The Summit House Mystery; Or, the Earthly Purgatory

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1905. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXX 'I VHERE is, perhaps, no more enthralling sound than the far but sure approach of someone who comes unlooked-for to a lonely place. The two men who were keeping vigil became certain that travellers were ascending the steep zigzags of Deer. They looked at one another in apprehensive silence, and went softly out to that side of the house nearest the road. The young moon had set, and there was cloud overhead. Almost an hour's journey below them the creak of wheel, the sound of hoof, came faint but nearer. The two house dogs stood by the men, a growl in their throats. Bertha came downstairs and out to them, a shawl over her head. The mountain nights had been growing colder; the air was bleak and dry. "Hermie is terribly ill," she said. "She has cried till the pain in her head is anguish--and wiio can possibly be coming?" Then she turned indignantly to Alden. "Is this some plan of your arranging?" Alden denied in dispirited tones, and suggested that perhaps some travellers had lost their way. "People don't usually climb a mountain by mistake," she retorted. "There are two horses--and two men talking--and wheels," said Durgan, slowly reckoning up the sounds he heard. "Go in, and take the dogs," said Alden to Bertha. "We will go down to the mine and meet them, so that Hermione need not be disturbed." "You need not be so careful to protect her now," she said hardly. "She is in too great pain to care what happens." Then Durgan was striding down the trail, and Alden hopping nimbly over the rocks beside him. "The last visitors who rode here through the night brought handcuffs," said Durgan grimly. He could not divest himself of the idea that some armed fate was close upon them all. He lit his lantern, and kindled a fire of sticks in the stove of his hut. Alden,...