The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1914-07-01


out, causing the lamp to sputter. Then
the woman came silently forward, a
coffeepot in her hand. She was mu-
latto perhaps sixty years of age. her
face SCARED by smallpox, and with
strangely furtive eyes. Somehow she
fitted into the scene. and | saw my
companion gazing at her almost with
horror as she fitted about us silently
as specter endeavored to talk
while eating heartily. for was hungry.
but found II difficult to arouse Mrs
Bernard to any response. and she mere
ly toyed with her food.
When the colored woman went out
Mrs. Bernard dropped her fork and
pushed back her chair
"Oh, ! simply cannot stand this
place!" she exclaimed. There is some
thing perfectly horrid about II, and
and the people. How shall ever get
through the night?'
THAT is nothing" l soothed, al
though hardly at ease myself. ''She IL
evidently of the taciturn sort We
don't need to keep these servants, you
know. I'll hunt up some more cheer
full In town tomorrow. Why. by Jove.
it's 10 o'clock already. Have you fin.
ished?"
II couldn't choke down another
mouthful"
well. don't be afraid They mean
well enough, no doubt Salliev'
She came gliding In. her back to the
door
Are you the one who is to show US
to our roomsT'
YES"
She picked up the lamp and went
out and Mrs. Bernard followed in
stantly. evidently afraid to be left In
the dark. I followed with the grips.
trailing up the stairs. having seen
nothing OF Coombs In the front room.
In the upper hall our guide threw open
two doors, going into the rooms and
lighting lamps. thus giving glimpses
OF the Interiors. The one in the cor
ner was the larger and better fur
nished.
This will be yours" said. placing
her valise on the floor "You can feel
safe enough there with the door lock
edges. there is a key-and l will be
right opposite II you need anything"
She gave me her hand. but I felt It
tremble
You are still afraidT
Yes. I am-but-but I am not going
to be such a fool
As her door closed ! turned to the
mulatto, who still stood there. lamp in
hand. was not sleepy. and ! wanted
most Of all to have an understanding
with Coombs. Els the overseer down
stairsT'
''Ah reckon he's out In one o. ther
cabins, sah-he done don't sleep in the
house nohow."
He doesn't sleep here! Why?'
''Ah spect it's cause he's afeerd, too
sah." she replied. her snaky eyes show
ing. Abs a voodoo, an All don't care
bout 'em tall. but good Lor, dar amt
no white man wants ter stay in DIES
yere house moren one night
She laughed, weird. grating laugh
and started downstairs. stood still
watching her light disappear Then
swearing at myself for coward.
stepped back into my own room ant
closed the door.
This reveament of conditions lief
me thoroughly puzzled. | was no
lTlHuIeneu III tne SltuutlOU. LOT ! urge
ly attributed the fear shown by boil
Pete and Sailie to negro superstition
But Bill Coombs was very differen
proposition. He was of the hard head
ed kind. not to be easily alarmed BY
visionary terrors, and yet he was man
ifestly afraid to sleep in the house.
was sufficiently acquainted with hi
type to comprehend there must b.
some real cause driving him to retrea
to the negro cabins for rest
sat there for some time smoking
endeavoring to think it all over COOL.
and listening intently At first l coul'
distinguish the rattle of dishes down
stairs as Sallie cleared the table, and
little later. heard Mrs. Bernard NOV
ing about uneasily in her room acros
the hall. But at last these sound
ceased and the house became still.
removed a portion of my clothing ant
lay down on the bed. certain uneasi
ness preventing me from undressing
entirely. was tired. but with littl'
inclination for sleep. Could there b.
any truth in Mrs. Bernard's question
ing of the motives actuating the mai
who had sent us here? Had we CONF
mere pawns in some game of crime
dAcaived nerhaDs BETRAYED to arrest