The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-17


Not at that price," ] said. But tell
me, what about next door,"
Colonel Derrick. sir; old Indian Off
Ger
mo. no; / mean that blank, bricked
up place. What is it-a workshop of
some kind?'
"Oh. dear, no, sir; the gentleman ut
the next house but one is an artist and
| believe he uses the house between him
and this as studio. Windows on the
other side face north
We had good look at the next house
as we passed it once more. and again no
ticed that it looked very blank and grim.
with the door and every window from
basement to attic bricked up In other
respects 1t was exactly like the dwellings
in the rest OF the narrow street, one dat
ing from the days of George II and at
traCtive to us from the fact that it was
only footway, posts and rails at either
end putting a stop to all other traffic.
The result was that | bought the lease;
we furnished the house, moved in, and
congratulated ourselves more and more
for what we called our luck in having
procured delightfully."- d-fashioned
home in 4 quiet street-at least in as
quiet a street as can be obtained in the
big city.
It's almost as good as being in cham
bers in the Temple. dear. l am glad We
came" said my wife, at breakfast one
morning. Il like the house more and
more. Why it might be detached, for all
we hear of our neighbors.'
Only few mornings later my wife
returned to the subject
hat studio next door doesn't belong
to Mr.. Delayne"
What! How do you know
Jane says Mr.. Delayne's servant told
her She thought it was our place, and
went with tnls house"
The time went on and we, being very
quiet people, much engrossed in our own
affairs and going about good deal, gave
no further thought to the blank house
next door.
Naturally l had only the ground rent to
pay, and it was very light for such
dwelling but this was made up for by
the rates, which rather staggered me
when they came due. bang so heavy that
/ wrote an angry appeal to the parish
authorities. pointing orQ that the demand
was much in excess ~ what it should
have been for such place.
| waited then. but not long before a
business-Iike letter came from the coilec-
tor to say that the previous holder of the
lease had never made any demur. and
that little consideration must show me
that the assessment was upon what in
fact answered to two houses. although
the studio or warehouse was not used
as q dwelling.
Whatever does his man mean said
my WIFE. TO whom L was reading the let
ter.
stop a moment, said. 4 don't un-
dcTstand myself . 4,
rFaH N-gYf "a fAs n a n ar
next door that must belong to the peo-
pie IN the next street
The idiot, I'll give him such dose
on paper.
| sat down at the writing table and
wrote the note, and then / lit my pipe
to sit and think; and as l thought 1t be
gan to seem very mysterious, and
whole train of strange ideas marshaied
themselves and began to march through
my brain
no; don't do anything rash. dear. 1t
can only be a mistake. said my wife
sageGy w ait
/ agreed to wait. and that night / lay
awake thinking about the house; but. all
the same. | awoke early, dressed. and
went to one of the back windows. leaned
out as far as l could. and saw little
enough-the back windows of a house
3
years, tho lower ones. being covered with
bars.
Then / looked down at the garden with
growing interest, to see the great plane
tree and plenty of grass, where grass
would grow.
My next movement was to the upper
window. from whence | hoped to see the
bottom garden wall. / was not disap-
pointed / could see it from end to end,
and / made out that not only was there
no door of communication with the gar
den on the other side. but no traces OF
footpath anywhere; all was overgrown.
The mystery Increases. ] said to my
self, and / descended with the intention
! Of going out into our own catwalk
but mystery begat mystery, for / could
hear the maids about, and seeking
/ screen for my very unusual proceedings
/ ! went into the study and lit my pipe,
see much more than / had made out
while leaning from the upper windows.
ana after time / went in.
To my surprise l found my wife up and
! dressed.
we are in luck's way. dear" l said.
Fate has left us legacy. and | mean
/ to take possession of that next house.
But you have no key
Never mind that, I'll find way in.
Il know its perfectly absurd, dear.
said my wife; but somehow / can't help
:
and dreaming about it at night, when all
| sorts OF horrible ideas come To me.
81 m just in the same boat. / said;
/ but don't call 1t a dreadful place. The
| house mas been deserted or forgotten,
/ that's ali. Look here. As soon as the
servants are gone to bed tonight / mean
! to take the steps. get over the wall. and
/ see II there's a way in at the back.
1t seemed as If the servants never
would go TO bed that night, but at last
/ the coast was clear, ana. leaving my WIFE
! pale and trembling ] sailed forth. raised
my ladder, reached the top of the wall,
! drew up and lowered the steps on the
other side, descended into a rustling mass
/ of growth, and then stood listening and
breathing hard, till the dark lanthorn in
my coat pocket / had provided myself
! with reminded me Of the necessity for
! action by growing uuComfOrtably hot.
! Upon drawing out the heated utensn.
] burning my fingers and spreading u pc
culiar odor of hlistcring japan. | turned
/ on the light a very little. feeling sure
/ that someone must be watching me, till,
/ growing reckless, + took a few steps for
/ ward and found that there was a narrow
area. chok"d up with growth and win
! dows belonging e the basement. but
! Dricked mp. Then carpe to a door. like
| wise bricIled up. and growing holder and
/ raising the rays of my lamp, | made them
/ play upon the lower windows of the
/ house two on the left side Of the door
/ way, one on the right.
/ There was nothing more to learn. so |
| returned as ] had come. to hnd my wife
! waiting, painting as If after eNertloh ana
! ready To greet me with:
| oh. my dear how long YOU have been
! Now / hope YOU are satisfied
| satisfied, J cried. Are YOU
Ill
So far from being satisfied, our curiosi-
! " had only received a fresh whet. and as
| the days glided on and we continued our
! long discussions as To what could be the