The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-05-21


"And there was smoke coming from
one of the back chimney pots this
morning." added Britton.
I was thoughtful for q moment.
"What became Of the rag-doll, Brit
toni" I inquired shrewdly.
"I turned it over to old Schmick, sir"
said he. He grinned. ~ thought as
maybe it belonged to one of his boys. "
On the aged caretaker' S reappearance,
bluntly inquired what had become of
the doll,baby. He was terribly con-
fused
"I know nothing, know nothing
he mumbled, and could see that he
was miserably upset. His sons lowered
and glowered and his wife wrapped and
unwrapped her hands in her apron, all
the time supplicating heaven to be good
to the true and the faithful.
From what / could gather, they all
seemed to be- more disturbed over the
fact that my hallucination included a
dog than by the claim that l had seen
woman.
"But, confound you, schmick," !
cried in some heat, "it barked at me-
"Gott in himmel" they all cried,
and, to my surprise, the old woman
burst into tears.
"It is bad to dream of dog" she
walled. "It means evil to all Of us.
Evil to-"
"Comel" said I, grabbing the keys
from the old mans unrasisting hand.
"And, Schmick, if that dog bites me,
I'll hold you personally responsible.
Do you underestimate
Two abreast we filed through the long,
vaulted halls, Rudolph carrying 81
gantic lantern and Max sledge. We
traversed extensive corridors, mounted
tortuous stairs and came at length to
the sturdy oak door that separated the
east wing from the west: huge, Tor
midable thing strengthened by many
cross pieces and studded with rusty
bolt-heads. Padlocks as large as horse
shoes, corroded by rust and rendered
absolutely impracticable by age, con-
fronted US.
"I have not the keys" said old Con-
rad Schmick sourly. "This door has
not been opened in my time. It is no
use."
"It is no use," repeated his grizzly
sons, leaning against the mouldy walls
with weary tolerance.
"Then how did the woman and her
dog get into that part Of the castlef' l
demanded. "Tell me that!"
They shook their heads, almost COM
passi onately, as much as to say: "lt is
always best to humour mad man.
"And the baby" added Poopendyke,
turning up his coat collar to protect his
thin neck from the draft that smote US
from the halls.
"Smash those padlocks Max" I com
manded resolutely.
Max looked stupidity at his father and
the old man looked at his wife, and
then all four of them looked at me, al
most imploringly.
"Why destroy a perfectly good pad
lock, mein herr9' began Max, twirling
the sledge in his hand as if it were a
bamboo cane.
"Hil Look out there!" gasped Brit
ton. in some alarm. "Don't let that
thing slip!" .
"Doesn't this castle belong to meP'
II demanded, considerably impressed by
the ease with which he swung the sledge.
IA very dangerous person, l began to
perceive.
cit does, mein herr" shouted all OF
them gladly, and touched their fore
locks.
Everything is yours" added old
Conrad, with comprehensive sweep OF
his hand that might have put the whole
universe in my name.
"Smash that paddock, Max" I said
after second s hesitation.
"I'll bet he can't do it," said Brit
ton, ingeniously.
Very reluctantly Max barred his great
arms, spit upon his hands, and, with a
pitiful look at his parents, prepared tt
deal the first blow upon the ancient
paddock. The old couple turned theiI
heads away and put their fingers te
their ears, cringing Like things about K
be whipped.
NNow. .one-two-fhreeiU cried I. af