The Lamar register., 1921-08-24

OI HlS Iltlldktlit AillV Ait
roomi . Then, once more, the thing
like a fly sounded loud in his ear.
And, was 1t his Imagination. or had
he heard faint sibilant hiss just be-
fore?
Suddenly 1t struck him that he was
at a terrible disadvantage. The thing,
whatever IL was. knew. at any rate
approximately. his position: he had
not the slightest notion where 1t was.
And blind man boxing Il man who
could see, would have felt just about
as safe With Hugh, such conclu-
sion meant instant action. 1t might
be dangerous on the floor II most GER
tainly was far more SO In bed. He
felt for his torch. and then. with one
conclusive bound, he was standing by
.the door. with his hand on the electric
light switch.
Then he paused and listened intent
ly. Not sound could he hear; the
thing whatever II was. had become
motionless at his sudden movement.
For an appreciable time he stood there,
his eyes searching the darkness-but
even he could see nothing. and he
cursed the American comprehensively
under his breath. He would have given
anything for even the faintest grey
light so thar h.. could have some Idea
OF what 1t was and where IL was. Now
he felt utterly helpless, while every
moment he imagined some Shiny,
crawling brute touching his bare
feet-creeping up on him. .. He
pulled himself together sharply. Light
was essential, and nj once. But, II
he switched IL on, there would be q
moment when the thing would see
him before he. could see the thing
and such moments are not helpful.
There only remained his torch; and
on the Ancre, on one occasion, he had
saved his life by It's judicious use The
man behind one Of those useful imple-
inents is In blackness far more I'm
penetrable than the blackest night, for
the man In front is dazzled He can
only shoot ut the torch: wherefore
hold IL TO one side and In front Of
you. 49,.
The light flashed out, darting round
the room. Ping! Something hit the
sleeve OF his paJamas. but still he
could see nothing. The bed. with the
clothes thrown back: the washstand /;
the chair with his trousers and shirt
everything was as it had been when he
turned In. And then he heard sec
ond sound-tiistinct and clear. II cam.
from high up. near the ceiling and
the beam caught the big cupboard and
travelled up. IL reached the top. and
Rested there. fixed and steady. Framed
IN the middle Of IL. Ir-ering over the
edge, was II little hairless, brown face
holdiDs what looked like tube In Its
mouth. Hugh had one glimpse Of u
dark skinny hand putting something
In the tube. and then he switched on
the torch and ducked. just rs another
fly pinged over his head and hit the
wall behind.
One thing. at any rate. WAS certain /:
the other occupant OF the room was
human. and with that realization all
his nerve returned. There would be
time enough later on TO ind out how
he got there. and what those strange
ping1nE noises had been caused by.
Just at that moment only one thing
Nas OIl anu "AhhCoN u
sound he crept round the bed toward
the cupboard. to put that one thing In
to effect In his usual direct manner.
Twice did he hear the little whis
ting hiss from above. but nothing sang
past his head. Evidently the man had
lost him. and WAS. probably still aim
ing at the door. And then. with hands
that barely touched II. he felt the out
lines of the cupboard.
Ii was standing all inch or two from
the wall. and he slipped his fingers be-
hind the back on one side. He lis
tened for Il moment. but no movement
came from above: then. half facing the
wall. he put one leg against II. There
was one quick. tremendous hedve: u
crash which sounded deafenlng: then
silence. And once again he switched
on his torch. .
Lying OIL the floor by the window
was one OF the smallest men he had
ever seen. He WAS native of sorts,
and Hugh turned him over with his
foot. He was quite unconscious. and
the bump on his head. where II had