The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-09-22
PLUMBER ISLAND BY LOUIS &c.: &c. Vance n. .
By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE.
Copyright. The Frank A Munsey Co

nary door had been swung out from the
wall, evidently on heavy concealed
hinges Behind this had been a parti-
ton OF heavy pla-''Sing-hsd been be-
cause now II existed only in splinters
and kfndlinE wood. Some one had
welded an axe upon II with great Sic
cess
Beyond the ragged hole thus made
was darkness. but Il was with no strain
on her imagination that the girl pre-
suned the existence OF a room con
srruCre5 outside tF,r foundations with
this secret entrance
Willing was not visible. but his voice
issued from the newly made opening.
before which squatted the assistant
keepers confident. ally and auditor
an unCOuth and repulsiEe shape, so
monStrOusiy formed that IL was with
a shudder that the girl looked upon
him.
a negro not more than four feet in
height, and painfully emacisted- he
wore the rags OF shirt and trousers,
the former sleeveless and open at the
throat. disclosing a narrow hairy
chest, the latter belted with a bit Of
rope round his waist and ending in
tatters a little below the knees, both
literally and literally caked with dirt
and filth Suggesting a monkeys
his arms were disprOportionateIy
long. thin and sineTy. ending in hands
as large as two of an ordinary mans
and his feet were equally out OF pro
portion
His head. sunk lew upon his chest.
as II his neck were too weak to sup
port il OF unnaturally short. was gro
tesque as a garsoyle's, hideOus as a
should have been. its forehead was
cOnspicuouSly missing like its chin.
4 heavy growth Of coarse matted wool
began at his thick bTOws and covered
the top OF head that retreated
sharply to a COnfcai dome
Below the thick lips there was nothing
but flaccid flesh, apparently unmOdeled
by any jawbone. The nose was a de-
preston rather than a ridge. its nostriIs
almost as large as the pTOtrud5ug. roll
ing, cleaning eyeballS above The ears
were strangely small, pointed in vulpine
fashion, and set close TO the head An
expression Of complete idiocy-a fatuous
iTnbeCile smile-played across these IN
canny features, varied now and again
by a glitter Of cunning OF OF ferocftv in
the unrestlng eyes
The thing mouthed and gibbered soft
" to itself as IL squatted on its heels
one hand holding the lantern aIoft 70
throw light within the treasure chamber
(for she could not doubt that WiT1fn~
had at last discovered that, the other
fumbling with great heap OF Eolde-
coins of an uncomnC-1 rudy hue which
had evidently been dumped out OF the
bags of rotting canvas that lay beside
them
And this was the ghost" Of the
/ haunted house. The girl could under
stand that much, but there was room
left for boundless wondering How had
the thing come there? How long had II
inhabited the isiand2 How had Wiling
earned its confidence?
" lille she specuiateC7. Advertisements for
the time driving from her mind the ur-
gency of her errand. Willing himself
came out Of the secret vault q SoIIed
disheveled and toil-maTked man very
different from the Willing who had
borne himself with such self-efF~r'-
humility and apparent candor about the
lighthouse for so many months 4 1T
tie boisterous. little excited, and car