The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-05-27

great things Of you over here, Edgar.
We hear that you have been on the
point Of proving most unpleasant
things with regard to our origin"
oh! there is no doubt about that"
the professor observed. Where we
came from and where we are going to
are questions which no longer afford
room for the slightest doubt to the
really scientific mind. What sometimes
does elude US Is the nature Of u
tendencies while We are here on earth"
There was a brief silence. The port
had been placed upon the table and cot
fee served. The servants, according
to the custom of the house, had de-
parted. The great apartment was
empty. Even Quest was impressed
by some peculiar significance in the
long-drawn-out silence. He looked
around him uneasily. The growing re-
gard of that long line of painted war
riors seemed somehow to be full Of
menace There was something grim,
too, in the sight of those empty suits
OF armor.
81 may be superstitious," Lord Ash
leigh said, but there are times, espe-
cially just lately, when l seem to find
a new and hateful quality in silence.
What Is 1t, / wonder? / ask you, but l
think | know. 1t is the conviction that
there Is some alien presence, some
thing disturbing, lurking close at
hand"
He suddenly rose to his feet, pushed
his chair back and walked to the win
dow, which opened level with the
ground. He threw 1t up and listened.
The others came over and joined him.
There was nothing to be heard but the
distant hooting of an owl, and farther
away the barking Of some farmhouse
dog. Lord Ashleigh stood there with
straining eyes, gazing out across the
park.
There was something here" he
muttered; something which has gone.
What's that? Quest, your eyes are
younger than mine. Can you 9 any
thing underneath that tree?"
Quest peered out int the gray dark.
less.
81 fancied l saw something moving
In the shadow Of that oak" he NUT.
tered. Wait"
He crossed the terrace, swung down
on to the path, cross the lawn, over
a wire fence and into the park itself.
All the time he kept his eyes fixed on
a certain spot. When at last he
reached the tree there was nothing
there. He looked all around him. He
stood and listened for several mo.
ments. A more utterly peaceful night
or more utter peace 1t would be hard
to imagine. Slowly he made his way
back to the house.
II imagine we are all a little nervy
tonight" he remarked. There's moth
ing doing out there"
They strolled about for q hour OF
more, looking into different rooms
showing their guest the finest pictures
even taking him down into the wonder
full cellars. They parted early. but
Quest stood. for a few moments before
retiring. gazing about him with In all
almost Of ave-. His great room. al
large as an Italian palace, was lit by q
dozen wax candles In silver candle
sticks. His four.poster was supported
by pillars Of black oak, carved into
strange forms. and surmounted by the
Ashleigh coronet and coat-of-arms. He
threw his windows open wide and
stood for q moment looking out across
the park. more clearly Visible now By
the light of the slowly rising moon
There wal scarcely . breeze stirring
scarcely q sound eve from the animal
world. Nevertheless. Quest. too. ~ 70
iiuctantly he made his preparations fol
retiring for the night, was c~onscioui
oG that Quer s~snsation OF unimaginst
land impalpabls danger.
(To IN coNTINuEDl