The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1912-08-09

WI ~ III VVN ". VI ~ 4 HXXXXI
hammers. and then walked to .
knowledge that somebody was pound.
ing on my door.
was up at once. and with the
sound OF my footstep on the floor the
low knocking ceased. to be followed
Immediately by sibilant whispering
through the keyhole.
Miss Rachel! Miss Rachel!" some
body was saying. over and over.
rs that you. Liddy!" I asked. my
hand on the knob.
For the love Of mercy. let me I'M"
she said In q low tone.
She was leaning against the door.
for when I opened II, she fell In. She
Was grsenish-white. and she had .
red and black barred flannel petticoat
over her shoulders.
Listen" she said, standing In the
middle Of the floor and holding on TO
me "Oh, Miss Rachel. it's the ghost
Of that dead man hammering to get
int"
Sure enought. there was q dull thud
from the wall.
IT'S not a ghost" I said decidedly.
IF II was a ghost II wouldn't rap: II
would come through the keyhole."
Liddy looked at the keyhole. But II
sounds very much as though some one
is trying to break into the house"
Liddy was shivering violently. ]
told her to get me my slippers and
she brought me a pair Of kid gloves,
so found my things myself and pre-
pared to call Halsey. As before. the
night alarm had found the electric
lights gone; the hall. save for its
night lamp, was In darkness. as I went
across to Halsey's room. hardly
know what feared. but II was a re-
lief to find him there. very sound
asleep, and with his door unlocked.
Wake up, Halsey." I said, shaking
him.
lie stirred n little. Liddy was half
In and half out Of the door, afraid as
usual to be left alone. and not quite
daring to enter. Her scruples seemed
| to fade. however. all at once. She
gave a suppressed yell. bolted into the
room and stood tightly clutching the
foot-board Of the bed. Halsey was
gradually waking.
I've seen IT," Liddy walled. "A
woman in white down the half"
paid no attention.
'Halsey," I persevered. some one
is breaking into the house. Get up.
won't your"
| 1T isn't our house." he said sleepi-
ly. And then he reused to the ext
gency Of the occasion. "All right.
Aunt Ray" he said. still yswning. IF
you'll let me get into something"
II was all l could do to get Lddy
out OF the room. The demands OF the
occasion had no influence ON her. she
had seen the ghost, she persisted. and
she wasn't going into the hall. But
got her over to my room at last.
more dead than alive, and made her
lie down on the bed.
The tappings, which seemed to have
ceased for q while, had commenced
again, but they were fainter. Halsey
came over in few minutes. and stood
listening and trying to locate the
sound.
Give me my revolver. Aunt Ray"
he said; and I got 1.-THE one ! had
found in the tulip bed-and gave II TO
him. He saw Liddy there and OWNED
at once that Louise was alone.
You let me attend to this fellow.
whoever It IL. Aunt Ray. and 90 to
Louise. will you? She may be awake
and alarmed"
So In spite Of her protests. I left
Liddy alone and went back to the
east wing. Perhaps I went . little
faster past the yawning blackness of
the circular staircase; and could
hear Halsey creaking cautiously down
the main staircase. The rapping. or
pounding. had ceased. and the silence
was almost painful. And then sud.
denly. from apparently under my very
feet. there rose a woman's scream. a
cry Of terror that broke on as sudden.
ly as 1t came. l stood frozen and still.
Every drop Of blood in my body
seemed to leave the surface and gath
or around my heart. In the dead ST.
lsnce that followed 1t throbbed as II II
would burst. More dead than alive,
! stumbled into Louise's bedroom. She
was not there!