Open Sesame

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1918 edition. Excerpt: ... THE HAUNTED WELE DUSK, the early dusk of late November, was closing in over the frost-bound earth. It was the autumn of the dark war year, 1915. The owner of Lutteridge Hall and his guest, Captain Mornoch, tramped side by side up the drive towards the old Tudor doorway, giving on the big hall.! Commander Devenish--or, as he was usually now called, the Squire--had retired from the Navy when his wife's death, following swiftly on that of his elder brother, had left him owner of a family estate and half a dozen motherless children. He quitted his profession with regret, for he was a true son of Devon, descendant of the old merchant adventurers. Nevertheless, he speedily settled down to the agreeable life of a country landowner, and knew no discontent until his country went to war, and he found himself longing for the quarterdeck once more. He sent up his request to the Admiralty, but there was no command for him at that time. He was bidden to wait, and he had waited more than a year. In the October of 1915 he received a letter from Sir John Mornoch, a friend of long standing, but from whom, as he lived in Scotland, the Squire seldom heard. Next day he announced to the family that he expected a 218 visitor upon a long and indefinite stay--Captain Mornoch, youngest brother of Sir John.: The guest, when he arrived, proved to be a tall, black-haired, taciturn man, fifteen years younger than his host, but seeming far more his contemporary than that of the young folks. The eldest of the Squire's family, Sacharissa, was just grown to very pretty womanhood. Her mother's early death had bred in her a certain precocity. There were, besides, four boys and girls, of whom the youngest was eleven years old; and the circle was completed by a girl of...