The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-06-22
TODAY'S NSTAIlMENT.

There was little difficulty in enter ing the grounds, for unrepaired breaches galped in the old park wall. Making our way among the trees, we reached the lawn, crossed it, and were about to enter through the window, bushes there darted what seemed to be hideouS and distorted child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs, and then ran swiftly | across the dawn into the darkness My God"' I whispered; did you see it ?"
 Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like a vice upon my wrist in his agitation. Then he broke into a low laugh. and put his lips to my ear
 Tt is a nice household" he mur- mured- That is the baboon.' I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected There was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders at any mo- ment-
 I confess that I felt easier in my mind when, after following Holiness s example and slipping off my shoes, l found myself inside the. bedroom. My companion noiselessly closed the shutters, moved the lamp onto the table. and cast his eyes round the room. All was as we had seen it in me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered into my ear again so gently that it was all that I could do to distinguish the words:
 ''The least sound would be fatal to our plans
 I nodded to show that had heard. 'sWe must sit without light. He would see it through the ventilator. I nodded again.
 Do not go to sleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your DIS tot ready in case we should need it. I will sit on the side of the bed, and you in that chair"
 1 took out my revolver and laid 1t on the corner of the table. Holmes had brought up a long thin cane and this he placed upon the bed beside him. By it he laid the box of
 matches and the stump of a candle: Then he turned down the lamp. and we were left in darkness. How shall ever forget that dread | ful vigil? I could not hear sound, not even the drawing of a breath, and | yet I knew that my companion sat | open-eyed, within a few feet of me, 1 in the same state of nervous tension l cut off the least ray of light, and we | waited in absolute darkness. From outside came the occasional cry Of a | night-bird, and once at our very win dow a long drawn cat-Hke whine,
 which told us that the cheetar was indeed at liberty. Far away we could hear the deep tones of the par ish clock, which boomed out every
 
 seemed, those quarters! Twelve struck, and one and two and three, and still we sat waiting silently Tor l whatever might befall
 Suddenly there was the momentary gleam of a light up in the direction of the ventilator, which vanished immediately, but was succeeded by strong smell of burning oil and heat room had lit a dark-lantern- I heard a gentle sound of movement. and
 then all was silent once more, though the smell grew stronger. For half an hour sat with straining ears. Then suddenly another sound became audi bleble-a very gentle, soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam es- caping continually from a kettle. The instant that we heard itEiolrnes sprang from the bed, struck a match. and lashed furiously with his cane at the ben-pull-
 You see it, WatSo 7" he yelled You see it %
 But saw nothing. At the mo- ment when Holmes struck the light heard a low, clear whistle. but the sudden glare flashing into my weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which my friend lashed so savagely I could, however, see that his face was deadly pale, and filled with horror and loathing.
 He had ceased to strike, and was gazing up at the yentilator. when suddenly there broke from the silence of the night the most horrible cry to which have ever listened It swell ed up louder and louder, hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all ming led in the one dreadful striek- They say that away down in the village, and even in the distant parsonage. that cry raised the sleepers from their beds. It struck cold to our hearts, and I stood gazing at Holmes, and he at me, until the last echoes Of it had died away into the silence from which it rose.
 What can it mean?" gasped.
 -<It means that 1t is all over" Holmes answered And perhaps after all. it is for the best Take your pistol, and we will enter Dr. Roy1ott's room
 With a grave face he lit the lamp and lad tzaa way down the corridor