Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-22

said. cheerfully, 70 myself as I stepped
inside. And may good luck attend your
efforts" added mentally.
Horsford, none too willingly. followed
me and helped me throw up the shades
and the windows and open the blinds.
The rooms were cheerfully and hand
somely furnished. and with the sunlight
flooding them they did not look as IL they
had been closed for nearly two years
upon an unexplained tragedy.
Everything was covered with dust. OF
course. but Horsford told me he believed
everything to have been left as IL stood
upon the day of the murder. The two
woman servants had abandoned the house
upon the day Of Mr.. Miibrath's arrest,
and the stablemen and gardeners, who
had their own quarters, had taken their
meals at the cottage until their dismissal
by the executors Of the estate some time
later. Therefore. from the week follow
ing Mr.. Somhers' death until this morn
ing Overlook had been a deserted house.
place OF silence" indeed, except for
the occasional visit Of an Investigator of
crime
A wide hall with staircase at the rear
ran through the house At the foot OF
the stairs was a door leading into a small
entry and thence to the side porch. and
was the door by which Mr.. .,i!brath af
firmed that he entered and left the house
when he returned for his suit case on the
day of the tragedy. On the right OF the
hall were dining room and kitchen.
with billiard room leading from the
dining room into the north extension. On
the left were two parlors: the extension
room. separated from the parlors by a
narrow entry which likewise opened onto
small portico. had been Mr.. Somhe:s'
library, and was the room where the
housemaid. Maggie Arms. was the first to
see the master OF Overlook lying dead.
The second floor contained sleeping
rooms: the third floor large storeroorn.
In which were ranged boxes and trunks
nd 6Fon0 Iad ,ls- 80 f,tW sear~ I'D
sleeping room. which had been occupied
by the two woman servants.
Upon the Threshold Of the library
Horsford hesitated.
II do no like this place. SIR" he said.
with visible shudder. Il would to God
you would no. think OF remainin' I'm it, II
Is a place of mysteries. an you would
be far more comfortable In the village"
I laughed.
tut. Horsford, Such nonsense from
an e-bodied man like you. A beauti-
full place like this should not be permit
ted to go to ruin In disuse. and | mean to
enjoy myself here free from old-woman-
ish fancies. Come. give me hand with
this window, will your
The deep red appeared again beneath
the burn In Horsfords face. but he said
no more and did as / asked
When We had gone through the house.
looking into each room and closet, | dis
missed Horsford.
IT shall he Obliged II Mrs Horsford
can let me have dinner with you." I said.
After that / hope to have Gaspard with
me, and shall trouble you only for cream
and eggs and the fresh things from the
garden, which. doubtless, you can sup
ply"
Horsford nodded.
AYE. SIR. Good day, sir" he said and
was of. heartily glad. apparently. to get
away.
I watched him for a moment going at
a quick pace across the lawn, and then
/ looked OF upon the panorama that
stretched before my eyes as l stood upon
the portico.
Ahead lay the village OF Winton. q row
OF straight. strong trees marking the line
of the main street as IL wandered out to
the lighthouse that stood white and soli-
tary on the point To one side lay the
bay and the spires and glistenfng roofs
of Beverly. Beyond the lighthouse the
see the surf pounding increasingly upon
the stony shore at the foot OF the marsh
lands beyond the Winton station.
Such a bit Of scenery. bright with the
sun Of a glorious day. should have acted
like champagne upon my spirits. In
stead, q sense of hopelessness swept over
me as I turned back to the house. II
was the first feeling of disbursement to
which I had yielded. and so strong was
the remnant Of superstition In me that
for the moment / could but believe that
il was forerunner of impending disap-
pointment. The next instant l shook
myself and resolutely turned to the Ii
brary. determined to begin my work with
a cheerful mind.
(To be continued tomorrow.)