The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1912-06-28

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You say the assassin Is still here
ID this houseT questioned lar
you surer'
NO. not sure. but I have ever
reason to believe so. One Of the sery
ants caught a glimpse Of him. and
nave seen that which has aroused %,
own suspicious. l have not dreame,
this. but | actually believe there 1
some presence In this house seekin,
evil. This house was built In time O
feud and in feud country Judg,
Dunn was then on the bench and hat
made many dangerous enemies by hi
decisions. he always was a man {,
arouse animosity by his arbitrar,
manner and abrupt speech. As cir
i heard this house contained a bidder
room and secret passages so arranged
a. TO facilitate escape In time OF peri
or attack. Calvert Dunn has confessed
as much. but be and his father alone
know the secret Ii would be useles:
TO question the judge"
where Is be now?"
where you saw him last. occupy
Ing bis chair In the library. bis body
perfectly helpless. his mind apparently
as active as ever. but more bitter than
before because Of his physical weak
ness. | do not think be has slept for
two nights or that he has uttered a
word except TO curse the servants who
brought him food
| had the full picture OF the situa.
don clearly before me now-the SUPER
stitious. unwilling darkies. knowing
Just enough to be frightened at their
own shadows: the characterless and
colorless Lucille. suffering from a
headache and locked safely away With
In her own room; that vindictive old
man. seated helpless In his chair, his
strange eyes glaring out across the
library table. and Jean Denslow left
alone in the big house to cope with
Its mystery. the night shadows clos
Ing In. Instinctively extended by
hand. and In the sudden response Of
comradeship she slipped her own into
my grasp.
IL believe / am actually afraid"
she confessed This is so different
from a real danger-this-this haunted
feeling"
! do not recall what 1 said, but I
know retained her hand in mine and
must have spoken words of encour-
agement. for when we emerged from
that dark hole Of q cellar into the mar.
row hallway. already lighted by a
hanging lamp. her eyes were smiling
and the clasp Of her fingers had grown
firm.
Il shall want weapons. Miss Dens-
low said. as we stood looking I'D
and down the main hall. for whoever
this visitant may prove be will be of
flesh and blood and not impervious to
a bullet. You can trust me armed?"
"Oh. yes; ] will get your own re.
volvers. They are left in the library"
She was back In a moment. and I
snapped the belt about my waist. feel
Ing renewed confidence as | found
both weapons still loaded.
Lamp In hand, explored every
nook and corner, peering under furni.
'ure and into closet recesSes, until abb
solutely convinced that not even a
'at could have escaped my scrutiny.
Having thus completed the lower floor. |
lot even forgetting to test the walls In
nope of thus locating the secret room,
h.,
lbove. had not she begged me TO de-
list. her voice trembling. her face pa
hetic as she pleaded Through the
PARTIALLY opened door | caught q
.limpse Of the Judge at the library Ia.
lie. his head bowed forward as il he
iept- but | did not venture to enter
be room
Miss DenSlOw. | said at last, stand
ng nj the foot Of the stairs. If il IS
rue that any one is hiding In the
ouse. rs you suspect. the fellow must
e the murderer of Lieutenant Ma.
are. Naturally | wish to make that
IAN prisoner. Are you willing To sit
ere In the dark. thus helping me to
raw him into the trap:"
Her eyes lifted 10 mine In a single
,arching glance.
Yes she said quietly. 81 know |
ID nervous. strangely SO. yet ! am not
fraid"
blew out the light. placed two
lairs back in the denser shadow I'm.
arneath the circular staircase and
ade her sit down In the one nearest
le wall. Her hand was cold. tremb.
ng as { touched il. and | whispered
few words OF courage into her ear.
lt she made no effort to respond
erhaps We had been sitting thus for
d minutes. In a stiffness so profound
10 be painful. when | felt the girls
md steal along the arm of my chair
Id press my sleeve The movement.
made perhaps. was elo-
lent of her distress of mind. and.
'eyinc the first impulse. clasped her
lgerS within my own We sal thus
the dark. like two lovers. listening
tently. neither venturing TO speak
Was she right or wrong in her sus-
zion: Had overstrained nerves caus-
her 70 believe the house haunted?