The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1915-01-01
CHAPTER w.
THE SECRET OF THE HAUNTED
HILLS

Eer08ES month elapsed WlLuOut
any puEzling case coming under Hass
sam Ais notice, Zudora and Storm
had their meetings, always previously
arranged by the carrier pigeons, about
wlth Hassam Ali pretended to know
nothing. Besides, he was busy with
numerous clients who wanted to know
about their business investments, their
futures, and somebody else's past. And
he continued to build his pyramids Of
phantom gold The one mistake he
had made was to acQuaint Zudora with
the knowledge of her immense fortune.
The trustees had always. addressed
their letters to him, and it would have
been, an easy matter for him to have
kept her in ignorance. But, evil as he
was himself, he had a profound res
pect for Zudora's word. She had given
it; and there was three years grace.
II IN that period of time he could not
rid himself OF that meddling attorney
he would tear down the black velvet
curtains with his own hands and make
a bonfire OF them.
Storm had urged Zudora dozen
times to marry him secretly; but she
steadfastly refused to accede to his
wishes. Of what use to marry if they
could not have a home Of their own?
OF what use to burden themselves with
"a secret which would interfere with
their pursuits and hang threateningly
over their heads? More than that she
reasoned, her friends would always
look askance at her. II, after some
months it became known that she was
married and was not living with her
husband openly. No; she had given
her word and she would not break It
So John gracefully surrendered. But
he was always feeling that mysterious
cloud which hung lowering over them
both.
Many a night while alone he tried te
figure out the basic cause for Has
sam Airs attitude. Some day, when
work eased up bit, he determined tt
go back over Hassam ANS past, with
all the searching inquiry OF lawyer
There was something more than mere
physical antagonism. He never con.
fessed this belief to Zudora, however
1t did not look quite fair to her to put
doubts into her heart when he hae
nothing back of these doubts but In
stinct. But there Ia no getting arount
the plain fact that he feared Hassan
Ali. feared. him for Zudora's sake.
One day Storm received letter from
his mother, and the contents firs
amused and then alarmed him. Hi
parents were we'll to do country foil
in the south. Their forbears had beer
southerners Of wealth and position VI
to war times. Piece by piece the flint
double Mheritance had vanished, ant
gsat the time OF Johns birth, they hat
sunk from. affluence to the ordinar.
comforts Of life There had beer
enough money to send the lad to col
leKe. to tit him for his own battle II
life. He was a good son. writing hom'
once a month and making holtda.
visits whichever there was opportun
ity. Often he had sent checks home
but invariably these he'd been return
ed. They did not need the money
they had enough for their simple need
and when they died all they ha'
would be hfb.
HI mother had written that a
alarming mystery had confrQnte'
thern. one that ppiromdSSJd Is decimal
the negro sservitors ON tie ysrtou
FARMS and estates. just nov, when a
the crops were ripe. It meant ruin 70
a grAat many wtlose s0le isco1he Va
derived from tn0lE crops. Au0 uo4tO0
were not dying; they were tleeine
This mystery was NO tale fancy, ~
IDLE rumor; II was 4 living fact. vtsibl
to the eye aha 9nf beF hpspend a.
seen the thing tAeh1aetves, and the
wer1 normal minded people. Some
think must be done soon or Their
wouA not be . servant LETT n th
con&kry.
Tte hill back Of the Storm pasce ~
haald, q. aft 4 a,is ~
heroic skeleton Of human hand Wit
q black spot in the center u the pain
a. 81 1t had been made By an enof
NOUS bullet. No one could 81 caee
to IL. Invariably Il IN - l..
approach 81 any living being. Til
: xhastly think waxed and waned some