Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-02-21
CHAPTER XIV.
The Trap Door.

The Trap Door.
BY Sunday evening, a week after
the wreck, my forced inaction had
goaded 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
was on that day that things began to
come to a focus, burning glass Of
events that seemed to center on me.
dined alone that evening in no
cheerful frame of mind. There had
been 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 90 and
climbing, and my left hand persistent
" cramped under it's bandage
Mrs. K1opton 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 still warmer" she
ventured. sThe thermometer Is 90
now
"And this coffee is $50" said, put
ting down my cup. Where is Eu-
phemia? I haven't seen her around,
or heard dish smash all day"
"Euphemia is in bed" Mrs. Klopton
said gravely. us 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
tone that the house across the street
has been robbed, or that my left hand
neighbor has appendicitis. So now /
looked up and asked the question she
was waiting for.
What's the matter with Euphe-
mia?" l inquired idly.
Frightened into her bed" Mrs.
Klopton said in stage whisper.
She's had three hot water bottles
and she hasn't done thing all day
but moan
She oughtn't to take hot water
bottles" 1 said in my severest tone.
One would make me moan. You need
not wait, I'll ring if l need anything"
Mrs. Klopton sailed to the door,
where she stopped and wheeled indig-
nantIy. Y only hope you won't laugh
on the wrong side OF your face some
morning, Mr.. Lawrence" she declared.
with Christian fortitude. But l warn
you, l am going to have the police
watch that house next door,"
/ was half inclined to tell her that
both it and we were under police sur
veiHanee at that moment. But like
Mrs. klopton, in spite of the fact that
I make her life a torment for her, so
refrained.
Iass night, when the paper said it
to the roof to bring the rugs in. Eliza
had slipped out, although it was her
evening in. Euphemia went up to the
roof-it was IL o'clock-and soon I
heard her running downstairs crying.
When she got to my room she just
folded up on the floor. She said there
was a black figure sitting on the para
pet 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 cat
had finished my dinner and was
lighting a cigarette. III there was
any one up there, which I doubt, they
probably sneezed," l suggested. But
IL you feel uneasy, I'll take a look
around the roof tonight before I turn
in. AS far as Euphemia goes. l
wouldn't be uneasy about her-doesn't
she always have an attack of some
sort when Eliza rings in an extra
evening on herr"
of the window locks that night, visit
ing parts of the house that had not
seen since I bought it. Then I went
to 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.
A ladder and a trap-door led to it, and
it required some nice balancing on
my part to get up with my useless
arm. I made it, however, and found
this unexplored part of my domain
rather attractive. 1t was cooler than
downstairs, and l sat on the brick
parapet and smoked my final cigarette.
The roof of the empty house adjoined
mine along the back wing, but inves-
tigation showed that the trap door
across the low dividing way was
bolted underneath
There was nothing out of the or
binary anywhere, and 50 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. / went
to bed at midnight, merely because
there was nothing else to do. turned
on the night lamp at the head of my
bed, and picked up volume of Shaw
at random lit was arms and the
Man." and remember thinking grim
y that was a good bit Of chocolate
cream soldier myself), and prepared
to 90 to sleep. Shaw always puts me
to sleep. have no apologies to make
for what occurred that night, and not
even an explanation that am sure of.
! did foolish. thing under impulse,
and have not been sorry
It was something after two when
the door-bell rang. It rang quickly,
twice. got up drowsily, for the
maids and Mrs. Klopton always lock
themselves beyond reach Of the bell
1t night, and put on a dressing gown.
Tho bell rang again on my way down