The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-16
steadY hand. / followed him into the

hall, closing the door behind me ~
his direction. In an instant both knew
that Abner Letterby's experience hal
not been fancied nor exaggerated. The
hall was utterly dark, the odor was al
most nauseating, and l shrank from the
fifth and decay around me, but Il was
not fear of these that seemed to close
around my heart. 1t seemed TO be an
element OF the air that filed one with
an overpowering dread as heat or cold
produces it's effect, except that this
was an unnatural, ineNplicable effect.
rs if one should have the sensation OF
freezing in intense heat or be scorched
or blistercd by heat in zero tempera-
ture. The house was quiet and peace.
full, no hideous apparition appeared, yet
felt every erye quivering with fear.
Budthorne struck match, lifted the
candle from the floor just inside of the
room and lighted il. He held ii up be-
fore him ard we peered into the shad
ows. Nothing frightful appeared, but
my fear increased as II / were inhalinc
IL. Budthorne turned toward me and
looked at him over the candle fame.
His face was drawn and his lips trem-
bled slightly as he whispered:
at is true"
TERRIBLY true," ! replied.
He walked to the corner where he had
,laced the ball and came back 10 the
enter OF the room. He put it on the
loor and set the candle near il. He care
ully opened the lid, then said:
"Please go now"
~ should not leave you alone here" 7
aid. "You are not "a strong man, and
40 one could stand a strain like this very
ong."
II shall risk IT,"
''But what is to be gained?"
Nothing, perhaps. Nevertheless, I
I'm determined to test the meaning Of
those Arabic words"
/ saw that | could not dissuadc him.
felt my own will weaken more and
more each moment and was fully con-
vinced Of the truth of old Abner's state
ment that insanity or death would re.
suit from Drawing this malignant in
fuence. / could not, however, oppose
young Budthorne's wish, nor could
drag him bodily from the place. But
could bring Philip, and the two Of us
could compel him TO come away.
i went to the door thinking OF get
ting Philip. of my cowardice in leaving
Budthorne there and OF escape from the
place, all in a mental tumble, for thu
sensation that / was about to SUITES
death in some horrible form, as de.
scribed by Abner, had come upon mo.
! thought swiftly of many ways in
which men had come to their end, but
none of them seemed SO full of terror as
death brought on by this causeless fear
i felt that the young man could not
stand this dreadful test, and from the
sill looked baek, fully expecting to
find him escaping with me. But he was
standing near the hall, erect, deter.
mined and pointing to the door. i fled
through the hall, flung open the front
door and ran'out upon the porch.
/ was instantly relieved Of the super
natural fright turned at once TO go
back and plend with Budthorne to come
out, but he had followed and shut the
door. heard him lock 1t inside; then
came a noise as of some small metal
object falling upon the bare floor far
back in the long, dark hall. lie had
thrown away the key SO that he could
not quickly escape. called to him,
urging him to give up his mad expert
meut. but he did not answer me. /
leaped from the porch and ran most Of
the way to Philips home.
The company was sitting before the
fire. and my excited entrance broke up
an animated discussion. When / had
told of the trial Budthorne was making
Abner sprnng up and exclaimed;
"lle cannot live an hour in that place
Philip. you and Mr.. Richards must use
force If he will not come out willingly"
81 came TO ask Philip TO go with me-"
/ said. 81 could not persuade him to
abandon this dangerous experiment."
Philip and were sooh hurrying to-
wald the house. Armstrong hailed us
as we were passing his home.
isn't THAT young fellow in the old
house tonight" he asked.
"Ycs," Philip answered, and hurriedly
explained our mission.
"i'll go with you.'
When we arrived at the porch of the
house ! called Budthorne, but he did
not answer. called again as loudly as
] could, but the silence inside was un.
broken. With sickening opprehen-
sion of what had occurred ! threw my
weight against the door. hut 1t resisted
Philip aud Armstrong helped me, the
bolt snapped with n loud noise and the
door crashed inward. lsprang into the
hall. but stopped in astonisbment. The
air was still foul and close. but II had
been relieved of the element of fear. The
quietness Of the side room. however,
gave me foreboding entirely different
from the unnatural dread Of death.