The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-11-18

bin House.
great things Of you over here, Edgar.
We hear that you have been on the
point Of proving most unpleasant
things with regard to our origin"
ooh! there Is no doubt about that"
the professor observed. Where We
came from and where VIC are going to
are questions which no longer afford
room for the slightest doubt to tho
really scientific mind. What sometimes
does elude as Ia tho nature Of our
tendencies while we r here on earth"
There was a brief silence. The port
had been placed upon the table and cof-
fee served. The servants, according
to the custom of the house, had de-
parted. The great apartment was
empty. Even Quest was Impressed
by some peculiar significance IN the
long-drawn-out silence. He looked
around him uneeSily. The growing re-
gard of that long line Of painted a
riors seemed somehow to be full of
menace There was something grim,
too, in the sight of those empty suits
Of armor.
II may be superstitious," Lord Ash.
leigh said, "but there are times, espe-
cially just lately, when I seem to find
a new and hateful quality in silence.
What is it, ! wonder? / ask you. but l
think know. It is the conviction that
there is some alien presence, one
thing disturbing, lurking close at
hand"
He suddenly rose to his feet, pushed
his chair back and walked to the win
dow, which opened level with the
ground. He threw It up and listened.
The others came over and Joined him.
There was nothing to be heard but the
distant hooting OF an owl, and farther
away the barking Of some farmhouse
dog. Lord Ashleigh stood there with
straining eyes, gazing out across the
park.
There was something here" he
muttered; something which has gone.
What's that? Quest. your ayes are
younger than mine. Can you see any
thing underneath that tree?"
Quest peered out into the gray dark.
ness.
II fancied I saw something moving
In the shadow Ct that oak" he NUT
tered. Wait"
He crossed the terrace, swung down
On to the path. across the lawn, over
q wire fence and into the park itself.
All the time he kept his eyes fixed on
a certain spot. When at last he
reached the tree there was nothing
there. He looked all around him. He
stood and listened for several mo-
ments. A more utterly peaceful night
or moro utter peace it would be hard
to imagine. Slowly no made his way
back to the house.
Il imagine we are all q little neryy
tonight" he remarked. There's moth.
ing doing out thsra."
They strolled about for Q hour or
moro, looking into difsrsat rooms,
showing their guest the finest pictures,
even taking him down into the wonder
ful cellars. They parted early. but
Quest stood, for q few moments before
retiring, casing about him with an air
almost Of ave-. His great room az
large as an Italian palace, was lit b q
dozen wax candles in silver candle
sticks. HIS four-poster was supported
by pillars Of black oak. carved ,nto
strange forms, and surmosAtsd BY sAe
Ashleigh coronet and eoat-of-arms. He
threw his windows open Wide cad
stood for a moment locking out sssuas
the park. ore clearly visible nav ev
the light Of the slowly rising nuue.
There was scarcely . brscss stirlnn
scarcely q sound even from the autSae1
world. Nevertheless, Quest too. q ~
h~sctantiy he made his prepsradens Or
retiring for the night, was c-onseiDas
of that Quer sensation q unimaslnsA
and impalpable danger.