The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-16
PART ii.


tions were not as remote from fear as
] would have wished, but Budthorne
was unmoved. He seemed TO treat the
matter as a commonplace occurrence.
lie put the key into the lock and tried
&c turn il as calmly as hc would have
done the same thing at his own home.
The bolt resisting, helped him until IL
slid back, and we went into the wide
hallway The atmosphere of the place
was sufficient 10 fill one with fear but IL
was only ordinary disgust for damp
and mold and slime. The house bad be-
come a freehold to them. We come
provided with digging implements and
a candle. Budthorne lighted the latter
and we entered the room on the right.
The loa.hsome things that fatten upon
decav had glutted themselves there at
,neir eaze. Even the light that seepcd
through the Stats of the shutters and
the reeking panes seemed unclean.
After some groping we found the cell
lar stairway and went down the weak
sned steps with care. AS may be imag-
fned, the cellar was in worse condition
alan the house. / had become struck
with my companions coolness, and
when looked at him then l saw no
signs of the loathing felt, MS we walked
10 the front The mold was so thick
rpon tn. earthen floor that we tapped
some time with the mattock before
striking the stone. I held the lantern
end Budthorne soon dug cut the object
of our search. He lifted il out of the
pit with his hands without hesitation.
As he held il up TO the candle could not
help looking over my shoulder into the
foul shadows, but whatever connection
thWe was between the bah and the fear
that came upon one in the night, had
been broken, at least for the time. The
sphere was covered with earth, but the
young man tapped IL with his finger
rails and expressed his pleasure that IL
had not rottcd.
We returned TO the eide room up
Htairs, where he put the ball upon the
wide window sill and began TO scrape
off the dirt with his knife. He became
completely absorbed in The task and
thought nothing OF his fetid surround
irgs NY mind was divided between
wonder at his interest end my repug-
nance. At last the sphere was clean and
nc held IL up triumphantly Icould not
help admiring the wonderful skill dis
played in its construction, hut at the
same time was powerfully affected by
thoughts of the places from which the
tiny bone cubes had come and of the
frenzy Of the brains they had helped
20 encase.
~ ho hf,1
tion," he said 80 himself, as he ex-
hinined The Arabic words upon the lid.
which stu moved easily upon the hinge.
At the instant an insight into his mo-
tives cnme TO me in flash. He was not
merely curious about the sphere and
the blight II had brought upon his
house; he was a scion of the third gen.
Grafton. and that he was brave one
his demeanor had already amply proved.
! decided not TO tell him of my guess
then. and merely asked:
"What will you do now?"
.I shall leave this curiosity here and
come back tonight to feel this fear
thnt escaped from it. hope IL is not
all imaginary. for 1t would add to it's
value IL could tell of an actual expert
ence with it,"
"Win IL be agreeable If come with
you?"
"Perfectly."
He placed the hall carefully in cor
ner, and we left the house, securely
! locking the door. We returned to Phil
ip's anil told the eagerly-waiting com
pany of the finding of the ball. but, as
we had agreed together, withheld our
intentions for the night.
About eight O'clock in the evening.
we excused ourselves from the other
guests and started for the house. The
clouds had cleared from the sky and
the waning moon was just rising.
shall not attempt to tell my expecta-
tions. They were not pleasant, yet my
curiosity concerning the influence that
lad escaped from the sphere was strong,
and was further steadied in my pur-
pose by Budthorne's placidity. AS we
walked along the road by the creek the
house stood high above il in the moon
light like a spectral mansion. and when
we entered the la3e began to hope that
he would abandon the project. There
were no prospects OF this, however: he
showed no more apprehension than if
we had been on our way to a scene of
gayety.
When we reached the porch OF the
house he turned to me and said, quiet
ly:
II have led you TO believe that think
this tale of the fear one has in this old
house st night is imaginary. want
&c tell you now that D think il is true.
in few moments IL will have grip on
nc. IL your heart isn't stout one, this
In the point 10 turn back"
II want to experience IL myself"
answered. Besides, I believe have
guessed your real purpose. You are
scion of the third generation, and you
have theory as to what such a per.
son might accomplish"
Precisely. am glad you have
guessed IL. believe tha. nothing but
bravery will compel this fend 10 90 back
f..s Il. Ill I