can your horses take us
back2" | heard him say.
Not 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
1t 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?" 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 sharp order Graden sent our
iriver hurrying to the stables. Then.
with his arm linked In mine, we fol-
owed the old servant into a low-roofed |
lining As l dropped upon an oak
settle before the great china stove, he
thrust his flask into my hands and. with
word Of encouragement slipped away.
knew that he was examining the body,
out, doctor though l was, the spirit Of
Investigation had gone out Of me-
'ould no more have assisted him than a
medical student can watch, unmoved, his
irst operation.
In about twenty minutes he returned,
bearing a tray upon which was set bread
md cheese, hanking a great ham.
urned from the food with disgust: but
ny cousin fell to diligently. complaining
he while at my folly In not eating when
had the chance.
You must pull yourself to together"
lie protested, with his mouth full. Try
his ham now. II isn't half bad"
More to humor him than with any in
ention Of following his advice, l drew
ny seat 10 the table.
Come, now; that's better" he cried,
arriving away. ITO tell the truth. I
haven't the slightest idea what that
illain Marnac has been up to- But what
do know is that we've got TO catch him
dead or alive. Therefore l recommend
ou to stoke up your body with this ex-
What's the matter now7' l asked r.
itably; for, indeed. his hearty appetite
nnoyed me.
For answer he rose and pealed the
ell The old manservant, with the
randy flushing his white cheeks, tot
cred into the room.