Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-23

the echoes of it fingered quivering in my
ears as sat up in bed, trembling alright
ed and with all my night gear damp and
chill about me as the frost and the outer
| blackness took hold on me-
There was no repetition of the terrible
shrek which had awakened me. But in
stead l grew conscious of baffied snarl-
inS. inhuman, cruel as the grave; it SEEM
ed like the complaint of demon from
whom stronger hath snatched coveted
prey.
dared not rise. 1 dared not lie still
My whole spirits We're dashed with I'M
tellable fear. Yet, being but a boy ] was
more afraid of being alone than of anything
else | thought that If l could only clasp
a hand | should be safe and happy.
So in the red loom of the dying fire 1
arose. slipped on my shoes and Jacket and
listened crouchingly by the door. l heard
q moaning without which briefly and sob
bingly stilled itself. Then came whisper
ing, tramplng and the scuff1ing of linen
sheets unfolded fresh from the napery cup
board.
At first I thought the noise was the work
of spirits, and my heart was dead within my
breast with fear. But presently l heard one
cough. And by that 1 knew those who
were without for humans. 1 grew bold on
the instant and feared them no more.
l desired to see them, to speak with them.
Then | took it in my head that a CLEAN
came from behind the arras. The wall
hanging indeed waved as If some one were
shaking ii, holding the edge in their hand,
blowing it about.
Yet even then I dared not move. for the
terrible cry, the sound of which had
awakened me, rang still in my ears. And
l seemed to hear as it had been several
persons struggling together coufusedly, as
II one strove to be through into my room
to be at me. and another, stronger and
kindlier, restrained him.
Whereat, with childish instinct of hiding,
/ slipped behind the arras and prayed that
they might not find me.
Scarcely had been a moment behind the
hanging when l saw strange thing before
me. At the very place where l had seen
the dark figure vanish was an opening in
the wainscot A little wicket door, long
and narrow. stood half ajar, and a strong
glow of light streamed in from the room
adjacent.
l could now hear the voices plainly and
the human sound of them gave me courage.
stole forward and peeped round the ewing
ing edge of the secret panel.
looked into my grandfather's room, and
there l. a little trembling lad. little more
than a BARN, saw that which might have
blasted the reason of a grown man to be-
hold.
For I saw the young man Philip STAINS
field stand by the bedside of his father,
cooliy wiping the blade of knife with a
sheet of paper out of the book which my
grandfather had ever used TO keep on
little stand by his bed head and wherever
he slept. 1t was called, we'll I knew,
"Baster, His Saints Rest
And at the back, with their feet upon
torn-down hanging, We're two women, one
OF them busy handling my grandfathers
body. while the other. with a crisp. Kissing
sound, unfolded fresh sheets for the bed
out of press in the wall. Sir James was
dsad-that l was sure Of-thouSh l had
never before seen one dead. His eyes were
open and stared steadfastly upward His
head wabbled from side to side on his
breast as the woman shifted him from one
arm TO the other, busily enduing him with
h lT0E.lp IfCgfof oil. 81
This last was the White-faced woman
whom ! had seen earlier IN the evening in
James Rrysons change house; Janet Mark
the wife of Saul Mark was her name The
other knew not by head mark, but OWNED
from certain similarity of look that she
was a sister or crony of the first.
More than once Janet Mark called to
Philip Stansfield to help her with the body;
but he only swore at her and would not
going on uncOncernedIy tearing fresh
leaves from the Saints Rest" and pol
ishing at his knife. breathing on it and rub
bling in corners.
At last he finished the blade to his Salts
faction.
Now" he said I'VE will carry this car
rion out and brow it in the river. If 1t be
found we will cast the blame upon Umph-
ray Spurway. and be ready to swear that
he did it, because he could not pay the
rent and mails due upon his mills"
So saying, Philip Stansfield took tbs. body
upon his back, and with the women going
one before and one behind. he staggered
out of the room and down the stairs taking
no care TO walk lightly, but stumbling
rather heavily like man who carries on
his back sack of corn.
1t was found afterward that he and his
dccompices had locked and barred all in
the house within their sleeping chambers
oelhS as 1t were fey and desperate, running
heedlesSiy great risks, trusting to the dark
ness of the night and the fear of the folk
within doors.
When the murderer had gone half way
DOWN the steps he rested his burden at a
landing, and | heard him saw Janet take
the knife and go see if that devils brat ia
as eep In the blue room. And If not. cut
his throatr
| stood petrifed for a moment, as If 1
lett already the edge of the blade touch NV
flesh. Then, with a sharp access of terror
turned and fled back into the blue room.
shutting the panel after me and drag
the afras INTO place. crept under the bed
clothes and drew them about me in a
heap. "
The next moment / could hear the woman
Iumbling at the door Then finding II
locked she went into the apartment where
| bad seen them, and after MANY attemnts
found the spring of the panel, which she
opened. | heard her feet steal toward me
behind the hanging. I could not prav:
only lay and shut my eyes
The light Of her candle flashed ont of tho
dark like an illumination living yelIow
upon the lids of my eyes. She crept to the
bedside, and l could hear her stoon and
slileil Inc smell of raw spirits A
lock or her loosened hair fell across nv
lace and tckled it, so that perforca I had
10 raise my hand and rub my face AT this
thought l was done for. But 1t proved
my salvation.
Either she considered me to be asleep or
was averse to more bloodshed However
that may be, she retreated step by step to
the arras and disappeared behind It. a
white gieam of candie-Hsht lingering at the
emu by the door l heard the panel click
back. and l was again alone
CHAPTER v.
The Body on the lee Floe
l lay on my bed and chittered ss with