Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-07-30
Malcolm. looking round.


sage. Then he stopped. All was quite
silent, and he walked slowly to the
end and looked down fearfully toward
the glass partition which shut off the
bar Three times he made as though
to go to it; then he turned back and,
CHANGING over his shoulder, came hur-
riedly back to the room.
"Did you see it, sir?" whispered |
George.
Don't KNOW" said Malcolm shortly. |
81 fancied l saw something, but it
might have been fancy. I'm in the
mood to see anything just now. How
are you feeling now, sir?"
ooh, feel bit better now" said
Hirst somewhat brusquely us all eyes
were turned upon him. 81 dare say
you think I'm easily scared, but you
didn't see it,"
mot ut ALL" said Malcolm, smiling
family despite himself.
"I'm going to bed" said First, motto.
ing the smile and resenting it. "Will
you share my room with me, Somers"
II will, with pleasure" said his
friend, provided you don't mind
sleeping with the gas on full all night"
He rose from his seat and, bidding
the company friendly good night, left
the room with his crestfallen friend.
The others saw them to the foot of the
stairs and, having heard their door
close, returned to the coffee room.
"Well, suppose the bets off," said
the stout commercial, poking the fire
and standing with his legs apart on
the hearth rug, Though, as far as
can see, won it. never saw man
80 scared in all my life. Sort of poetic
Justice about it, isn't there?"
"Never mind about poetry or JUS
tice," said one of the listeners. who's
going to sleep with me?"
IT WILL" said Malcolm affably.
"And 1 suppose we share q room to-
gether, Mr.. Leek," said the third man,
turning to the fourth.
mo, thank you," said the other
briskly. 81 don't believe in ghosts. If
anything comes into my room, shall
shoot it."
"That won't hurt q spirit, Leek,"
said Malcolm decisively.
"Well the noise'll be like company
to me-" said Leek, land it'll wake the
house too. But If you're nervous, SIR"
he added, with grin, to the man who
had suggested sharing his room,
"George'll be only too pleased to sleep
on the doormat inside your room,
know"
"That will, SIR" said George fer
yently, land If you gentlemen would
only come down with me to the bar to
put the gas out could never be sufi1-
GENTLY grateful"
"Come on" said Malcolm, taking a
candle from the fireplace and lighting
it. "We'll take this to come hack
, with"
They went out in a body, with the
exception Of Leek, peering carefully
before them us they went. The bar
,, looked uninviting enough in the light
: of one small jet, and the billiard room,
with the table shrouded in white hol-
land, looked so grewsome that NAL
colin hastily shut the door rs they
passed it. Then George turned the
light out in the bar. and they returned
, unmolested to the coffee room and,
avoiding the sardonic smile of Leek,
prepared to separate for the night.
"Giye me the candle while you put
!, the gas out, George" said the traveller
The waiter handed it to him and ex.
tinguished the gas, and at the same
moment all distinctly heard a step In
the passage outside. It stopped at the
door, and rs they watched with bated
breath the door creaked and slowly
| opened. Malcolm, with the candle ex-
, tended, fell back open mouthed as q
) white, leering face with sunken eye,
! balls and closely cropped bullet head
appeared at the opening. Leek, with q
, faint scream, sprang from his chail
and stood by the others, breathing
heavily.
e For few seconds the creature stoet
: regarding them, blinking'in strange
: fashion at the candle; then, with {
siding movement, 1t came little wa.
4 into the room and stood there as If be
] wildered.
: Not man spoke or moved, but nj
: watches with horrible fascination d.
!, the creature removed its dirty neck
!, cloth and its head rolled on its shoul
J. der. For a minute 1t paused and then
holding the rag before it, moved TOWARD
;" Malcolm.
!. The candle went out suddenly with {
d fash and bang. There was smell
It Of powder, and something writhed fl
p the darkness on the floor. There wa
y faint, choking cough, and then 81
lence
Malcolm was the first to speak
Matches" he said in strange voice
4 He took box from his pocket and rat
tied them insanely. George, who hat
put bis foot on something on the floor
took them from him and struck one
, Then he leaped at the gas and fam,
burst from the match. Malcolm touch
ed the thing on the floor with his foo
and found 1t soft.
He looked at his companions. The,
u mouthed inquiries at him, but lie shool
v his head. He lit the candle and kneel
ing down, examined the silent thing OF
;, the floor. Then he rose swiftly and
dipping his handkerchief in the waite
jug, bent down again and grimly wiped
the white face. Then he sprang bacl
y with cry of incredulous horror, point
ing at 1t. Leek's pistol fell to the floor
and he shut out the sight with hi!
hands, but the others. crowding for
0 ward, gazed spellbound at the deat
face of Hirst
Before word was spoken the dool
s. opened and Somers hastily entered tn,
room. His eyes fell on the floor. "Goot
l. / G1Ip, no ,{,1
= Nobody spoke.
/ 81 told him not to-" he said in suf
locating voice. 81 told him not to.
told HIM
He leaned against the wall DEATH,
sick. put his arms out feebly and feel
fainting into the travellers arms.
L i1lH o&