The Lakeland evening telegram., 1912-07-15
After the
Wreck

! had heard of it, for the story was
known, but the sight of the demesne
the drives obliterated, the lawns a
jungle and the park empty of COW or
sheep-led me to pull up the car ard
! contemplate the wilderness that lay
beyond the mouldering gates and the
curtainless lodge.
This then, was the Manor House
that Hughenstein, Of Philadelphia,
bought for his bride, just before they
sailed on that last tragic voyage on
the Cosmic, in which both had per-
ished. No wonder that young Brook
lyn, his stepson-for Mrs. Hughenstein
was a widow when the millionaire
married her-shuddered at residence
therein. A haunted house for him, il
ever there was one
At the inn | halted, ordered dinner
and bed, for it was an ancient paneled
hostelry with an attentive and thought
full host.
Strange wilderness up there re.
marked. as he set down liqueur.
Yes. sir he replied, they always
ask questions about It,"
who looks after it," asked.
Not a SOUL" he answered That's
the arrangement"
Arrangement? said J." What do
you mean by arrangement?
SyLyith tbn lauvorcn IN nyn1ojpaI
"All the tenants round here-indeed,
l myself-have full rent returned,
cash for cash, so long as the manor
house is undisturbed-
had no thought of adventures
when | put my boots outside the door
a couple OF hours later The impulse
which led me into one came on the
spur OF the moment The inn was ST.
! lent. The landing. like an inside bal
cony, commanded the hall door The
door was Opcn--wide opcn-and the
| innkeepcr, who seemed to be a bach
clor, was going forth carrying a bas
ket He turned and confronted me,
and said to him:
Il, sir, am also n gentleman VIII
you let me accompany YOU?
resumed the boots, for he waited,
making no other reply to my ques-
tion Then together We issued forth.
Between gentlemen, said he,
there need be no reserve. but when
the time comes beg that you will not
intrude."
We carried no light He evidently
needed none. The house lay like a
great tomb.
The great doors stood wide ajar
This surprised me, but the inn-keeper
seemed to take it as a matter OF
course. He led the way noiselessly
up the cavernous stairs to room
where he paused. The door was again
open. a dim, flickering light throwing
shadows that wavered above heavy
screen. My companion motioned me
to stop. | waited while he went for
ward and disappeared behind the
screen. A few moments passed. Then
he appeared again and beckoned TO
me.
Il feared It," he remarked, coolly
meals"
Indeed, he did not. found myself
looking at man lying with upturned
face. stone dead-a sight of horror.
His hair was foot long, and his
beard, clotted red, covered his shirt
I'VE must bury him." said the inn
keeper. "and quickly, for the dawn IS
near"
II never occurred to me- to seek an
excuse for this gross llegality
Il knew ii would come To this" re-
marked the inn-keeper. II have pro-
yided for IT,"
We carried the man down 10 the or
chard. where by 4 rubbish heap lay a
deep hole cannot call II by So de-
cent a term as grave We laid car
fellow-man down there and covered
him up, our spades sinking no,a't
lv inio the moist and a,utle so3 50
he still lies. unknown
Better" said The inn hcor,r. go %
down with thr shin than i've a., '.9e
that Poor old lIaeatr-t.in ues rut
a bad fellow but orcc in lis ll.e fe
PLAYED the coward We though. lie
Went down with the ship. llut he had
got among the stcergcc Passengers
and slipped into one Of tie first boots
. that put off. Among the steerace folk
he remained. talking his ancestral Po-
, lish. and assuming Il dead mans name
He carried enough paper to book back
To England. where he visited his law
yers. who recognized him in >ni.a cf
his disguise. The estate MS maragei.
as you see. in his stepsoa's na.a NJ
the servants were dismissed Art he
tenants rausel-'haI E,cG req
son To prevent discover.ts
And the stopson?'
The man locked IT II" "Tle sten-
son travelled in Africa, vo- W.T., r.
u mewher"
"Whcu docs h return
aM ,lo s.anscr. tae
5-n-keercr calmly "arl Ite'. E# e-
cause you are 1 gentlomca.
Poor Woman" said tcr i.sg-.r.
tarily / Thought. - re:Aa-S IL did.
q lie vtfa .uf 7rothr~ G., ,-7.70-. n