Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-11-17

frey said. and, when ! had got out
handed me my suitcase. and then drove
the car on past the house. no doubt to
its garage.
He was soon back. opened the house
door, switched on the lights, and waved
me in.
Here we are he said. IN sho&
you your room" and he led the way
up the stairs. opening u door in h
hall at the top. This is it," he added.
and switched on the lights here also.
THE bathroom is right at the end of
the hall. Wash up, if you need to, and
then come down, and we will la a
good night smoke
simplest of furniture. The night
breeze ruffled the curtains at the win
dows. and filled the room with the
o o odor of the woods-how different
it was from the odor of dirty asphalt!
But was in no mood to linger there
1 wanted an explanation of that
strange light and of those two white
open my grip, change into a lounging
coat. and brush off the dust of the
journey. Then l FASTENED downstairs.
Godfrey met me at the stair foot, and
led the way into what was evidently a
loungins room. a tray, containing
cheese. and a few other things, stood
on a side table, and to this Godfrey
added two bottles of Bass.
mo doubt you're hungry after the
ride" he said. II know l am" and he
opened the bottles. Help YOURSELF"
and he proceeded to make himself a
sandwich. You see. L live the simple
life out here. I've got an old couple
to look after The place-Mr. n Mrs.
Hargis. Mrs. Hargis is an excellent
cook-but to ask her to stay awake
till midnight would be fiendish cruelty.
So she leaves me a lunch in the ice
box, and goes quietly off to bed. I'll
give you some berries for breakfast
such as you don't often get in New
York-and the cream-wait till you try
it! Have a cigar?"
NO. l said. sitting down very con-
tent with the world, i've got my pipe."
and 1 proceeded to fill up.
Godfrey took down his own pipe from
the mantle shelf and sat down opposite
me. A moment 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. l happened to glance out
of my bedroom window. as l was turn
ing in. and caught a glimpse of a queer
light apparently sinking into the tree
tops. ! thought nothing Of it; but two
nisHts !alei, AZ eAdclly tne same tlIne,
/ saw it again. l watched for it the
next night. and again saw it-just for
an instant. you understand, as it
formed high in the air and started
downward. The next night I was up
a tree and saw more of it; but 1t was
not until night before last that 1 found
the place from which the whole spec
tacle could be eel The trees are
pretty thick all around here, and I
doubt If there is any other place from
which those two figures would be Wis
ible."
said. for 1 had begun to think that my
eyes had deceived me.
There certainly were"
Standing in space"
oh. no; standing on a very sub
stantial. roof"
But what is it all about" l ques-
light. anyway"
That's what I've brought you out
here to find out. You've got four clear.
days ahead of you-and I'll be at your
disposal from midnight on, if you
happen to need me-"
idea about it," I persisted. AT least
you know whose oof those figures
We're standing on"
Yes. I know that. The roof belongs
to a man named Worthington Vaughan.
Ever hear of him?"
I shook my head.
Neither had l." said Godfrey. "up
to h time l too this place. Even yet,
I don't know very much. He's the last
of an old family. who made their money
in real estate. and are supposed to
have kept most of it. He's a widower
10 years ago. and since then he has
been a sort of recluse. and has the
reputation of being queer. He has been
J abroad q good deal. and it is only dur
ing the last year that he has lived con-
%tinuously at this place mex door.
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 known"
II tried to make a n%eighborly call
yesterday. and wasn't admitted. Mr..
Vaughan was engaged. Getting ready
perhaps!"
took Il meditative pun or two.
"ls IL hocus-pocus. G~odfrey?" l
asked. at last. IF it is. it's a mighty
artistic piece Of work."
And If 1t isn't hocus-pocus, what is
it," Godfrey retorted. "A spiritual
manifestation?
l 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.
There are just two possibilities"
Godfrey went on. Either it's hocus-
pocus, or it isn't. If it is, it is done for
some purpose. w men don't go out
IN a roof every night at midnight and
fire off a Roman candle and wave their
arms around, just for the fun Of the
thing
..It wasn't q Roman candle !" r ,o;r+aa