The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1915-04-02

before the glimmering marble and un-
rolled my bundle of wet clay.
/ began my work, then l began to
realize little the nature OF the task
| had undertaken and to ask myself
whether if / stayed all night I could
finish it to my mind. 1t was during
one of these moments Of hesitation
that | heard the first growl of distant
thunder.
But the thunder growled again and
my head rose, this time in real alarm
A man-two men were entering by
the great front door. | heard loud
laugh, and the tipsy exclamation of a
voice l knew:
There! shut the door, can't you,
before it's blown from it's hinges
You'll find everything jolly tere. Wine
lights, solitude in which to finish our
game and a roaring good opportunity
to sleep afterwards"
The answer I failed to catch. l was
simply paralyzed by terror. AS the
door of the room opened to admit
them, I succeeded In shutting that of
the closet into which | had flung my
self-or almost So | did not dare to
latch it, for they were already in the
room and might hear me.
This is the spot for us" came
in Spencer's most jovial tones. big
table, whisky handy, cards right here
in my pocket. Wait. till l strike a
light"
A gas Jet shot up, then two, then all
that the room contained. "How's that?
What's a flash more or less now!"
heard no answer, only the slap of
the cards as they were flung onto the
table; then the clatter of key as it
turned in some distant lock.
The bottles were brought forward
and they sat down one on each side
of the dusty mahogany table. The
man facing me was Spencer, the other
sat with his back my way.
We'll play till the hands point to
three" announced Spencer, taking out
his watch and laying it down where
both could see 1t. do you agree to
that?-unless win and your funds
go a.begging before that hour"
Il agree" The tone was harsh; it
was almost smothered. The man was
staring at the watch; there was a
strange set look to his figure; paus-
ing as of thought-of sinister thought
should now say; then never
stopped to characterize it; it was fol-
lowed too quickly by loud laugh and
sudden grab at the cards.
You'll win! feel it in my bones, u
came in encouraging tones from the
rich man. IF you do"-here the storm
lulled and his voice sank to an en-
couraging whisper-"you can buy the
old tavern up the road. It's going for
song; and then we'll be neighbors
and can play-play-" -.
The bills had all gone one way.
They fell within Spencer's grasp. Sud.
denly hard upon rattling peal which
seemed to unite heaven and earth,
heard shouted out:
"Half-past two! Tho game stops at
three"
Damn your greedy eyes!" came
back in growl. Then all was still,
fearfully still, both in the atmosphere
outside and in that within, during
which I caught sight of the strangers
hand moving slowly around to his
back and returning as slowly forward,
all under cover of the tabletop and a
stack of half-empty bottles.
Il can buy. the Claymore tavern,
can I? Well, I'm going to-" rang out
into the air as the speaker leaped to
his feet. Take that, you cheat! And
that! And that" And the shots rang
out-one, two, three!
Spencer was dead in his Folly.
had seen him rise, throw up his hands
and then fall in a heap among the
cards and glasses.
Then the man who stood there
alone turned slightly and I saw his
face. / have seen it many times
since; have seen it at Claymore tav-
ern. He put the weapon back in his
pocket and began gathering up the
money. When every bill was in his
pockets he reached out his hand for
the watch. Then saw him smile. He
smiled as he shut the case, he smiled
as he plunged it in after the bills.
Next moment I woke to a realiza-
tion of myself and all the danger of
my own position. / had the instinct
to make a leap for the window over
my head and clutch at its narrow sill
in a wild attempt at escape.
But the effort ended precipitately.
He was coming toward me-a strain.
ing, painting fgure-half carrying. half
dragging, the dead man who Topped
aside from his arms. Ny senses
blurred and l knew nothing till on a
sudden they cleared again, and woke
to the blessed realization that the
door had been pushed against my slen.
der figure, hiding it completely from
his sight, and that this door was now
closed again and this time tightly,
and l was safe-safe!
The relief sent the perspiration in
reek from every pore; but the icy
revulsion came quickly. AS I drew up
knees to get better purchase on the
sill. heavens torch was suddenly lit
up, the closet became a pit of dazzling
whiteness amid which / saw the blot
Of that dead body, with head propped
against the wall and eyes
Remember, was but fifteen. The
legs were hunched up and almost
touched mine. The door--the door
there was my way-the only way
MUCH JOY IN ANTICIPATION