Evening star., 1922-01-15
The Haunting Of Low Pennel- 7a'm

but we brought the housekeeper and
three servants, and when a London
firm had rebuilt, renovated, decorated.
and SO forth. it began to look hab-
table"
'Tt's charming place." said with
sincerity.
rs it," snapped the major. tossing
his half-smoked cigar on to side
table and selecting a fresh one from
large box at his elbow. Help your
self, the bottles near you. Is it?
Hullo. What have we here?'
LIE broke off. cigar in hand, as the
l. sound of footsteps upon the
gravel path Immediately outside the
window became audible. Through
the cluster of roses peered a hand
some face-that of dark man. whose
soft gray bat and loose tie lent him
a sort of artistic appearance.
''Oh. it's you, Waies" cried the
ma jor, but without cordiality. See
you in half an hour or so: little bit
of business in hand at the moment.
Marjorie's somewhere about"
"All right" called the new arrival,
and. waving his hand. passed on.
ITS young Aubrey Wales" ex-
planned Dale, almost savagely biting
the end from his cigar. "Son of Sir
neighbors. He often drops in"
Mentally considering the majors
attitude, certain rumors which had
reached me, and the youth and beauty
of Mrs. Dale. I concluded that the
visits of Aubrey Wales were not too
welcome to my old friend. But he
resumed in louder voice than ever:
"It was last night that the fun
began. can make neither head nor
tail of it,. If the blessed place is
haunted. wig have we seen nothing
of the ghost during the two months
or SO we have lived at Low Fennel!
The fact remains that nothing un-
usual happened until last night. 1t
come about owing to the internal
heat.
Mrs. Alison. the housekeeper, came
down about o'clock, intending, so /
understand. to get glass of cider
| from the barrel in the cellar. She
could not sleep owing to the heat and
felt extremely thirsty. There's a
queer sort of bend in the stair-Tll
show you in minute-and as she
came down and reached this bend she
met a man. or thing. who was 60
ing up! The moonlight was stream
ing in through the window right upon
that corner of the stair, and the ap-
81 gather that it was that of an
almost naked man. But the face
Addison"-the major leaned forwar
across the table-''it was the face of
a demon. a contorted, devilish face.
the eyes crossed and glaring,
"Of course. the poor woman tainted
dead away on the spot. About 8
o'clock I woke up in d perfect bath
of perspiration. / never remember
such a night, not even in India. and.
as Mrs. Alison had done I also started
to find drink. Addison. l nearly fell
over her as she lay swooning on the
STAIR
He helped himself to a liberal tot
of whisky, then squirted soda into
the glass.
Not wishing to alarm Marjorie. L
awoke one of the maids. and when
Mrs. Alison had somewhat recovered.
gave her into the girls charge. l
sat downstairs here in this room
until she could see me, and then got
the particulars which I've given you.
I wired you as soon as the office was
open, for ! said to myself. Dale, the
deviltry has begun again. If Marjorie
gets to hear of it. there'll be hell to
pay-she won't live in the place
He stood up abruptly as ripple
of laughter reached us from the
garden.
Suppose We explore the scene of
the trouble?" he suggested, moving
toward the door.
Should you mind very much if I
sought it out for MYSELF" l said. 1T