The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-09-19
PLUMBER ISLAND By LOUIS joseph VANCE e.


young man made the round Of the rooms
before nightfaH, locking and boiling all
shutters on the ground floor save those
10 the main hall. and thoroughly eNE'lOf-
ing the upper floor and ste, With no
outer result than to assure himself That
he and Creash were the sole tenants OF
the house.
Then be sat down TO an emergency
/ supper, regretting keenIy that his sense
I OF the occasions importance had made
/ him refuse an urgent invitation 10 dine
I with TOpelius and his daughter at the
I lighthouse As II was only Creagh' 5
roclz-ribbsd refusal to be left alone IN
I the big house after night had closed
/ in prevented CadoEan from making an
| excuse 90 stroll over 10 the other end Of
/ the Island and make inquiries after the
health Of say. Willing
! That the latter had returned from Bay
/ St Louis III good time he was assured.
having, when he paid his second visit 70
/ the cuEOia, observed the lighthouse siOOp
! back 1t her mooring- Since sunset, pre-
S4lmaIsy, the assistant keeper had been
/ standing his watch in the IamprOom-
I Furthermore. Topelius had promiesd
1 Cadogan that If anything out Of the or
/ binary occurred or was to be remarked
| IN Wiling demeaDOr ne would bring Or
] send word to the house on the hill.
I F'ron the fact that he had not done so
I II was to be argued that al was well
I with those in the lighthouse.
At o'clock CadoEsn lay down and
/ composed himself for the sleep which,
! strangely enough. Immediately overlook
/ him II seemed but a moment from the
/ according to their previous understand
| ing. Weakened him az midnight uit.s the
I resssurinE statement
Eight bells and ais well. Nisther
/ Peter
! Cadogan. smiling drowsIIy. successful
/ ly dissembIed whatever surprise he may
( have felt by yawuinC stupendously-
] Everything h-yah quiet, Tern -
I a. he Tr.=-f ~
! nj Peter showed signs Of Indignation.
; II can't approve your taste in smile.
, Terry. he observed
I Beg pardon Sir2''
/ TIE shaggy old eyebrows were crinkl-
{ 81 with perplexity-
. Never mind. Terry You've heard
/ nothing, seen nothing done nothing -
/ "Divvle a thing praises be-
! "au right Turn in now and leave
I me TO coufabUlate with the banshpe-H
: "Ah AIisther Peter Sure and Il IS
yourself knows it does no manner Of
/ good at all TO speak with disrespeCt
/ Of religious matters. sir
/ ct didn't mean to be biasphemous-
{ Terry CadOEan aDoIOEized. meekIy-
Modified. Creagh threw himself
I heavily upon his cot and began to
/ suore almost before his head touched
+ the pillow IS Gay mao been q Try
I ing one. he ID earned his rest
/ Thoughtful r. CadOgan filed and
lighted his r pc The unbTOSen peace
3 was comfortfng-if not orninOus 1t
/ Began to look as though the Genius
/ of the Place were either placated or
/ mec1tatlnS tremendous reprIsals- In
I the latter event. il was good 10 be
/ conscious OF the weight OF an auto
matte pistol ia ones hip pocket
CadoEan SrrOlled 10 one OF the WIN
+ dOws and stood leaning against its
( frame, gazing blankly out into the
{ darkness. II was profoundly quiet 70
/ ears accustomed to ignore the nOctur-
/ nal insect chorus the voice OF the
Z surf on the not distant shore was but
!
wind whatever. The eve Of the light
& house peered inQuisitivelE over the
tree tops, and the starlight was so
/ brilliant as to Suggest pale moon
shine most peaceful and most
( lovely world il was
/ To one wcO listened lntentlF. however
and II was 'lard 20 keep from listening
I irtently with everything 50 stiil-Jhe
/ auSh was penetrated and IuteTioCed Wit
1 faint. small sounds And these q lively
I ina EiratiCn seized upon and mdZnifec
/ Carozan heard a vvoTuan-s tender laugh
and q mans deep sigh he heard ule
whine OF 2 trolley car and the -TllirT AM
! kiss OF brilliant balls CauDOnlD-- over Jhf
, --aeu-CIorh table violin began 10 tuna
/ doors opened and closed softly upstairs
and a multitude Of unseen feet stole
+ about TIE house
/ Slfverv sounds. It seemed best to turn
{ three candles on the manIelplece and a
/ lantern on the floor st the head 81
[ Creagh's cot The candles were flicker
. iTlc in the mysterious drafts o. the -S.st
4 apartment and were badly IN need o.
/ SuUffuE- besides.
/ CadcZau snuHed them carefully tip
/ ped . chair back at one side Of the cold
/ fireplace and fell 70 watching the eery
! play Of light ard shadow on the dark
/ DaneIed walls and ceiling The yslV- ming
( 1lsCkueSS At tie head Cf the stairs at
/ tTSCted him, and he observed quite as
I tiuctly the eve--frustratel attempts OF
] a oil
I down the staircase. It would wait and
/ wait for some friendly shadow 10 cloak
/ its fight, rush out desperately, pause
1 and retreat in panic under the mercileSs
/ eve Of the sIeepicss human being below
] After a while the game began To lose