Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-04-08

Again from the hall fioated the state
". melodlous chime.
Nine O'Clock.
with the first dulcet note, Van Vech-
tens regard fell idly upon man who
was passing along the farther side
of the street.-the first human being he
had seen since taking up bis position
at the window He was not at all In
terested in the man. who was entirely
unknown to him; but the stranger had
advanced within his field OF vision.
and IL was much easier to follow him
than it was to look away So he con-
tinued to watch him. albeit but hazily
conscious of the fact. because his
thoughts we're occupied with matters
of vastly more importance to himself
That is to say, al the time he fancied
they we're OF more importance; subse-
quently his opinions on this score I'M
derwent a decided change.
Only a few seconds later, in truth,
he regretted that he had not given the
man more OF his attention-suiIlcient.
at least. 10 recall something Of his
appearance. But even at that, he
never dreamed how nearly the cpl
sode affected himself at the moment,
nor did he have any premonition OF the
extraordinary events that were to en-
sue In the immediate future.
The man was walking with certain
halting, indefinite slowness, the while
he studied the house numbers, as II
in search of particular one.
All at once he stopped stocltstill.
Van Vechten, as ii CHANGED, fai'ed TO
observe this, for his eyelids, heavy
with loss Of sleep. chose this precise
second 10 curtain the scene. Nothing
had yet occurred TO prick his curiosity.
His lids dropped only for an instant.
10 be sure; but within that brief space
the strange mans bearing had sud
denly altered He had thrown off his
irresolution, and had gone quickly up
the steps of the house directly oppo-
site. Van Vechten opened his eyes
only just in time 10 see him disap-
pearing through the doorway. and the
door itself swing shut.
The Silent House! The House OF
Mystery The house wherein nobody
had even been seen TO enter!
There was no mistaking the fact
that Van Yechten was galvanized into
an alertness which, had II been almost
any body else under the same condi-
tons. would have amounted to excite
ment.
"Say!" he demanded OF himself un-
der his breath. is this pipe-dream?
or did somebody really go into that
house?" And after reflective pause
NO, ! wasn't asleep" he deliberate
iy settled the unwonted occurrence in
his mind: Il saw the chap coming
along the walk Let's see--what did
he look likeg What was he doing?
What the dickens does It mean, any
how p"
There was nothing or nobody to an.
swer these puzzled Inquiries He was
convinced that he had remained
awake, although drifting along the Dor
deriapd of slumbcr because he dis
t.nctiy recalled having heard the clock
IN the hall strike nine. He glanced at
his watch Yes. only nine. So he
could not have been asleep. even for
a second.
All of which may seem a ridiculous
so much concern: but anybody ae-
quainted with the circumstances
lwould not have thought go.
Z TO begin with. there was something
positively repellent In the very appear
anee OF the house across the way.
Even the number on the fanlight-by
pure accident. 1913, for It was an old,
old number and not the true one at
all-was doubly aud reiteratively un-
inviting to persons ownh supersti-
tious weaknesses. And who OF us, TO
some extent. does not? Erected In the
days when high. narrow brownstone
frouts were accepted as the hallmark
Of ,lfliuenee, it still successfully re
sisted the encroachments OF improve
ment which otherwise modernized and
beautiiled the thoroughfare.
At the time the Powhatan Club
moved into its new quarters Number
1913 WAS vacant, and had remained sc
up TO something like three months
: prior to the opening OF this story;
that ia 10 say. not quite two years
} How long previously to that it had
stood empty no club member coult
j say During all the period within theil
knowledge its begrimed facade haC
t been an eyesore and an object of exc
e Grafton; somber and broodlng. IL was
! sort of memento mort 10 the idler.
? behind the big plate glass windows o
! the louRging room. a silent but per
5 petual rehuke to the folly OF thei
lives: which attribute had more thar
: once called forth a passionately resent
!. full TRADE from some member who ha,
] that q nsnrnnntinns Aanrnr nr,irht AMY