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

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,
glancing over his shoulder, came hur-
riedly back to the room.
did you see 1t, 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, STRIP
"Oh, feel bit better now" said
Hirst somewhat brusquely as all eyes
were turned upon him. ~ dare say
you think I'm easily scared, but you
didn't see itY'
mot Mt ALL" said Malcolm, smiling
family despite himself.
"I'm going to bed" said Hirst, motto.
ing the smile and resenting 1t. "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 1t. never saw a man
so 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?"
81 WILL" said Malcolm affably.
"And suppose we share room to.
gether, Mr.. Leek," said the third man.
turning to the fourth.
mo, thank you," said the other
brislly. II don't believe in ghosts. If
anything comes into my room, shall
shoot it."
"That won't hurt a 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, "and If you gentlemen would
only come down with me to the bar to
put the gas out could never be suffi.
GENTLY grateful"
Come on" said Malcolm, taking a
candle from the fireplace and lighting
it. "We'll take this to come back
| with"
They went out in 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 MS 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.
| "Give me the candle while you put
the gas out. George" said the traveller.
The waiter handed it to him and ex-
tnguished the gas, and at the same
moment all distinctly heard step in
the passage outside. 1t stopped at the
door, and as they watched with bated
breath the door creaked and slowly
opened. Malcolm, with the candle ex-
tended, fell back open mouthed as n
white, leering face with sunken eye
balls and closely cropped, bullet head
appeared at the opening. Leek, with a
faint scream, sprang from his chair
and stood by the others, breathing
heavily.
For few seconds the creature stood
regarding them, blinking in. strange
fashion at the candle; then, with a
siding movement, 1t came little way
into the room and stood there MS if be.
wildered.
Not man spoke or moved, but all
watches with horrible fascination DIS
the creature removed its dirty neck
cloth and its head rolled on its Shout
der. For n minute it paused and then,
holding the rag before 1t, moved toward
Malcolm.
The candle went out suddenly with n
flash and bang. There was n smell
OF powder, and something writhed in
the darkness on the floor. There was
q faint, choking cough, and then ST.
lence.
Malcolm was the first to speak.
"Matches!' he said in strange voice.
He took box from his pocket and rat
tied them insanely. George, who had
put bis foot on something on the floor,
took them from him and struck one.
Then he leaped ut the gas and flame
burst from the match. Malcolm touch
ed the thing on the floor with his foot
and found 1t soft.
He looked at his companions. They
mouthed inquiries at him, but he shook
his head. He lit the candle and, kneel-
ing down, examined the silent thing on
the floor. Then he rose swiftly and,
dipping his handkerchief in the water
jug, bent down again and grimly wiped
the white face. Then he sprang back
with a cry of incredulous horror, point
ing at It. Leek's pistol fell to the floor,
and he shut out the sight with his
hands, but the others, crowding for
ward, gazed spellbound at the dead
face Of Hirst.
Before a word was spoken the door
opened and Somers hastily entered the
room. His eyes fell on the floor. "Good
God! lie cried. you didn't"-
Nobody spoke.
II told him not to-" he said in suf-
focating voice. II told him not to.
told him
He leaned against the wall deathly
sick. put his arms out feebly and fell
fainting into the travellers arms.