The Washington times., 1918-08-05
(Continued From Saturday,
CHAPTER CXIE.
The Man Behind

both heard II before In varied
form. but they had never taken it
seriously. 1t was but a legend, and
not worthy Of grave attention.
"And what became Of the child?
asked basil
1T is just upon these points that
the records are so abominaoly
vague" asid Esther. II cannot
make out what happened to that
child 1 can find no mention OF
fits death, yet certainly IL did not
succeed to its fathers estate Mr..
BorradaIe seems to have married
again some years later, and his
wife bore him q son who did sue
ceed. He himself died very miser-
ably. He was found strangled
under the vaults OF the Hall and
his murderer was never discovered
His son, when he became a man,
attempted an investigation into the
mystery Of the waned-up rooms
He had them opened and proceed
ed to explore them. But 1t is said
of course, all this is legendary
history, and not TO be taken seri-
OusIy-it Is said that he became
Gn altered man as q consequence
He had the whole set of rooms
Of the house, the windows walled
up as well as the doors so that it
became impossible to say such
rooms ever existed And it was
this man who initiated the hand
ing down of the secret to the Bor-
radale sons ON their marriage or
on attaining their thirtieth year.
That such q practice still exists
we know, because Harold was sub
5ected to It
Story Grew With Time.
sOf course, as years went by, the
story was enlarged and embellish-
ed 1t was popularly believed that
every generation Of Borradales
had its monster, and that some
strange being was hidden away in
the secret chambers of Adderley.
/ can find no authority for this In
the family records"
sBut we have our own expert
ences," put In Basil
Certainly, and they confirm the
popular superstition in a remark
able manner. The only point is
that If We accept the complete
story we accept q ghost or some
thing which is contrary to the recA
ognized laws of nature. is. that
how we propose to view the crea-
ture that has now taken possession
Of this house?" 1t was Lillian, the
most practical of the party, who
put this question
aHThe- conclusion of It an is that
we can get no further, she re-
sumed, ''and personally think II is
better that We do not try to do so.
Esther will always remember that
! advised non-interference with
what we called, for want OF q bet
ter name, the Inner Curse. It has,
unfortupately, forced itself upon
our attention is a very unpleasant
manner, and we are following the
wisest course in avoiding it After
today hope Esther will be free. OF
the Curse and all that belongs 10
It" She arose from her chair as
she spoke.
81 am always a Borradale,- sigh
ed Esther, and we are a race ac-
cursed.
"The men," corrected Lillian
~And must not that react upon
The women" murmured the girl.
what. happiness have known
since I became a Borradale7"
Lillian made no answer, but her
glance fell upon Basil Fleetwood.
Also she recalled Guys description
Of the face he had seen at the win
dow Of the poison house, face
akin to death. HappiHess for Es-
ther was still possible, though its
coming might be delayed
ave must start in another quar-
ter of an hour" she said. with as
sumed cheerfulness. You will
both be ready by the time I return,
will you not? I am going to put on
my hat and get the few things that
I can carry with me"
Esther was wearing her hat. and
she had brought down the cloak in
which she intended to travel.
81 am ready as soon as you are"
she said, simply. There is nothing
that ! wish to take away with me.
Basil and ! will go in the morning
room, and you can join us there I
would rather not go near my own
bedroom again"
At that moment the butler en-
tered to clear away the lunch, and
Lillian hurried of. As she passed
him in the doorway he stopped her.
Don't be frightened Mrs. Will
loughby." he whispered; I'm afraid
all isn't we'll The servants sus-
pect-it was that ordering the car
riage to meet the train that done It
When you go, get her to take the
path through the wood. and out at
the little gate, for I don't believe
Luke would let her pass the lodge.
There's another thing'-he lowered
his voice still more-"I saw Paul
Just now on the terrace, and there
was some one else with him-an-
other man. I poked my head out OF
the pantry window, but they had
passed" He shook his head mourn
fully. 81 misdoubt that you'll get
away. ma'am." he added ''If don't
md you at the station / shall know
II shall know
'West" cried Esther, and the old
man shuffled of into the room to
receive his Instructions
Lillian made her way upstairs.
The door leading to Harold's room
was firmly closed; she noticed this
particularly as she passed It To
gain access to her own apartment
she had TO go through Esther'a
Here the air still felt heavy and
exotic, though the window stood
open. She was fixing her hat in
position when she thought she
heard the sound OF whispered voices
across the partition wall. She lis
tened intently: there was no doubt
OF IL. Presently. too, came the
Eound OF footsteps on the stairs.
She hastily returned through Es-
~ -.