Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-06

The eyes were still there, at the
foot of the bed. Were they between
the bed and the window-pane or be
hind the pane, that is to say, on the
balcony? That was what Raoul want.
ed to know. He also wanted 70 know
if those eyes belonged to human be.
ing. He wanted to kno"
everything
Then, patiently, calmly, he seized
his revolver and took aim. He aimed
a little above the two eyes. Surely,
IL they were eyes and If above those
two eyes there was forehead and II
Raoul was rot too clumsy
The shot made q terrible din amid
the silence Of the slumbering house.
And, while footsteps came hurrying
along the passages, Raou1 sat up with
outstretched arm, ready to fire again,
If need be.
This time, the two eyes haG disap-
peared.
Servants appeared, carrying lights;
Count Philippe, terribly anxious:
What is it?'
81 think have been dreaming re-
piled the young man. Il fired at two
stars that kept me from sleeping
You're raving! Are you i'll? Fol-
Gods sake, tell me, Raoul; what hap
pened?"
And the count seized hold of the
revolver
NO, no, I'm not raving. Be
sides, we shall soon see :"
He got out Of bed, put on a dress
ing-gown and slippers, took a light
from the hands OF a servant and
opening the window, stepped out OF
the balcony
The count saw that the window haC
been pierced by a bullet at a mans
height. Raoul was leaning over the
balcony with his candle.
"Aha!" he said Blood!
Blood, Here, there, mor'
: blood, That's a good thing
A ghost who bleeds is less danger
ous:" he grinned.
"Raoul, Raoul! Raoul!"
The count was shaking him a
though he were trying to waken
sleep-walker.
But, my dear brother, I'm no
asIeep," Raoul protested impatiently
You can see the blood for yourself.
thought I had been dreaming and fiji
: ing at two stars. 1t was Erik's eye
and here is his blood!
I After all, perhaps 1 was wrong t
shoot; and Christine is quite capabl
of never forgiving me. A
this would not have happened if l ha
drawn the curtains before going t
bed
"Raoul, have you suddenly gon
mad? Wake up!"
What, still? You would do bette
to help me find Erik TO
after all, a ghost who bleeds can a
ways be found"
The counts valet said:
That is so, sir; there is blood O
the balcony"
The other man-servant brought
lamp, by the light of which they e:
amined the balcony carefully Tn
marks of blood followed the rail ii
they reached a gutter-spout; the
they went up the gutter-spout.
MY dear fellow" said Count Phi
ippe. you have fired at a cat
The misfortune is" said Raou
with a grin, that it's quite possibl
With Erik, you never know. Is
Erik? Is it the cat? Is it the ghost
No, with Erik, you can't tell"
Raoul went on making this strans
sort of remarks which corresponds
so intimately and logically with Il
preoccupation of his brain and whic
at the same time, tended to persuaC
many people that his mind was u
hinged. The count himself was seize
with this idea; and, later, the exaI
, lining magistrate, on receiving the r
port Of the commissary of polio
came to the same conclusion.
, Who is Erik?" asked the couE
pressing his brothers hand.
, He is my rival. And, if he's n
dead, it's a pity"
! He dismissed the servants with
wave of the hand and the "
/ Chagnys were left alone. But the M