Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-29
CHAPTER II
I'hr kIuillc nf the I.hnAi


time" asked Roberts. "rou must have
been preparing this meal for years-it
tateS so good"
THE last time ] had amy guests they
Was the guv'mcnt commission TO see
abon, building Il lighthouse. But they
didn', build it." answered his host,
Roberts chuciSled.
You should have had Congress here
TO ca;--thcy'd have built. not only the
lighthouse, hui summer annex to
the Capitol here. You are no, up In
the ways OF modern statccraft
But. have cigar"
Wall. sir. s'pose'i,s your bed time
nearly o'clock. I'll get GU, your
andes It's nearly {. O'clock said
Ia" old tavern Keeper I'M getting
purity long indetI~eihe years a-crecp-
IN on; here I've been a-kecpin' YOU
from your sleep
Roberts restrained his smile. az he
replied: ooh. | sometimes stay UP later
than this In New York. Don't I. iiaw-
kinsr'
answering sicepily: YES sir Thanl.
you. sir. beg pardon. sir"
"rha's all right. Hawkins. You're
phruoned-on condition that YOU take
my candle up stairs and get my bed
r"ady I'm going out for waik--pcr-
hans 1" that haunted house
''oh, sir. wouldn't sir You don,
know what Il ghost iaiyh; do. SIR"
,'cf course. | don't. That's What |
want "a ind out. Light that candle and
get 10 bed. You might get my gun
and com" along, II you wish
pathetic insstcnce
oh. 40, sir. hif You don't mind I'm
Very very heNhausted. sir. this hevcm.
ing But. do lie careful. sir"
Roberts smiled az he lii his pipe
a'1d DOMINIC his cap. started out to
tour The t"ininS streets II the village
Soor souls-evcn here the Grim
REAPER plies his trade, as ruthicsaly
ts III the trenches Of Europe and in
INF shadows OF Manhattans sky.
'cfarcrs," he unused. he passed on
II WAS long walk 20 ,hc "h:,Unted'
mouse but The visitor enjoyed every
step @! the way.
~ imagine this place is safer than
ans other in the nciphborhood." mat
tered The novelist. as he walked around
u ankle deep ia :: rank growth 81
weeds, now We; with the dew. No
one would ever disturb 4 fellow here.
: What an IDEAL place To work---if q fell
low only had one idea TO rub against
another. The trouble with me il, that
am absolutely written out"
He sat down on the porch and look
cd aIar into the Grn!s Of the moonlit
s:ascrape. Not thought OF value
would come /" his aid DESPITE his
Let me see, now" he told himself
Here Is an entirely new location for
me: old-fashioned town, haunted house.
the fisherman. the harbor, the tavern.
But. there's not sniff OF romance
don't think these simple souls would
know romance If they met il. And
plague take it, THIS old stuff has been
written into Io.cno novels. I'd simply
DC copying other mems StoricS!'
lie was disguised with himself
And down in his heart was another
Kind of irritant which he had been
lighting 10 keep out OF mind through
the fortnight OF his summer cruise
The melancholy signing of the south
Grn brce@es in leafy branches close
by. the. rather solemn majesty of the
broad vista, now brought back memo
r:cs despite his resolution.
The haunted house" he murmurcd
II came all this way to reach a haunt
q! house and have been bearing one
around with mc-my own heart is n
haunted house,.
y food Of miserable thoughts
brought contracted brows and clench-
cd hands. as lie rose ncrvously TO pace
NJ and down the wide porch. How
wretchcd II all seemed n"w--and yet
what escape could there be- Ills
.iancee. Beatrice Montford. beautiful
aristocyatic and popular as few New
York girls can be- was waiting for his
return to the slittcring social life OF
the city.
His solitary departure on the "Sea
Gull'' had been the cause of their most
recent uuarrel--one among dozens OF
irritating disagrcemcnts which had
shattered his nerves. interfercl with
his creative work aud vertically driven
him To distraction. And yet their en-
EaScmeni had been full OF happiness.
surfeitcd, indeed, with the pleasures
OF the gay set in which they both NOV
ed.
Beatrice Montford was IL veritablo
type OF the New York society girl
accomplished. we'll bred, allurinG in her
beauty ana IL thorough mistress Of the
ar. ot attraction with that beauty.
His friends all told him that lie was
IL thrice lucky chap to win the hand OF
such Il girl! Surely they were right.
She would make Il iitting compnni
for him. In the magnificent home
which he had inherited from his
father His fortune. Il legacy from his
family, tremendously augmented by
the children of his brain. which had
run into hundreds OF thousands, made
life certain and easy before him. His
social position was the envy OF many
u parvcnuc. and not u few OF tho blue
DloO0S," All this would Rentricc ahnrn