The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-12-23

CHAPTER vIu.-(Continued.)


hnd / was able to think connectedly of
The events Of the night, but there were
wo things which, looked at from any
.hnele, i could not understand. One
1syas SWANS dazed and incoherent
manner; the other was the absence OF
Mservants.
n AS TO Swain, I believed him to
he web poised fellow, not easily
Nluset, and certainly not subject to
httacks Of nerves. What had hap
.pened TO him. then, to reduce him
fo the pitiable condition In which
,syalI, and In which he was still
slbIInged? The discovery Of the murder
hnd OF Miss Vaughan's seIlseless body
.,aiaht have accounted for It, but
Ne fncoherence had annotated that
a,uless. indeed. he knew OF the murder
before he left the grounds That
thought gave me sudden shoek, ana
bursue Il farther. ~.
a As 10 the house, Its deserted condi-
ion seemed sinister and threatening.
W. n was absurd to suppose that an estab-
iishment such as this could be carried
bn without servants. or with less than
hree or four. But where were they?
And then / remembered that Godfrey
and i had not completed our explora-
/, ion OF the house. We had stopped at
I&he aruesome room where the adept
Ind his serEent gazed unwtnking into
he crystal sphere. There was at least
bne suite on the same floor we had not
BOXED into. and no doubt there were
pther rooms on the attic moor above
BlTt that any one could have slept on
hndlsturbed by those piercing screams
I'D by our comings and goings seemed
Unbelievable. Perhaps there were sep
arate quarters In the grounds some-
where
q. And then, without conscious will Of
by own, felt my body stiffen and my
Ringers grip my pipe convulsively. A
Blow tremor seemed to start from the
Ind of my spine, travel up It, and pass
bff across my scalp. There was some
bne In the room behind me; someone
With cleaning eyes fixed upon me; and
sat there rigidly, stralning my ears,
Expecting / knew not what--a blow
ipon the head. cord about the neck
A rapid step came up the walk and
godfrey appeared suddenly out OF the
Darkness. a..
"Weil Lester" he began: but 1
prang to my feet and faced the room.
Tor could have sworn that l had
card behind me the rustic of silken
Dress. But there was no one there ex-
ept Swain and Miss Vaughan and the
'hoved
what is tit" Godfrey asked, step
hing past me into the room.
There was someone there, Godfrey"
said. I'm sure of it, felt some
ne-I felt his eyes on me-and then,
Is you spoke. heard the rustic of Il
Eress."
N "of a dress?" ..
NJ "Or of a robe" and my thoughts
ere on the bearded man upstairs.
Godfrey glanced at me, crossed the
loom. and looked out into the hall.
Then he turned back to me.
N well. whoever 1t was" he said, and
could see that he thought my ears
had deceived me. "he has made good his
Escape. There'll be doctor and a
Nurse here in few minutes, and got
Simmondsi and told him to bring Gold
Merger along. He can't get here for
IN hour anyway. And I've got chang
IN hour anyway. I've got a change
here for Swain" he added, with a
GESTURE toward some garments he car
led over one arm 'also a bracer to be
administered to him." and he drew q
lask from his pocket and handed il to
Me. Maybe you need one, yourself"
e added, smiling drily, "since you've
AIKEN to hearing rustling robes"
Il do" / said. though not on that
Recount" and I raised the flask to my
ps and took long swallow.
Suppose you take Swain up to the
ath ROOM" Godfrey suggested, and
Y clip him to get cleaned up. I'll go down
the gate and wait for the doctor"
The gates probably locked"
Il thought of that" and he drew a
Nmall but heavy hammer from his
ocket 'Tll smash the lock, If there's
10 other way, I'd like you to get Swain
ITO shape before anyone arrives" he
dded Hes not prepossessing OBJ
ect as he is"
mo, he isn't" / agreed, looking at
i'm, and took the garments which
odfrey held out to me. Then went
Nver TO Swain and put the flask into
Is uninjured hand. Take a drink of
bat" I said.
IA He did not understand at first; then
e put the flask to his lips and drank
Rgerly--so eagerly that had to draw
away. He watched me longingly as
screwed on the cap and slipped 1t
pto my pocket: and there was more
plor in his face and a brighter light
his eyes
NOW. come along" said, and get
pat CUT fixed up"
He rose obediently and followed me
pat into the hall. Godfrey had pre-
eded us, found the light switch after
brief search, and turned 1t on.
There's a switch in the bath room,
Pc, no doubt" he said. Bring him
fpwn again. as soon as you get him
Ned UP. You'll find some cotton and
Puze In one OF the pockets of the
y bat"
Swain followed me up the stair and
10 the bath room. He seemed to I'M
erstand what intended doing, for he
vested himself OF coat and shirt and
as soon washing arms and face Wig
ously. Then he dried himself, and
pod patiently while / washed and
indaged the cut on the wrist. 1t was
Pr q deep one, and had about stopped
eeding.
Feel better?" I asked.
Yes" he said. and without waiting
n me to tell him. slipped into the
ean shirt which Godfrey had
Fought. attached the collar and tied
Is, tie. all this quite composedly and
thout hesitation or clumsiness.
et felt, in some indefinable way,
at something was seriously wrong
IN him. His eyes were vacant
ld his face flabby. as though
e muscles were relaxed. 1t gave me
feeling that his intelligence was
laxed, tool -.a... g.
He picked up his own coat, but I
5opped him .....
Don't put that on" I said, speak
TO him as I would have spoken to
child. The sleeve Is blood stained
there's long tear down the side