The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1910-10-20
The I
\ Deserted House
Y Byi EDITH v. ROSS
u d
copyrishtl 1910, by American Press
Association.


were being run In. We We're told that
II WAS a beach midway between the
two principal ports Of the region. We
wan he'd the coast night and day for
weeks. but not sign OF illicit work
didvwe see, Driving to the city, reach
ed ID point on rocky coast. Night was
coming on. and no hotel or other shell
ter WAS at hand. espied a house
short distance ahead Of me. set on,
rocks against which the waves were
beating. 1t was of brick and colonial
In style, with long pillars extending
fromSthe porch to the roof, which was
built out to cover 1t. The place had a
forlorn look, and on coming up to 1t +
found ii unoccupied.
went around 1t, thinking that IL /
could effect an entrance would at
least find shelter there for the night,
but there was not window or a door
that was not perfectly secured. ! was
about to drive on, when i espied a
limb OF tree brushing against an
upper window, one shutter Of which
had rotted away. I climbed the tree,
went out on the limb, broke the glass
and enteredAt he house.
Had it not lbeen for curiosity would
have gone out as quick as ! came In.
While it was furnished throughout,
there was not,a article in 1t that was
not rotting away. There was bed
| clothing. but 1t was moth eaten; there
were curtains, but they were dropping
from their supports, there were car
Lefs. but they came apart as walked
yer them The only live things In the
house were millions Of hugs.
d would have retired from this dis
mad abode and slept In the open air,
but the night was cool and / espied
fireplace in one of the rooms. So
with the fragments Of once handsome
chairs and other articles I built fire.
Then. having gone out for my blan-
kets and stabbed my horse, rolled my
self in the former, lay down before
the fire and slept.
Something awakened me, knew not
what The fire was out, but there was
a strip,of light on the ceiling above my
head While l was viewing 1t with
perplexity it moved. In a moment, re-
Numbering that I was on the ground
floor and the flooring had shrunken so
as to leave cracks, 1t occurred to me
that thare was some one In the cellar.
Noticing,a round spot of light on the
ceiling, Itknew 1t came through knot
hole, and crawling to the hole, / could
look ntoltbe cellar. M
Several men were storing bales and
boxes.
"oho!"lI exclaimed to myself. "Here
is the hak.l While we have been
watching the smugglers above they
have been cunning goods in down here.
I warrant the man who put us on to
the false location was one Of them"
madeAup my mind very quickly as
to my course Of action--that Is, in case
they didn't go to the stable and find
my horse, which would betray me.
would remain where was I'LL morn
ing, then pursue my journey, return
withsothers, lie In wait for the Snug
glers and capture the gang They
were not In the cellar ten minutes aft
yer awakened. Then the light ceased to
shine, and there was no further evl.
dence Of their presence. ] listened to
hear them 90 out, to make sound Of
locking door or give other evidence
|lof their departure, but not. a whisper
did | hear. They seemed to have gone
Iinto the ground or flown up chimney
In the morning went into the eel
lar. examined the goods, consisting Of
silks laces and other articles to which
high duty Is attached. j then went
above and looked carefully to the
openings. They were all barred and
bolted on the inside. Returning to the
cellar. looked about for some means
OF egress there. found none. There
seemed TO be no way the men could
get out except as had come in
through window,
But how did they bring in the cases
Of goods?
Not willing TO leave the place with
out further investigation, walked all
over the premises aud down TO the
rocks on which the waves were break
ing Unfortunately fhc tide was high
1t was unfortunate because 7 could
have made n more satisfactory exami.
nation Of the rocks if Ii had been nj
the ebh, ! resolved to drive TO the
nearest farmhouse, get breakfast
and return In six hours when the tide
would be at the lowest point When
went back ! found that rock had
been left exposed which couldn't see
from the shore. There was no boat at
hand, but the water was sufficiently
shallow for me to get on to small
rock farther out. After reaching II
turned and saw an opening In the
rock into which boat could be pulled
at half tide. x Was bound not 10 20
away without knowing all about it.
10 made raft, pulled myself TO the
opening and walked through a pas
sage leading In the direction of the
house, till I was barred BY an iron
door.
That satisfied me for the time
went home, brought assistance. enter.
ed the house when no. oijE else was
about xrraffoH "a, fbe na.it anrsarsn,.