The Holly chieftain., 1901-07-19


room, Lee consented to occupy one
OF them, in the place Of going home
to his own lodgings. which were at the
other end of the town.
1t might have been three hours
later. when was reused from deep
sleep by the consciousness that some
thing was in the room, and bending
over my bed. had heard the words.
Are you coming?" In a deep. low
tone close at my very ear; but when
l started up. saw nothing. The
moon shone in at the window, broad
and full. could discover nothing
more than the familiar furniture. and.
my little terrier. sleeping quietly on,
his cushion in the corner.
That voice. SO deep and full. was
still ringing in my ear. A vague ter
ror was at my heart. turned upon
my pillow. As did SO saw-I swear
saw-through the curtains-that
face. And the cold and gloomy
black eyes were bent full upon me;
and the clenched hand. with its signet
ring, was raised to draw the curtains
further away. The vision faded. 1
looked over at the opposite bed. Lee
slept quietly with smile upon his
lips.
was glad that he did so. even in
the midst Of my horror. did not dare
to raise my head again; but as lay
counting the slow ticking OF the clock
upon the mantelpiece. and expecting
every instant to feel that clenched
hand upon my own, sudden drowsi-
ness seized me, and, in spite Of my
terror fell into second slumber, as
deep and dreamless as the first.
awoke again and quite as sud
denly. l drew back the curtain and
looked out into the room
Are you there. Lee?' asked.
No answer come. His bed was
empty. l rose at once and began to
dress. Far up the lonely, moonlit
road l could see a figure hurrying
toward the college. knew that it
was Lee. Y.f E-s
knocked at the door of the next
room, where the janitor of our college
slept. He came and opened it.
For heavens sake. dress quickly
and come to the college with me-" /
said. You have the keys?"
They are In the hail." he said,
looking bewildered.
Is,went to- the nail-they were not
there.
Lee has them-h-e has gone!"
exclaimed wringing my hands The
janitor seemed to comprehend every
thing instantly and hurried on his
clothes in an instant. Going eau
tiously down the stairs, we closed the
hall door behind us. We leaped the
hedge, for the gate was still locked,
and ran swiftly up the road. But the
lonely figure l had seen, vanished be-
fore We reached the college grounds.
paused moment under the por-
'tico and leaned against one Of the pil-
lars to recover my breath. The great
hall door was open; we entered and
stole up the stairs without a word.
The moon lighted us. ~ }7 r ''7N
We tracked him through the first
and second hail. the, lecture-roon
aud the library: Thtn We found the
door of the second staircase unlocked,
aud knew by the faint. sickening smell
that came up that he had found his
way to the dissecting room. We
paused in the hall outside its door to
watch his movements. His eyes were
open, but 1t was evident that he was
still asleep. and my companion held.
me back, whispering, Don't make any
noise that will wake him suddenly.
II he finds himself here with that
corpse he will die Of fear. We must
get him into the open air before we
speak to him."
The body lay as they had left II
that night-a- headless trunk-carved
and cut in many directions by the
scalpel.
Les bent over It with an absorbed
air. One hand held the keys he had
taken; the other grasped the cold
clenched lpgsrs. seeking for the signet.
ring He found 'ft-then he raised
himself up with an anxious, thought
full air. He walked slow toward tho
window and seemed to look out,
though the heavy wooden shutters
were closed with bars Of iron, and the
only light tht entered came through
the open door.
sat down upon the stairs and
leaned my head upon my hand. for the