The Washington herald., 1915-12-05

i
curiosity knew no bounds Accordingly I
packed my grip and at about o'clock ON
a delightful afternoon found myself ask
ing tea In cloister-like apartment Of the
| former friary.
Grange" said Sir James in answer to
question OF mine. rs shut up
IT Is shut. yes. rumbled Morris klaw.
what a pity-what a pityi''
-Four Of sat down to dinner In an
APARTMENT which clearly had been the
ancient refectory Of the monks. Clement
Leyland, who had arrived barely in time
to dress. looked haggard and worried. I
determined that he had some private
troubles OF his own, and beneath his quiet
geniality i thought ] could detect a sort
of brooding gloom. His pale. clean-shav-
en- face, so like. yet SO unlike. that of his
cousin, was a mask that Ill repaid study.
yet l knew that the real Clement Ley
land was stranger to me. perhaps to all
Of us.
| was most anxious to learn II Morris
Klaw had divulged the secret Of the hid
den chamber at Grange to Sir James.
| and J. was unspeakably curious concern
Ing the box of which I had had but a
glimpse-the box that he had found there.
But he baffled my curiosity at every
point.
Morris Klaw, to the evident discomfort
Of Sir James. brought the conversation
around to the subject Of the haunting.
observed him to glance at his watch.
with rather odd expression upon his
vellum-hued face
spectres are confined. like linnets. to
their cages? They seem. these spooks.
never to roam. That laughing demon of
Grange-lOok at him. He remains in that
empty. desolate house: he
There was dreadful interruption
Commencing with a sort OF cultural
rattle. out upon the cloisteresque still
ness burst a peal of wicked laughter!
1t rang throughout the room II poured
fear into my every fiber. 1t died away
and was gone.
Sir James clutchjng the leather-cover-
ed chair arms. looked like a man Of stone.
/ WAS frankly terrorized. Morris klaw
stood behind me, by a bookcase. him I
could not see. But Clement LeylandS
face ] can never forget. IL was positively
deathlike. His eyes seemed starting from
their sockets, and his teeth chatter"d
horribly.
God in heaven he whispered broken
ly. What is it? Take it away! Take
II away"
Then Morris Klaw spoke slowly: 1T is
for YOU to take 1t away, Mr.. LrylanG'''
Clement I%yIand rose from his seat.
He swayed like drunken man. and there
was madness in the glaring eyes that he
turned in klaw's direction.
"YoU-you." he gasp-d.
Il" rumbled Morris kiaw sternly.
and took a step forward-'l nav" uttered
the Jacobite hiding place at Grange and
there / found a box, All, YOU glare
Glare on. my friend I returned that box
to where / found it, but first l .Namin"d
its contents What That demon iaIs
frightens YOU, Then descend Mr.. I<.y-
land. descend and bring him out-the one
who laughs
Rigidly sir James sat in his chair l.
too. seemed to be palsied. But at sight
OF the next happening We both stood NJ.
Morris klaw STAMPED heavily upon the
Oaken floor in a deep recess. then appl"t
his weight to Il section of the seemingly
solid stone wall.
IL turned. as on a pivot. revealing =
dark cavity
He stood there a bizarre figure. point
ting down into the blackness.
Descend. my friend he cried. The
one who laughs is upon the seventh
The seventh step"
In a whisper the words came from
Clement Leyland. a draft Of damp
cavernous air blew into the library out
Of the opening.
Descend my friend
Remorsel-ssly Morris KIaw repeated the
words. In the center OF the room. Glenn
ent Leylsnd. a pitiable sight. stood star.
ing-and hesitating- Suddenly his cousin
spoke.
Don't go. Clement" he whispered.
The other turned to him, dazedly.
Don't go-down that place. Butch.
God. / understand at least. or partly
quit. | give you half an hour,
Sir James sank back into his chair and
buried his face in his hands. Morris k!aw
never moved from there he stood by the
cavity. Clement Lryland. with bowed
head. walked from the room.
Await me. gentlemen rumbled klaw.
Il descend for the lsG-htvr.
H.. stepped into the opening.
one" he d-'rwo-Ihree-fo
fiv'.- his voice came Up To us from the
d"rthS-''siN
". heard him ascending Walking into
,h' library he placed upon the table hr-
80" >i~ James very large and up-to-
lat" g!amarhune.
Tn" laughter" he explained simply.
That night. my friends. when first I
<lpt at Grange l secured. among a host
- other dreadful negatives. the negative
0f "u" who lurNed in secret hiding
place. ! saw him come creeping from the
chimney COr'.er. h"arIng great mace
Eich recognized FOR on, that had hung
in the hall: Almost th- science Of the
mind betrayed ne. for | mIstook him
for a thought form But the mind or
Isis Is cn rapport with the mind OF her
poor old father. In hsp dreams she saw
my peril. AMI ~ha II was who. screaming.
saved me, Saved me from the murderer
with In" mace
Sir jams made no sign. Morris Klaw
C"ntIn9rd:
Il -arhcred. then. that tn" one who
s"m"tIm-S lUrked in IN" Jacohite hiding
i,laC, and who somehow made the demon
laughter and the oth~r Phenomena sought
ON" end. 1t Was TO co.'s" You to leave
Grange and ~ live IN Friars House Be-
,uud 81 far my srirn'r could not show
me. | assisted. therefore. the project OF
TN lNlhgr ana cam. myself 100, IN or
der 10 watch. my friend. 10 guard and
TO SPY
His gramaphnnr found examined
and repla"-d K had n ClOCkwork at
TaChrQ"nt. V.IE Ingenious which both
STATED and >t"rN.'i il There was little
or no SrrapH& Tonight. from his room.
Uuhrowu t. him. ! removed the inst-u-
rr"nt from lis caS, which lay hidden at
III, bottom "f his trunk Yes. I stole hiI
key ! am ~. old fox Why did he hsInc
u her. ] ,ann"t reply. Perhaps ha
meant again I" u.S,. il. his future projerII
ar ..:,.k To- nv. but their object all tOI
light"
sir james GrOaned
odd Glenn" he whispered. And how
| trusted him
He did not quite believe In my
did not know that. hidden. slept almost
beside him he sat, planning in thiI
very room. From his own bad mind
secured my second negative and it show
I'd me the death trap of some bald Old
son Of Mother Church At Grange thers
was but the Jacohite hiding plac". but
here was the deviltry OF (eudal times.
il my suspicious were well-fOUndcd. YES,
You may. or may not. he aware. hut "
YOU die childiess the wicked Clement in
heTitS Grange,
Il knew that" whispered Sir James.
"Ah. you knew? So. | returned to
here. for. even at that time, | suspected
that your accidental death was the oh
second negative Biding my time. *
plOred that death-smelling place. lis
wicked machinery had been freshly oii'd;
All. he knew its secrets we'll. the old
house tnat he hoped TO inherit.
"One night: all innocent a< YOU sat