Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1910-12-15
CHAPTER XIV.
The Trap Door.

the wreck, my forced inaction had
soaded me to frenzy. The very sight
Of Johnson across the street or lurk-
ing always within sight OF the house.
kept me constantly exasperated. 1t
MAS on that day that things began to
come to a focus, burning-glass of
vents that seemed to center on me.
/ dined alone that evening in no
cheerful frame of mind. There had
been a polo game the day before and
had lent pony, which is always a
bad thing to do. And she had wrench
ed her shoulder, besides helping to
lose the game. There was no one in
town; the temperature was 80 and
climbing, and my left hand persistent
ly cramped under its bandase.
Mrs. Klopton herself saw me served,
my bread buttered and cut in tidbits,
my meat ready for my fork. She how
cred around me materially, obviously
trying to cheer me.
The paper says s.j.l warmer she
ventured The thermometer is 80
VOW "
And this coffee is $50 said, put
ting down my cup. Where is Eu-
pNemia? | haven't seen her around,
or heard a dish smash all day
'Euphemia is in bed" Mrs llopton
said gravely. Is your meat cut small
enough, Mr.. Lawrence Mrs. Klop-
ton can throw more mystery into an
ordinary sentence than any one
know. She can say, Are your sheets
damp, sir?" And can tell from her
zone that the house across the street
has been robbed. or that my left hand
heighbor has appendicitis So now
looked up and asked the question she
Was waiting for.
What's the matter with Euphe-
MAJ" | inquired idly.
frightened into her bed" Mrs.
klopton said in stage whisper.
She's had three hot water iottles
and she hasn't done thing all DAY
bu' moan"
She oughtn't to take hot water
bottles" | said in my seyerest tone.
One would make me moan You need
moi wait, III ring if need anything.
Mrs. klopton sailed to the door,
where she stopped and wheeled indig-
nantly. Il only hope you won't laugh
on the wrong side of Your face some
morning. MIR. Lawrence, she declared,
with Christian fortitnde but | warn
you, am going to have the police
watch that house next door,
was half inclined to tell her that
both 1T and we We're under police sur.
Neillance at that moment But like
Mrs. klopton, in spite of the fact that
| make her life a torment for her. so
! refrained
Last night, when the paper said it
was going to storm, sent Euphelnia
TO the roof to bring the rugs in. Eliza
mad slipped out, although it was her
evening in. Euphemia went up to the
foof-it was IL o'clock--and soon
heard her running downstairs crying.
When she got to my room she just
loldsd UP on the floor. She said there
was black figure sitting on the para
PEI OF the house next door--the empty
house-and that when she appeared it
rose and waved long black arms at
her and spit like a cat
had finished my dinner and was
lighting a cigarette IF there was
any one up there. which doubt they
PROBABLY sneezed. suggested but
IL you feel uneasy III take look
around the roof tonight before turn
IN AS far as Euphemia goes,
wouldn't be uneasy about her--doesn't
she always have an attack of some
sort when Eliza rings in an extra
evening on her?"
so made a superficial examination
OF the window locks that night, visit
ing parts of the house that had not
seen since bought it, Then went
% the roof. Evidently it had not
been intended for any purpose save
to cover the house, for unlike the
houses around. there was. no staircase
y ladder and trap-door led to it, and
u required some nice balancing on
my part to get up with my useless
arm made it, however. and found
TINS unexplored part of my domain
rather attractive. 1t was cooler than
~ anu Il SAT Oh luG pIith
larapet and smoked my final cigarette
ne roof of the empty house Adorned
mine along the back wing, but inyes.
tgation showed that the trapdoor
across the low dividing way was
boted underneath
here was nothing out of the or
binary anywhere, and so assured
Mrs klopton Needless to say, | did
not tell her that had left the trap
door open to see if it would improve
the temperature of the house. i went
70 bed at midnight. merely because
,here was nothing else to do. turned
on the night lamp at the head of my
ped and picked up volume of Shaw
al random lit was Arms and the
Man. and remember thinking grim
~ mat J was a good bit of a chocolate
cream soldier mvself). and prepared
70 9" 20 Sleep SHAW always puts ME
70 sleep have ~ apologies to make
tor what occurred tnat night. and not