The Montgomery tribune., 1910-09-30
CHAPTER XIV.
The Iran Door.

The Trap Door.
BY Sunday evening, 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 focus, a burning-glass of
events 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
I had lent a 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 30 and
climbing, and my left hand persistent
ly cramped under its bandage.
Mrs. Klopton herself saw me served,
my bread buttered and cut in tidbits,
my meat ready for my fork. She how
.ered around me materially, obviously
trying to cheer me.
"The paper says still warmer" she
ventured. "The thermometer is 92
now"
And this coffee is 250." said, put
ting down my cup. Where is Eu-
phemia? l haven't seen her around,
or heard a dish smash all day"
'Euphemia is in bed," Mrs. Klopton
said gravely. rs 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 l can tell from her
tone that the house across the street
has been robbed. or that my left hand
neighbor has appendicitis. So now l
looked up and asked the question she
was waiting for.
Whats the matter with Euphe-
mia?" inquired idly
frightened into her bed," Mrs.
Klopton said in stage whisper.
"She's had three hot water bottles
and she hasn't done a thing all day
but moan"
"She oughtn't to take hot water
bottles" / said In my severest tone.
Zone would make me moan. You need
not wait I'll ring If need anything. +"
Mrs. Klopton sailed to the door.
where she stopped and wheeled indig-
nantly. II only hope you won't laugh
'on the wrong side of your face some
morning. Mr.. Lawrence" she declared,
with Christian fortitude. "But warn
you, am going to have the police
watch that house next door,"
l was half inclined to tell her that
both 1t and we were under police sur
veillance at that moment. But like
Mrs. Klopton, in spite of the fact that
i make her life torment for her. sc
! refrained.
Last night, when the paper said II
was going to storm. sent Euphemia
to the roof to bring the rugs in. Eliza
had slipped out, although 1T was heI
evening in. Euphemia went up to the
roof-it was II o'clcck-and soon
heard her running downstairs crying
When she got to my room she just
folded up on the floor. She said there
was black figure sitting on the para
pet of the house next door-the empty
house-and that when she appeared Il
rose and waved long black arms al
her and spit like cat"
! had finished my dinner and was
lighting cigarette. IF there was
ANY one up there. which doubt, they
probably sneezed." suggested. "Bu
df you feel uneasy. I'll take lool
saround the roof tonight before l turI
In. AS far as Euphemia goes,
wouldn't be uneasy about her--doesn'
sshe always have an attack OF some
sort when Eliza rings in an extri
evening on herr"
So made superficial examination
of the window locks that night. visit
dng parts of the house that had no
iseen since ! bought it. Then wen
to the roof Evidently 1t had no
been intended for any purpose sav'
to cover the house, for unlike thu
houses around, there was no staircase
"A ladder and trap-door led to It, ant
1t required some nice balancing Oh
my part to get up with my useless
arm. made 1t. however. and fount
this unexplored part of my domain
rather attractive. 1t was cooler thai
downstairs. and sat on the bricl
parapet and smoked my final cigarette
The roof Of the empty house adjoine'
mine alons the back wing, but inyes
tigation showed that the trap-dool
across the low dividing way wa
bu,ted underneath.