Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-08-06
After the
Wreck


I 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 and
contemplate the wilderness that lay
beyond the Wondering 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
Ign, his stepson--for Mrs. Hughenstein
was a widow when the millionaire
married her-shuddered at residence
therein. A haunted house for him, if
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 a liqueur.
YES, sir" he replied, "they always
ask questions about It,"
"Who looks after it?' asked.
"Not SOUL" he answered. That's
the arrangement"
Arrangement" said l." what do
you mean by arrangement
with the lawyers" he explained.
"Ail the tenants round here-indeed.
myself-have full rent returned,
cash for cash, so long as the manor
house Is undisturbed:'
I had no thought Of adventures
when I put my boots outside the door
q couple Of hours later. The impulse
which led me into one came on the
spur Of the moment. The inn was 81
lent The landing, like an inside bal.
cony, commanded the hall door. The
door was open-wide open-and the
innkeeper, who seemed to be bach
elor, was going forth carrying bas-
ket. He turned and confronted me,
and said to him:
II, sir. am also gentleman. Will
you let me accompany you?"
l resumed the boots, for he waited,
making no other reply to my qpes-
ton. 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 1T as a. matter OF
course. He led the way noiselessly
up the cavernous stairs to room,
where he paused The door was again
open, dim, pickering 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
-'He needs no more Of these cold
meals"
Indeed, he did not. found myself
looking at a 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"
It never occurred to me to seek an
excuse for this gross illegality.
II knew it would come to this" re-
marked the inn-keeper. Il have pro-
vided for it,"
We carried the man down to the or
chard, where by rubbish heap lay q
deep hole. cannot call 1t by so de-
cent term as grave. We laid our
feilow-man down there and covered
him up, our spades sinking noiseless-
ly into the moist and gentle soil SO
he still lies, unknown.
Better" said the inn-keeper, ito go
down with the ship than live on like
that. Poor old Hughenstein was not
bad fellow, but once In his life he
played the coward. We thought he
went down with the ship. But he had
got among the steerage passengers
and slipped into one Of the first boots
that put OF. Among the steerage folk
he remained. talking his ancestral Po-
lish. and assuming dead mans name.
He carried enough paper to book back
to England, where he visited his law
yers. who recognized him, in spite OF
his disguise The estate was managed,
as you see. In his stepsons name. All
the servants were dismissed. And the
tenants"-be paused-''had good rea-
son to prevent discoveries"
And the stepsone
The man looked at me The step
son Travelled In Africa, you will re-
member"
when does he return?"
Il am the stepson," returned the
inn-keeper, calmly. "and tell you be-
cause you are a gentleman"
Poor woman." l said, for involun-
tarily I thought, as perhaps he did,
OF the wife and mother abandoned to
her death.
"She loved him." he answered, land
I loved her That was why buried