The Huttig news., 1914-05-02
His Double House
By Virginia Blair
Copyright 1911, by Associated Literary Press.)

 | she said daringly
 Stephen smiled at her. How many times have you said that to me. Mrs. Brinkley?"
 q shall say it until you give me an answer"
 All that is over for me-" bitterly. Mrs. Brinkley turned and faced him. You've never forgotten Mary Dean?"
 Nobody had spoken to Stephen of Mary Dean since. ten years ago. she had tilted him.
 His head went up. but he smiled sadly. as Mrs Brinkley laid her wrinkled hand over his big brown one 'I want to see you happy" she said softly
 "Oh. am happy. and Pm getting to be very good housekeeper. He carried the situation of so | lightly that she had nothing else to 1 say, but when she reached the door | she turned and asked sharply. "If 1 Mary should come back. what then?" Stephen stared at her. He had never thought of that. He had planned his future with reference 7nly to his bachelor needs. He walked to the gate with Mrs. Brinkley. and when he came back the loneliness of his. big double house struck him with a chill Stephens s | mother had been with him until her death and she and her son had lived i'll the newer part The older wing, furnished quaintly in the style Of early Victorian days. was open only once year when Mrs. Brinkley supervised the cleaning and airing. It was Mrs. Brinkley's neighborli. ness which had made it possible for stephen to live alone. He loved her not only for herself. but because she 'ad always been friend of Mary Dean.
 Yet she had never dared speak to him as she had spoken today. He vent about his tasks furiously, try ing to put out of his head the thought If his Humiliation and consequent suf- fering
 Outside, 1t was a night of wind and of storm. Within. fire burned on the hearth. and a cat purred in the warmth and glow. Stephen made cup of coffee for himself and gave the cat some meat and dish of milk In younge, manhood Stephen had not cared fol cats. but now there was something of comfort in the presence of this gentle. white creature. He sal long over the fire that night dreaming The door was shut be. tween his DOT tion of the house and the empty rooms Suddenly he sat up startled. It seemed to him that somewhere. faintly. be heard the rustic of wnman's dress.
 He rubbed his hands across his eyes He must have fallen asleep and the swish of the rain on the win dows had caused the Illusion
 He rose, lighted lamp and went to bed He left the cat on a cushion on the hearth. He thought he heard the click of latch .1t is the wind ]" he said to himself. and fell asleep.
 In the morning when he went down the cat was still on the cushion on the hearth rug. but there was something else on the rug-a little fine square of white linen Stephen picked up the handker. chief and stared at it; then he looked at the cat. If only she could speak what would she tell?
 It was while he was still standing l there that Mrs. Brinkley came run ming over. Were you in the other part of your house last night?" she demanded breathlessly
 "No" lnstinetively Stephen hid l the little handkerchief In his big hands
 There was faint flekerng light" Mrs BrinlSley said. in one of the upper rooms"
 .sYou must have been dreaming"
 "I couldn't have been." Mrs Brink ley insisted. flor called Mr Brinkley up to look at it
 | Dear Mrs Brinkley,s Stephen asked, who would come into that unheated place on such night?"
 Well" Mrs Brinkley said. de cidedly. "if l believed in ghost should say that it was ghost. and anyhow, it gave me an awful fright . Stephen switched her from the sub ject by inquiring tactfully about a | certain chocolate cake which she had ! promised to bake for him. and pres ently she flew homeward to beat nl and bake.
 When she had gone Stephen stood still in the middle Of the floor We've got to look into this. pussy cat" he said. to the little cat
 He went to a drawer and took out a big key and inserted it softly in the lock of the dividing door. A blast of chill. damp air struck him | He shivered and went on It was d ghostly place. with the gray winter light sitting through closed blinds In the parlor there was no sign oi any living presence. so Stephen as eended the carpeted stairway and came to the landing without having made sound And it was there he stopped listening. Somewhere on that upper floor someone was cough ing. He made his way to the end roop As he approached the open