Middletown transcript., 1915-04-10

WHSbhCA IL 1 stay Gu all ulenJ 1 COulu
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 a loud
laugh, and the tipsy exclamation of a
voice knew:
There! shut the door, can't you,
before it's blown from its hinges?
You'll find everything jolly Lere. Wine
lights, solitude in which to finish our
game and roaring good opportunity
to sleep afterwards"
The answer failed to catch. was
simply paralyzed by terror. AS the
door Of the room opened to admit
them, succeeded in shutting that of
the closet into which had flung my
self--or almost so. did not dare to
latch 1t, for they we're already in the
room and might hear me.
This is the spot for u.s." came
in Spencer's most jovial tones. big
table, whisky handy cards right here
in my pocket. Wait, till strike a
light"
A gas Jet shot up, then two. then all
that the room contained. "How's that ?
What's 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; a paus-
ing as of thought-of sinister thought,
1 should now say; then / never
stopped to characterize 1t; it was fol
lowed too quickly by loud laugh and
q sudden grab at the cards.
You'll win! feel it in my bones,
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
a song; and then Wen be neighbors
and can play-play-"
The bills had all gone one way
They fell within Spencer's grasp. Sud
denly hard upon a rafting peal which
seemed to unite heaven and earth,
heard shouted out:
"Half-past two! The game stops al
three"
Damn your greedy eyes!" came
back in a growl. Then all was still
fearfully still, both In the atmosphere
outside and in that within, during
which l caught sight of the strangers
hand moving slowly around to his
back and returning as slowly forward
all under cover of the tabletop and q
stack of half-empty bottles.
Il can buy the CIaymore tavern
can 1? Well, I'm going to-" rang Out
into the air as the speaker leaped tc
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 l saw his
face. l have seen it many times
J 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 fol
, the watch. Then l saw him smile. HC
/ smiled as he shut the case, he smiled
as he plunged 1t In after the bills.
Next moment l woke to a realiza
tion of myself and all the danger o.
my own position. had the instinct
: to make a leap for the window ovel
my head and clutch at its narrow sill
in a wild attempt at escape.
But the effort ended precipitately
t He was coming toward me-a strain
} ing, painting figure-half carrying, hal
dragging, the dead man who Topped
J aside from his arms. My senses
blurred and l knew nothing till on {
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 nov
closed again and this time tightly
: and l was safe-safe!
, The relief sent the perspiration II
reek from every pore; but the icy
revulsion came quickly. AS drew VI
: knees to get better purchase on thu
/ sill heavens torch was suddenly Iii
up, the closet became a pit of dazzling
) whiteness amid which l saw the bio
of that dead body, with head proppet
against the wall and eyes
! Remember | was but fifteen. Tht
| legs were hunched up and almos
! touched mine. The door-the door
t there was my way-the only wa!
MUCH JOY IN ANTICIPATION