The Mystery of Cloomber

ed with the house of an English squire, but to us, after our lo

inscots. In front was a small lawn, girt round with a thin fringe of haggard and ill grown beeches, all gnarled and withered from the effects of the sea-spray.

ther directions the desolate moors, greyish-green in the foreground and p

weary mile and never see a living thing except the white, heavy-flapping kit

the works of man save only where the high, white tower of Cloomber Hall shot up, lik

ange tastes and lonely habits, but at the time of our arrival it had been untenanted for many years, an

ng the laird's chimney and the white tower of Cloomber in a line they could steer their way through the ugly reef

r the hubbub and bustle of a great city, and the weary task of upholding appearances upon a slender income, there was a gra

d go the round of the estate doing such light duties as fall to an agent, or "factor" as it was ther

when an unlooked-for incident occurred which proved to be the hera

ng which might serve for our supper. On this well-remembered occasion my sister came with me

n the waters. The whole broad ocean was seamed and scarred with crimson streaks. I had risen in the boat, and was gazing round in

ed, "there is a ligh

which suddenly vanished, and then shone out once more from another higher up. There it flickered for some time, and finally flashed past two successive windows underneath be

r, for I could see by the surprise upon her face that she had no solution to offer

r shook

" she said. "Besides, John, the keys are kept by the house-agent at Wigto

er, I could not but admit the force of my sister's objection. The untimely visitor must either have us

ht be, and what were his intentions. Leaving my sister at Branksome, and summoning Seth Jamieson, an old man-o'-war

ing his pace perceptibly as I explained to him the nature of our errand. "It

ing into it," said I, pointing to the great, white build

which had been removed. I could now see that a second fainter light followed a few paces behind the other. Evidently two in

ing to a dead stop. "What is it tae us if a wraith or a bogle minds ta

wraith came here in a gig? What are thos

mpanion in a less lugubrious voice. "Let's steer f

we made our way into the Wigtown Road, at the point where the high stone pillars mark the entrance to the Cloomber avenu

deserted vehicle. "I ken it weel. It belongs tae Maister Mc

m now that we are here," I answered. "Th

tall and angular, the other short and thick came towards us through the darkness. They were t

g forward and addressing the Wigtown factor

showed me that I was not mistaken in his identity, but his talle

in a gasping, choking voice. "Is this y

Mr. Fothergill West, of Branksome, though what brings him up here tonight is more than I can understand. However, as you are to be neighbours, I can't d

l man, who took it in a hesit

nd I thought that something might be wrong. I am very glad I did so, s

t me very closely through the darkness. As I concluded, he stretched out a long, tremulo

voice as before, "the fellow's as brown as chocolate. He

h an inclination to laugh, which was only che

t excuse me, Mr.-Mr. West. I'm nervous, infernally nervous. Come along, McNeil, we

-cart clattered away through the darkness, casting a brilliant tunnel of yellow li

ew neighbour, Jamieson?" I

ays himsel', to be vera nervous. Ma

ad tried his constitution a bit. But it's blowing chil

across the moors for the cheery, ruddy light