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 e
No. no; l mean that blank. bricked-
up place What is tia workshop of
some kind"
oh. dear, no. sir; the gentleman at
the next house but one is an artist, and
| believe he uses the house between him
and this as a 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 d delightfully."- old-fashioned
home in i quiet street-at least in as
quiet street as can be obtained in the
big city.
Its almost as good as being in cham
bers in the Temple. dear. l am glad we
came" said my wife, at breakfast one
morning. II like the house more and
more. Why it might be detached for all
We near of our neighbors."
Only a 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 TINS 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 oIy that the demand
was much in excess " what IL should
have been for such a place.
waited then. but not long before a
business-like letter came from the collec-
tor to say that the previous holder of the
lease had never Ipsde-- any demur. and
that a 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
a dwelling.
Whatever does his man mean?'' said
nay wife. to whom L wSs reading the let
ter.
Stop a moment, l said, I don't I'M
derstand myself. ..
81 do, cred my wife, quickly; he has
charged YOU rates for that blank place
next door that must belong to the peo-
pie in the next street
The idiot. III give him such a dose
on paper
| sat down at the writing table and
wrote the note. and then 1 lit my pipe,
to SIT and think; and as l thought 1t be-
gan to seem very mysterious. and
whole train OF strange ideas marShaled
themselves and began To march through
my brain.
Here, I wont write to the man to-
day said. at last.
NO; don't do anything rash. dear 1t |
can only be a mistake said my wife. |
81 geIy. Wait
II.
| agreed to wait and that night | lay
awake thinking about the house: but. all |
the same. l awoke early, dressed and !
went TO one of the hack windows leaned |
out as far as | could. and saw little |
enough-the back windows of "A house |
that had not been cleaned or painted for !
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 ii from end to end,
and l 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 |
IF going out into our own catwalk; /
but mystery begat mystery. for | could |
near the maids about, and seeking a
screen for my very unusual proceedings |
went into the study and lit my pipe !
going out smoking. Not that | could
see much more than | had made out
while leaning from the upper windows, |
ana after time / went in.
dressed
We are in luck's way. dear" I said.
Fate has left us legacy, and | mean
% take possession of that next house"
But you have no key
Never mind that, I'll find a way in
know IT'S perfectly absurd dear
'ald my wife; but somehow | can't help
mixing about that dreadful place by day
ma dreaming about it AT night, when all
'orts OF horrible ideas come to me-
-, m Just in the same boat" | said
but don't call it dreadful place The
louse mas been deserted or forgotten,
hats all. Look here. AS soon as The
ervants are gone to bed tonight l mean
o take the steps. get over the wall. and
zee if there's a way in at the back
1t seemed as If the servants never |
would go TO bed that night, but at last
ne coast was clear, ana, leaving my wife |
ny ladder, reached the top of the wall, |
rev up and lowered the steps on the
Their side, descended into a rustling mass (
i growth, and then stood listening and I
reathing hard, till the dark lanthorn in / :
ny coat pocket I had provided myself
Win reminded me Of the necessity for !
ctlon by growing fundamentally hot
Upon drawing out the heated utensil. {
urnlnS my myers and spreading u pc
uliar odor of blistFring japan. | turned
n the light very little feeling sure
hat someone musg be watching me. tin, {
rowing reckless, I took a few steps for i
'ard and found that there was a narrow $
rea, chok"d up With growth. and win c
ows belonging to the basement but 7
ricked up. Then fappe TO a door. like c
lisins the rays of my lamp. | made them c
lay upon the lower windows Of the ( i
ousc two ON the LEFT side of the door u
'ay, one ON the right i
There was nothing more to learn, so | |
-turncd as ] had come. to find my wife a
'ditins, painting as If after exertion. and b
rady to greet me with: q
oh, my dear how long YOU have been, | g
CIV hope YOU are satisfied. a
satisfied! ! cried. Are YOU
III. 80
So far from being satisfied, our curiosi-
7 had only received a fresh whet. and as a
le days slided ON and we continued our