The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-05-18


street door, deaf to Mollie's startled
call back. 1 looked at my watch as i
ran. Ten past seven--only a cab would
do it. Two minutes later was rafting
westward. my brain in a giddy whirl, a
hand gripping each window frame
tightly, my one hazy idea being that
Hunt-or Woburn-had wanted to play
Cripps that night with purpose.
Twenty minutes to eight as l sprang
out at the stage door and hurried along
the passage. The orchestra was already
tuning, end there was hustle every
where. How it might end for me had
not paused to think. l meant to go
straight to Usher and tell him the truth,
happen what might; but as the sheerest
luck would seem to have it, there was
my double, made up ready, coolly read
ing a newspaper in a corner by the
limelight mans ladder.
Thank goodness. Out of It'll" ]
painted, going close. You can stare!
| don't know your game, but l Know you
now. You don't play Cripps here to-
night. I give you your chance To leave
the house before anyone notices.
''Oh, indeed" He glanced round.
furtively; he was shaking as plainly rs
myself. You're mad. to come here like
this! refuse-I hold you to the bar
gain-I'll make it fiftyl"
''Not for hundred. No one here will
believe your tale. There's your money;
take it. and be off-or shall / send for
Mr.. Usher?"
That was queer moment. He stared
detiantly pastmy hand; there was dan
gerous sparkle in his eyes. Something
might have happened, but at that
critical instant Gavin Usher himself
stepped out of his dressing-room and
walked unconscously by. l saw Hunt
or Woburn-- go deadly pale and make
movement towards his breast, as if
with spasm.
'"Think he saw?" he whispered.
"Sure? All right, you've bested
me, and l don't forget. Stand here
moment, while l get my things, and
I'll go. But--you'll be sorry!'
He walked into the big common room
at the end of the passage, and / held my
breath till he came out, CARRYING his
bag. Still made up as Cripps, he went
by without another word or look, and
out into the street. The mystery of the
affair went with him, but, somehow, L
never felt more relieved in my life.
Past ten o'clock. The play had gone
as well as ever-the end of that power
full third act was at hand. All, as if
were playing it now, can see that scene
the lights low, the violin bows
just moving beneath. Gavin Usher lying
there motionless on the floor OF the bare
room that he had barricaded, and the
house a blur of pale faces as, carrying
the lamp and the knife, slid back the
secret panel and crept across the floor.
d. Was it a prescience? / never
understood, but many times as | had
played the treacherous valet felt curl
ously dazed and uncertain that night.
The music had never seemed so far away,
the house never so hushed. l knew
had stumbled more than once in my
small part; the sinister strangeness
of that three-hngered mans proposal
kept 1iitting to and fro in my brain.
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80
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