The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1912-08-21
After the
Wreck

deserted by man, woman and child.
l 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 l 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 SOUL" he answered. That's
the arrangement"
arrangement" said L." What do
you mean by arrangement
with the lawyers" he explained.
"All the tenants round here-indeed,
myself-have full rent returned,
cash for cash, so long as the manor
house is undisturbed:'
l had no thought of adventures
when 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 ST.
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 a gentleman. Will
you let me accompany your
l resumed the boots, for he waited,
making no other reply to my ques-
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 it as matter OF
, course. He led the way noiselessly
up the cavernous stairs to a room,
where he paused. The door was again
open, a dim; Pickering light throwing
shadows that wavered above heavy
screen. My companion motioned me
to stop. l 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 man lying with upturned
face, stone deas-a sight Of horror.
His hair was a foot long, and his
beard, clotted red, covered his shirt.
1--WE must bury him." said the inn
keeper, land quickly, for the dawn Is
near"
It never occurred to me to seek an
excuse for this gross Illegally.
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. I cannot call it by so de-
cent term as grave. We laid our
fellow-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
| pldy Gu luc COWdIO. we IAOu6ul A0
went down with the ship. But he had
got among the steerage passengers
and slipped into one of the first boots
; that put off, 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 stepson's name. All
| the servants were dismissed. And the
tenants'-he paused-"had good rea-
son to prevent discoveries"
"And the stepson?"
The man looked at me. "The STEP
son travelled In Africa, you will re-
member"
when does he return?"