The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-08-05
PART EVE

We'll, Mr.. Holmes. from the moment |
that understood that there was some
thing about that suite of rooms which
was not to know was all on fire to
go over them. 1t was not mere
curiosity, though l have my share of
that. 1t was more feeling of duty
Ia feeling that some good might come
from my penetrating to this place.
They talk of womans instinct; per-
haps it was woman's instinct which
gave me that feeling. At any rate, it
was there, and / was keenly on the
lookout for any chance to pass the
forbidden door.
1T was only yesterday that the
chance came. may tell you that, be-
sides Mr.. Rucastle. both Toller and his
wife find something to do in these
deserted rooms, and l once saw him
carrying a large black linen bag with
him through the door. Recently he
has been drinking hard, and yesterday
evening he was very drunk; and, when
came upstairs. there was the key in
the door. have no doubt at all that
he had left it there. Mr.. and Mrs.
Rucastle were both downstairs, and the
child was with them, so that | had an
admirable opportunity. l turned the
! key gently in the lock, opened the
door, and slipped through.
There was a little passage in front
| of me. unpapered and uncarpeted,
which turned at a right angle at the
farthest end. Round this corner were
three doors in line, the first and third
of which were open. They each led
into an empty room, dusty and cheer
less, with two windows in the one and
one in the other, so thick with dirt that
! the evening light glimmered dimly
! through them. The center door was
! closed. and across the outside of it
] had been fastened one of the broad
bars of an iron bed, padlocked at one
end to ring in the wall, and fastened
at the other with stout cord The
door itself was locked as well, and the
key was not there. This barricaded
j door corresponded clearly with the
shattered window outside, and yet I
I could see by the glimmer from be-
meath 1t that the room was not in
4 darkness. Evidently there was a sky
:, light. which let in light from above.
4 AS stood in the passage gazing at the
sinister door, and wondering what
secret it might veil, suddenly heard
the sound of steps within the room
} and saw shadow pass backward and
forward against the little slit of dim
light which shone from under the door
A mad, unreasoning terror rose up in
me at the sight, Mr. Holmes. MY
! overstrung nerves failed me suddenly
and | turned and ran-ran as though
some dreadful hand were behind me
clutching at the skirt of my dress. ]
: rushed down the passage, through the
door, and straight into the arms oil
Mr.. Rucastle, who was waiting out
, side.
so said he, smiling, it was you
then. ! thought that it must be wher
I saw the door open
, Oh | am so frightened l painted
Ny dear young lady! my dear
? young lady.-you cannot think how
} caressing and soothing his manner wa:
what has frightened you, ny
dear young lady?'
But his voice was just little tor
coaxing. He overdid it. / was keenly
on my guard against him
az was foolish enough to go int
: the empty wing I answered. But i
is so lonely and eerie in this dim ligh
! that l was frightened and ran gu
t again. Oh, it is so dreadfully still il
: there,
e "'only THAR said he, looking a
Y me keenly.
al Why, what did you Think"
iasked.
5 Why do you think that l lock thi
S door,
L am sure that I do not know
1T is to keep people out who hav,
t no business there. Do ou see? H
S was still smiling in the most amiabl
manner
i am sure If ! had known
We'll, then, you know now. An,
If you ever put your foot over tina
threshold again here in an instan