The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1915-10-23
HUSTRKIIONS
-. coeK1NGry "
AcHfHNRc km


r,naa OF meetings, containing infor-
nation which would help me greatly
IN my quest. An exploration could
not be a matter OF any great danger.
and might yield me the very knowi-
edge I sought
The great house doomed before me
hlack and silent. IL had ever ques-
toned It's desertion it's appearance
lulled every such suspicion. Nor had
a escaped unscathed from the despo-
iistlon or war. At distance. gazing
| from the side OF the mountain, could
perceive no change. But now. close at
hand. even the intense darkness could
not hide the scars left by vandals.
The front steps we're broken. the door
above was tightly closed. yet both
the windows to the right were
Smashed in, sash and all, leaving a
Ride opening. crept forward, and
endeayored to peer through. but the
darknesst within was opaque. was
wet through, chilled to the bone, my
uniform cllnging to me like soaked
paper At least the inside promised
shelter from the storm, chance for
FIRE, and possibly fragments or food.
And had nothing to fear but dark
ness
My revolver was under the flap of
my cavalry jacket. dry and ready for
use. brought II forward. within
easy grip, and stepped over the sill.
MY feet touched carpet, Uttered with
broken glass, and ! felt about eau
tlously. My recollection OF the int
rior OF the house was vague and indis'
tinct. but / knew a wide hallway led
straight through from front door to
back, bisected only by broad stair
way leading to the upper story.
cropped along the inside wall. found
the door at last, standing wide
open. and emerged into the hall
The way was clearer here. and there
came into my mind the recollection o.
a bracket lamp, on the wall at the foo
OF the stairs. My remembrance or tn
position OF the lamp was extremei.
vague, yet my fingers found 1t at last
an lifted Il from the bracket IN
globe contained oil. and. In anothe
moment. the light revealed my immt
diate surroundings.
The total desertion OF the place wa
evident: the destruction which ma
been wrought was plainly the work Q
cowardIy vandals, who had broken j
after the Harwoods left. Convince
of this truth, proceeded fearlessly {
explore, seeking merely the warmth
n fire and food. The library a larg
room. the walls lined with bookcase
afforded no encouragement, but
stopped I'm amazement at the door
the dining room-tne light OF my lam
revealing a table at which someor
had lately eaten. apparently alon
There was a single plate, a cup an
saucer. a half loaf Of bread. with
slice cut, part OF ham bone. VII
considerable meat remaining u
touched and a small china teapc
For an instant the unexpected sig
OF these articles fascinated me, al
then my eyes caught a dull glow
the fireplace at the opposite end
the room-the red CLEAN of a II
ember.
The shock OF this discovery was
sudden as TO give me strant
haunted feeling. The house h
seemed so completely deserted,
desolate. wrapped In silence and dal
ness. that the very conception IN
someone else was hiding there Cal
upon me like blow. Who could
person be? Well. would find o
Thus far the advantage was mine
I knew OF another presence, while
fellow. whoever he might prove to
IN all probability possessed no kno
edge OF my entrance.
MY heart beat fast, but from exc
ment. not fear. With cooked revolt
in one hand, the lamp In the other
silently opened door after door. ps
ing into vacant apartments, b
thinking every shadow to be SKY
ing figure. The search revealed ne
ing: not even further evidence OF
l~presence In the house. The kitcl
Are was cold. the cooking uten
clean, and IN their proper places.
Satisfied already that the myst
Gus invader had departed. yet ster
determined now TO explore the WI
house, and have done with the b
ness. mounted the back stairway
strip OF rag carpet rendering my 81
Silent. and, with head above the II
ing. flashed my light cautiously al
the upper hall. There were doors
either side. the most OF them Of
but the third 10 the left was clio
There was no transom over II, but
door was far enough away from
radius OF my lamp so as to reve
faint glow OF light at the floor line
> .-~set the lamp down on the landing.
crept noiselessly forward to asl
myself; Il was true. light was b
ing within the closed door.
CHAPTER vi.
Ths Alsfrsaa AZ thA Houne.