Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-12-22
CHAPTER v111.-(continued.)

MY nerves grew calmer, presently, |
and 1 was able to think connectedly of
the events of the night. but there were
two things which. looked at from any
was SWANS dazed and incoherent !
manner; the other was the absence of
servants.
AS to Swain, 1 believed him to
be a well poised fellow. o easily
upset, and certainly not subject to
pened to him, then, to reduce him
to he pitiable condition in which
he had come back to us over the
wall. and in which he was still
plunged? The discovery of the murder |
and of Miss Vaughan's senseless body
his incoherence had a~ntedated that
unless. indeed. he knew of the murder |
before he left h grounds. That
thought gave me a sudden shock, and
/ put it away from me, not daring to
pursue 1t farther.
AS to the house, it's deserted condi-
ton seemed sinister and threatening.
1t was absurd to suppose that an estab-
fshmentv such as this could be carried
On without servants, Or with less than
three or our. But where were they?
And then I remembered that Godfrey
and I had not completed our explora-
ton of the house. We had stopped at
h gruesOme room where the adept
and his serpent gaZed unwinking into
h crystal sphere. There was at least
n suite on the same floor we had not
looked into. and no doubt there were
other rooms OF the attic foor above.
But that any one could have slept On
undfsturbed by those piercing screams
and by j comings n goings seemed
unbelievable. Perhaps there were sep
arate quarters in the grounds some
where
And then. without conscious will Of
my own. I felt my body stiffen and my
fingers grip my pipe convulsively. A
slow trefnOr seemed to start from the
end Of my spine. travel up it, and pass
of across my scalp. There was some
one in the room behind me; someone
with cleaning eyes fixed upon me; and
I sat there rigidly. straining my ears,
expecting I knew not what-a blow
upon the head. a cord about the neck
A rapid step came up the walk and
Godfrey appeared suddenly out of the
darkness.
sprang to my feet and faced the room.
for I 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 n 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"
as you spoke. 1 heard the rustic of a
dreEs.''
"Of a dress?"
"Or Of a robe" and my thoughts
were on the bearded man upstairs.
Godfrey glanced at me, crossed the
room, and looked out into the hail.
Then he turned back to me.
well. whoever it was" he said, and
l could see that he thought my r
had deceived me. 'he has made good his
escape. There'll be a doctor and a
nurse here in a few minutes, and I got
berger along. He can't get here for
an hour anyway. And I've got a chang
an hour anyway. Eve got a change
here for SWAIN" he added, with a
gesture toward some garments he car
ried Owe n 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 dirty, since you've
taken to hearing rustling robes"
Il do" I said. though not on that
account" nj 1 raised the las to my
lips and took a long swallow.
Suppose o take Swain up to the
bath ROOM" Godfrey suggested, and
help him to get cleaned up. I'll go down
to the gate and wait for the doctor"
Inc gaze s pTOOdOly IOCkcO.
II thought of that" and he drew a
small but heavy hammer from his
pocket. It'll smash the lock, if there's
no other way. I'd / you to get Swain
into shape before anyone arrives ne
added. Hes not a prepossessing OBJ
ject az he u.s."
mo. he isn't" 1 agreed, looking at
him. and / took the garments which
Godfrey held put to me-. Then I went
over to Swain and put the flask into
his uninjured hand. Take a drink of
that" I said.
He did not understand al first; then
he put the flask to his lips and drank
eagerly-so eagerly that I had to draw
it away. He watched me longingly as
into my pocket: and there was more
color in his face M a brighter light
in his eyes.
"Now, come along" 1 said, and get
that cut fixed up"
He rose obediently and followed me
out into the hall. Godfrey had pre-
ceded us, found the light switch after
There's a switch in the bath room,
toe, 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 followed me up the stair and
into the bath room. He seemed to UNI
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 I washed and
bandaged the cut OF the wrist. It was
not a deep one. and had about stopped
bleeding.
"voan ho aaid and w,ifhont waitinr