The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1917-10-25
His Legacy
1t Was Not
Property
By AGNES C. BROGAN


The December afternoon was draw
ing to q close when John Gordon de-
cided suddenly to go out to the house.
All day the sun had been shining, but
now coming shadows warned him that
he had not much time to spare He
had postponed the ordeal as long as he
could, for surely it would be an ordeal
to spend precious time plugging along
on q suburban trolley, transferring at
some wayside country station and then,
maybe, If no vehicle could be obtained,
walking the rest Of the way uphill.
This much he knew: The house was
situated upon the top of the hill, the
village struggling at its foot. But why
James Laidlaw, deceased, had seen fit
to leave the house with its belongings
to John Gordon's own mother he could
not understand. That the eccentric
old man had been a youthful friend
he had often heard, and now that his
mother had also passed into the great
beyond John Gordon must accept the
property as the next Of kin and in
cidentally go out to look 1t over.
The trolley was late, Of course, and
he restlessly strobe up and down the
platform. This trip was a nuisance
and no doubt the property scarce worth
the trouble. Time was when John Cor
don had not been SO Indifferent to
country homes or legacies.
He was weary Of superfciality, alb
sorbed and buried in business. The
second wait, at the tiny cross country
station, was doubly annoying, and, his
destination finally reached. no vehicle
was obtainable. In fact, John Gordon
was the only passenger to leave the
train at Elmhurst. The station agent
laconically directed him "hillward,' y
and, turning up his greatcoat collar.
he bent his face to the wind.
He had not gone a dozen yards when
the sudden storm was on him. Snow,
heavy, yet as thick as down, fell In
swirling clouds. But the key was In
his pocket. He had come thus far on
his troublesome journey, and he would
the storm had descended he had
glimpsed the house, high and solitary
upon Its hill. 1t seemed place not to
be lightly despised. He muttered an
imprecation as the wind of the height
battled him back; but, after all, the
distance was not so great as it seemed,
and he stood GREATNESS upon the de-
serted front porch.
He laughed little at the incopgrui-
ty Of the situation as he fitted the key
into the lock. The heavy snow had
changed the daylight to cleaning, and
he determined to go through the house
as quickly as possible returning to
town by the next train. With difficulty
the unused door gratingly opened, and
Gordon found himself in wide. silent.
ghostly hall. ghOstly because of the
white draped furniture. Evidently
nothing had been disturbed, awaiting
his coming and delayed settlement Of
the estate. He shivered even in his
greatcoat as he hastily inspected the
rooms upon either side of the hall, then
ran upstairs. Here the almost impene-
trable darkness caused him to grope
to the window, vainly trying to peer
through the pane. The snowstorm had
turned into a blizzard, hiding the lights
of the village below. To start back
now would be folly; to stay in this
deadly vault of house, worse.
The telephone, of course, was discon.
nected, but even If available what per-
son would venture to come to his as
sistance up through this binding, cut
ting storm? John Gordon sank back
upon damp couch to smoke and think
things over; useless In this darkness to
continue his Investigation of the house.
A drowsfness came over him, and In
real terror lest he should sleep in the
freezing atmosphere he moved eau
tiously toward the hall. Here another
stairway confronted him. There had
been tower room, he remembered.
Perhaps from there he might be able
to see the direction Of the lights below.
Numbed with cold, he reached the
upper landing, then paused, blinking
his eyes at spark Of light which. like
FREELY, came for moment but to
disappear. Surely this was an after
noon Of uncanny adventure. Again the
spark sh0ne high upon the wall.
. "Who is there?" called John Gordon
and Immediately smiled at the nervous
folly Of his own question. With cold
ly shaking fingers he lighted and
steadied match, then another.
"Jove! he exclaimed and stood gap
ing into the darkness. High upon the
opposite wall, on ledge of what SEEM
ed to be bookcase, dangled the hide
of white polar bear 1t took a third
match to satisfy him that the beasts
gaping jaws and glaring eyes were
artificial. Then directly from behind
the white shaggy head small electric
torch was leveled at him.
"Oh!" breathed a relieved feminine
voice. "You are the real estate agent,
of course. ! did have such a scare"
John Gordon was still too.astonished
to speak.
"You have matches" continued the
girlish voice. please. will you light
the gas?"
"Gas?' queried the man stupidity.
Certainly" Her tone was impa-
tient. 81 know you suggested bringing
matches along when you phoned the