The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-27


attached to Kelsall's beauest. I could
not leave the machine when 1t was
writing or about to write. Some i'm
visible influence constrained me to
stand by it, whenever I essayed to
leave the room or lie down to rest
was held back by an unseen. all-com-
| pelling power, and it was slowly forced
upon me that was Kclsalls slave.
| About a month after left The Pio-
nerr / became conscious of an added
| horror. Kelsall's presence gradually
made itself felt. Before then I was able
to move freely by the typewriter, even
when it was working, and could use 1t
| at other times If | wished, but slowly
an icy-cold horror has crept into that
chair: and there it sits. | know it is
there, though / can see nothing.
Bethel, tell you it is living hell for
me to feel that shadow from the grave,
and never to be able to leave its side
when it wills. 1t is there now"
did not believe him, for felt con-
vinced he was suffering from terrible
monomania; so l went to the chair. de-
termined to show him how groundless
were his fears; yet his words had made
such an impression on me that I ap-
preached it with a certain amount of
hesitation. / sat down in it, there was
nothing.
There. West" I said. IT'S all pure
imagination on your part. Come and
try it yourself"
mo, no." he almost shrleked. Il tell
you he is there. He is there to me If to
no one else. l would not sit in that
cofiin-chair for heaven itself. Kelsall's
in it,"
l shrugged my shoulders and resumed
my former seat
Yes, Bethell," West went on. IKE!
sail sits there and writes, and with an
ever-increasng demand upon me-and
what he now writes isn't fit for print.
Read that"
He grabbed hold of a handful of copy
and gave it to me.
| read a page, and that was enough.
1t simply made my flesh creep. 1t might
have been written by a soul in purga-
tory, for of all the fiendish horrors the
brain of man ever conceived this was
surely the most terrible. To think such
things was awful; but to read them inn
possible. | let the paper fall from my
hands in sheer terror.
And | have to stand by for days at
a TIME anu Stt Indl, anu worse IldI
that" continued West. IT'S beyond
human endurance. Yet if / try to es-
cape, this invisible power holds m5
back Good God! what shall I do?"
| must say | felt for the man. In
credible as it may seem, l was begin
ming to believe in his story for the evi.
dence he had just showed me seemed
insurmountable. Could any living be-
ing have written what | had just read
They were indeed the thoughts of one
from the neither world; and every WORD
West had spoken seemed to come from
his very heart Yet. how could | heir
him in his terrible position?
What do you want me to do?"
asked.
Il don't know. Bethell." he SAID
YEARLY: but it has eased my mind &
tell you all. Surely you. with your coo
head, can devise something. Think II
over. Yet, stay; l was forgetting. i
did not occur to me that if you came il
when the typewriter was working, you
presence might COunteract Kelsall's in
fluence. At any rate. you might try
Come in tomorrow morning and dras
me out by main force. and break thi
Internal spell. VIII you
Certainly | will, West. But why no
now"
Il cannot, l haven't the strength 70
the struggle. I'm dead beat. | haven
slept two hours at a stretch for a week
| feel better now. though, after thi
, talk with you and I think 1 coult
sleep"
Right you are, West. I'll come a
soon as | can tomorrow. ! would no
. leave you now, but for the Office work
but I'll not go till you've had a goo
square meal. You'll let me ring 70
Mrs. Harper, won't you"
West nodded listlessly.
The landlady came in reply to tn
bell; in a quarter Of an hour West wa
sitting down before a substantial mea
: But he wouldn't eat. He took a fey
mouthfuls and then pushed the ira
, away impatiently; and nothing l coul
: say would induce him to have NOR;
, He drank off some brandy and the
, threw himself on the sofa. | saw
: good f|e made, arranged his pillow
and wraps, and then left him, reluct
, antly enough.
, 1t was . o'clock before | left Th
, | Pioneer office. | was more than hal
, inclined to return to Mr.. Harper's, bu
, hesitated to disturb the house, an
. possibly West, at that time of tn
, night. So ] went back to my room
p and tried to get a few hours res
; But l could not sleep, for my mind wa
| busy with West.
: Now that | was away from his pei
I sOnal influence the utter imprObabilit
= of his story forced itself upon me. YC
could / say it was impossible? Th
p appearance Of a friend in spirit froI
, after death was firmly believed in b
many. But even if Kelsall could hav
( visited West would he have trouble
and tortured his friend in this way
!, He was the kindest of pen when liv
1 ing and | knew he was attached I
+ West ana much appreciated his devC
I tion. And could he possibly have writ
( ten the horrors | had read? And We
8 If he had not written ther
[ who had? Could West have don
d it? Impossible. After all. wha
Y ! had learned only confirmed wha
{ some belieycd-that the tales wer
| really Kelsalls. If it were not so, wha
, could be done. The mere forcing of Yves
I from his room would not break the sp ~
7 Kelsall would follow him-and wha
T then? How would it all end? Wcs