The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-11-18

and he proceeded to make himself =
sandwich. You see, I live the simple
lie out here. I've got an old couple
to look after the place-Mr. and Mrs.
Hargis. Mrs. Hargis is an excellent
cook-but to ask her to stay awake
TIL midnight would be fiendisi cruelty.
30 she leaves me a lunch iii the ice
box, and goes quietly off to bed. I'll
give YOU some berries for breakfast
such as o don't often get in New
1ork-and the cream-wait till you try
It! Have a cigar?"
NO" I said. sitting down very con-
tent with the world. sTye got my pipe
and l proceeded to fill up.
Godfrey took down his own pipe from
the mantle shelf and sat down opposite
me. "A later, two puffS OF
smoke circled toward the ceiling.
Now said, looking at him, go
ahead and tell me about it,"
Godfrey watched a smoke ring whirl
and break before he answered.
About 10 days ago." he began, "just
at midnight, happened to glance out
OF my bedroom window, as ! was turn
ing IN, and caught a glimpse of a queer
light apparently sinking into the tree
tops. I thought nothing Of it; but two
nights later, at exactly the same time,
l saw it again. I watched for it the
next night, and again saw it--just for
an instant, you understand. as 1T
formed high in the air and started
downward. The next night / was up
a tree and saw more of it; but it was
not until night before last that I found
the place from which the Whole spec
tacle could be seen. The trees are
pretty thick all around here, and I
doubt if there is any other place from
which those w figures would be Wis
ible."
Then there were two figures!" I
said, for I had begun to think that my
eyes had deceived ne.
There certainly We're"
Standing in space?"
ooh, no; standing on a very sub
stantial roof"
But what is it all about?" / ques-
toned. why should that light de-
scend every midnight? What is the
light, anyway"
here to find out. You've got four clear
days ahead of you-and I'll be at you
disposal from midnight on, if you
happen to need me"
But you must have some sort of
idea about it," I persisted. AT least
We're standing on?"
Yes, I know that. The roof belongs
to a man named Worthington Vaughan.
Ever hear Of him?"
1 shook my head.
Neither had L" said Godfrey, "up
to the time / tool this place. Even yet,
I don't know very much. He's the last
Of an old family. who made their none
in real estate, and are supposed to
have kept most OF it. He's a widower
with one daughter. His wife died about
10 years ago., and since then he has
been a sort of ~recluse, n has the
reputation of being queer. He has been
abroad a good deal, and it is only dur
ing the last year that he has lived con-
tinuously at this place next door,
which is called Elmhurst. That's about
all I've been able to find out. He GER
tainly lives a retired life, for his place
has a 12-foot wall around it. and no
visitors need apply"
How do you know?"
II tried to make a neighborly call
yesterday, and wasn't admitted. Mr..
Vaughan was engaged. Getting ready
for his regular midnight hocus pocus
perhaps!"
, l took a meditative puff or two.
as it hocus-pocus, Godfrey" ]
asked. at last. IF it is. it's a mighty
7 artistic piece of work"
And if it isn't hocus-pocus, what is
it?" Godfrey retorted. "A spiritua
/ manifestation"
l II confess I had no answer ready
Ideas which seem reasonable enough
when put dimly to oneself, become alb
} surd sometimes when definitely clothed
with words.
"Ihere are just TWO pOSSlDll1CleS
Godfrey went on. Either it's hocus,
e pocus, or it isn't. If it is, it is done fol
some Two men don't go GU
i on a roof every night at midnight ant
fire off a Roman candle and wave thei-
/ arms around, just for the fun Of thu
:, thing"
1T wasn't a Roman candle" pointed
out. "A Roman candle is visible wher
4 it's going up, and bursts and vanishe,
. at the top of its flight. That light didn'
: behave that way at all. 1t formed higl
e in the air, remained there stationar.
for a moment, gradually grew brighter
and then started to descend. 1t didn'
: fall. it came down slowly, and at al
even rate Of speed. And 1t didn't drift
away before the breeze, as 1t woul'
have done if it had been merely float
Ing in the air. 1t descended in a straigh
line. 1t gave me the impression 0
moving as though a will actuated it
as though it had a distinct purpose
e There was something uncanny abou
It'll"
: Godfrey nodded thoughtful agree
ment.
II have felt that" he said, "and
admit that the behavior Of the light 1
extraordinary But that doesn't prov
it supernatural. I don't believe in tn
8 supernatural. Especially I don't be
d I,eye that any two mortals could ar
range with the heavenly powers t
make q demonstration like that ever
d night at midnight for their benef
q That's too absurd"
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