Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-12-23
II Story
CHAPTER v111.-(continued.,

anu L was able to think cOnnectedly of
tne events OF the night, but there were
angie, could not understand. One
was SWANS dazed and incoherent
manner; the other was the absence of
servants.
AS to Swain, L believed him to
be a we'll poised fellow, not easily
attacks of nerves. What had hap
pened to him. then, to reduce him
to the pitiable condition in which
he had come back to us over the
wall, and in which ne was still
plunged? The discovery of the murder
anG of Miss Vaughan's senseless body
might have accounted for it, but
his indifference had antedated that
unless, indeed, he knew of the murder
before he left the grounds. That
thought CAV me a sudden shock, and
l put it away from me. not daring to
pursue it farther.
AS to the house, Its deserted condi-
ton seemed sinister and threatening.
1t was absurd to suppose that an estab-
liShment such as this could be carried
on without servants, or with less thai
three or four. But where were they?
And then | remembered that Godfrey
and l had not completed our explora-
ton of the house. We had stopped at
the gruesonae room where the adept
and his serpent gazed unwinking into
the crystal sphere. There was at least
one suite on the same floor we had not
looked into. and no CUB there were
other rooms on the attic foo above.
But that n one could rave slept on
undlsturbed by those piercing screams
and by our comings n goings seemed
unbelievable. Perhaps there were sep
arate quarters in the grounds some-
where
And then. without conscious will Of
my own. 1 felt my body stiffen and my
fingers grip my pipe conyulsively. A
slow trenor seemed to start from the
end of my spine. travel up it, and pass
off across my scalp. There was some
one in the room behind me; someone
with cleaning eyes fixed upon me; and
L sat there rigidly. straining my ears,
expecting l knew not what-a blow
upo the head, a cord about the neck
A rapid step came up the walk and
Godfrey appeared suddenly out OF the
darkness.
wei Lester" he began: but I
sprang to my feet and faced the room,
for l could have sworn that I had
heard behind me the rustic of a silken
dress. But there was no one there eX-
cept Swain and Miss Vaughan and the
dead man-and none Of them had
moved.
What is it?" Godfrey asked, step
ping past me into the room.
There was someone there, Godfrey"
l said. I'm sure OF i'll felt some
one-I felt his eyes on me-and then,
as you spoke. I heard the rustic of a
Dress
"Of a dress?"
OR of a robe" and my thoughts
were on the bearded mar upstairs.
Godfrey glanced at me, crossed the
room. and looked out into the hall.
Then he turned back to me.
We'll. whoever it was" he said, and
1 could see that he thought my ears
had deceived me. "he has made good his
escape. There'Il be a doctor and a
nurse here in a few minutes, and I got
simmonds and told him to bring Gold
berger along. He can't get here for
an hour anyway. And I've got a chang
an hour anyway. I've got a change
here for SWAIN he added, with a
gesture toward some garments he car
ried over one arm: "also a bracer to be
administered to him." and he drew a
flask from his pocket and handed it to
me. Maybe you need one, yourself"
he added, smiling drily. since you've
taken to hearing rustling robes"
Il do" 1 said. though not on that
account" and / raised the flask to my
lips and took a long swallow.
Suppose you AXE Swain up to the
bath ROOM" Godfrey suggested, land
help him to get cleaned up. I'll go down
to the gate and wait for the DOCTOR"
The gates probably locked"
81 thought of that" and he drew a
small but heavy hammer from his
pocket. I'll smash the lock, if there's
into shape before anyone arrives" he
added. Hes not a prepossesSing OBJ
ject as he u.s."
No, he isn't I agreed, looking at
him. and I took the garments which
Godfrey held out to me. Then / went
~,-~- 80 art; r-l ,-k H. n-t -
his uninjured hand. Take a drink of
that" 1 said.
He did not understand at first; then
he put the flask to his lips and drank
eageriy-so eagerly that l a to draw
it away. He watched me longingly as
1 screwed on the cap and slipped it
into my pocket: and there was more
color in his face and a brighter light
in his eyes.
Now, come along 1 said, and get
that cut ixed up"
He rose obediently and followed me
out into the hall. Godfrey had pre-
ceded us, found the light switch after
a brief search. and turned it on.
There's a switch in the bath room,
too. no doubt" he said. Bring him
down again, as soon as you get him
fixed UP. You'll find some cotton and
gauze in one of the pockets of the
coat"
- swain loilo SGu fliC up lIc oldlI ana
nto the oath room. He seemed to I'M
derstand what I intended doing, for he
Invested himself of coat and shirt and
was soon washing arms and face Wig
orously. Then he dried himself, and
stood patiently while l washed and
bandaged the cut on the wrist. 1t was
not a deep one. and had about stopped
bleeding.
Feel better?" 1 asked.
Yes" he said. and without waiting
for me to tell him, slipped into the
clean Shirt which Godfrey had
brought. attached the collar and tied
the tie. all this quite composedly and
without hesitation or clunsiness.
Yet 1 felt. in some indefinable way.
that something was seriously wrong
with him. His yes were vacant
n his lace flabby, as though
the muscles were relaxed. 1t gave me
the feeling hat his intelligence was
relaxed, too!
He picked up his own coat. but I
stopped him.
Don't put that on" I said. speak
ing to him as 1 would nav spoken to
a child. 1.-THE sleeve is blood stained
and there's a long tear down the side.
Take this one.' and / held out the
light lounging coat Godfrey had
brought with him.
Swain laid down his own garment
~-;xt~,. - -0.1 or5 nut fn~ thu AfIAr