The Washington times., 1910-05-29
Copyright
Frank A Munsey
Company.

no window alight but the corner one;
and there the green lamp burned cheer
fully on ;he paper-littered desk.
1 stood and waited. The comforting
dog looked up at me intelilgently; then.
assuming perhaps that l was not think
ing OF moving soon again, walked
around his tail two or three times and
squated down easily. his nose resting
between his paws, his eyes fixed stead
lily. unblinkiag. on the emerald light.
! don't exactly know what made me
wait there without pursuing further my
purpose. But wait did. with my eyes.
too, on the lighted window-waited
rather in q strained breathlessness for
that to happen which should happen.
Nor was that time overlong. II may
have been two or three minutes that |
held my breath there in the darkness,
listening with ali my ears. watching
with all my eyes, and rewarded only BY
the distant, tremulous hoOting Of an
owl And then, abruptly. the change
came.
I saw. or thought I saw. a form pass
between the window and the lamp, and
then the window was dark and blank
TOT an instant, when again suddenly IL
was bright 10 reveal our ghost seated
IN his chair, busily scratching away at
his piritual correspondence.
That was enough for me. At least
was assured that ! had not called in
VAN; that which / sought was at home.
Rut the dog betrayed me. At the be-
appariuon, he stood erect, intensely in
terested, II one might Judge by the
SET OF his cars and the tense strain OF
his attitude
I spoke MIN a word in a whisper. but
ne PAID no attention: the hair bristled
anSfiy along his back. and he barred
MS Teeth, growing herCely. At the
same instant I stepped forward and
put my loot or the lowest Of the We
randa steps
This I did noiselessIy. but the grumble
OF the dog was sufficient
With my eyes on the fascinating win
dow. / saw that shape within turn it's
startled head, and the horrible panto-
mime began I nerved my heart. which
might well have excuse for falling me.
and gently began the ascent OF the Steps
Unfortunately. they were old and rot
ten. They creaked villainOusly- The
instantaneously. -
rushed on up TO the veranda The
decayed planking sagged with my
weight, and I. fearing a fan, threw my
self hastily toward the doors
They went in with a hollow. resound-
ing crash; I fell 70 my knees In the
debris. but quickly sprang again to my
feet and stood clutching desperately at
the butt Of my pistol.
There YES no sound save the echoes
OF the falling doors dying IN he farther
rooms.
In front Of me was A wall OF impene-
trable blackness- II my hand had been
held an inch in front Of my nose I don't
believe ! could have seen its outline.
waited my heart dumping ike a
demented trip-hammer
The silence was appalling. Not a
sound, not sigh. not a ghostly foot
step came 10 my ears.
Presently, being unattached by any in
visible enemy. I Gained myself and be-
thought me Of the dark lantern, whose
fumes were seeming the dank air that
drifted sluggishlv about me. drew the
slide back and its yellow light threw a
brilliant circle into the depths OF the
house.
I stood on the threshold Of a broad
hallway On either side were doors.
black, forbidding A little further back
say twenty feet-a broad staircase led