The morning news., 1894-11-25
THE THING IN NO. 7.
From the Pau Mall Budget.

After the regatta there was a firework
display on Southsea Common. / turned
out after dinner with Bailey-this was be-
fore he broke his legs-and Wilderspin and
another man, tail man, whose name I
forget, The day had been hot and close,
and the night was overcast. But this was
all the better for the fireworks.
1t was then the storm broke. The thun-
der seemed to fall right down upon lis
out of the dim sky.
There was a stir. People began to tumble
with umbrellas-those who had the fore
thought to bring them-and then, I'm
off home" said Bailey, and we began run
ming. and every one round us too, toward
the distant houses at the back of the Com
mon.
Then in the dim light of the street lamp
saw Wilderspin tear up the steps to the
portico of a house. The lightning blazed
livid. and ] saw the whole house distinct
and brilliant. 1t was the wrong house!
1t was an empty house, as one could see
by the black blankness of its windows,
and | was aware, without clearly diStin-
gushing what it was, that something
black hung over the succeed parapet
above. Then / saw with a slight feeling
of surprise that the door was beginning
to open in front of Wilderspin, and then
came the darkness again. / heard the door
slam.
/ gasped out something incoherent about
my getting in first after all, and keeping in
my chuckle at Wilderspn's mistake
AGAINST better opportunity. rushed up
the steps to the door of No. and ham,
mered at the knocker. The other man
was hard on my heels and then came
Bailey painting.
We heard the door Of No. click and
slam again.
I'm going after him." said Bailey.
Hes such q queer chap
He spoke my thoughts. Wilderspin was
one of those odd, eXcitable fellows who
will start at a shadow. I remember I
nearly scared him into fl once by quietly
putting a head of barley in his ear in the
course of a country walk. Somehow, /
cound not imagine him willingly hiding in
an empty house after dark.
Bailey made no more ado, but clambered
over into the portico of No. 7.
you viii ring, sir, when you are coming
in, said the servant a girl inclined to be
impertnent, as they often are in boarding
houses. With that she closed the door.
/ followed Bailey.
The door of No. Z was opening slowly,
and very quietly. Behind il the gradually
widening strip Of passage was black and
window lighting the staircase downstairs
could be seen, clear and pale. We hesita-
ted The door became stationary, and then
slowly closed again.
We looked at one another.
The thing affected me somehow like
tran. ] hesitated. "Confound it" said /
"What is there to be afraid Off" and flung
the door open. A fash of lightning lit the
hall for an instant
Now. one can see distinctly by a flash Of
lightning only when one has something
anproachng "a definite conception Of the
thing 20 be seen. / saw the empty han
very clearly, even to the darker patch ON
the oilcloth where the hat stand had been,
and the window TO the staircase winked
black us the rest OF the things We're illum-
mated. But the black lump ar the head OF
the staircase puzzled me for a moment.
pulled out O loose wax veata from my
pocket and struck g. 10 blew ont. Bailey
came in and shut the door after him, and
/ struck another.
AN this had happened in silence But
as soon as the match lared we both start
ad at once.
WHderspln man" said l. what on
oarths the matter"
He WAS ln kind gf sitting position.
rrnuehod ou the staircase. ANA jammed
hard against the WBt. liiH head was
turned toward something around the bend
III mo staircase thnt we could NOT sne
ono haHd WHs anrtad against tho wall
hsslts blm. BE- had MOT faintod his ht-
tftdo Wsa 90 tenHa-he AaH simply COVE