The Holbrook news., 1922-12-15

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 '',Nhat Have You Got This Door Shut For7"
 if you'll just be good to me. Why don't you hold me in your arms any more-?"
 scuffling sound came from above. Fairchild knew that she had made an effort to clasp him to her, and that he had thrust her away. The voices came closer.
 You know what you got us into. don't you? They made strike there today-same value as in the Silver Queen If 1t hadn't been for you"
 But they get out someway-they always get out" The voice was high and weird now. "They're immortal. That's what they are-they're immor- tai. They have the gift-they can get out"
 "BoshI Course they get out when you wait until after they're gone. Why, one of 'em was downtown at the as- savers, so I understand, when you went in there."
 But the other-he's immortal. He got out"
 You're crazy!"
 "Yes, crazy!" She suddenly shrieked at the word. That's what they all call me-Crazy Laura. But I ain't- hear mel ain'tI know-they're inn mortal, just like the others were i'm mortal! can't hold lem when they've got the spirit that rises above-Pve tried. ain't land I've only got one r'
 "One?" Squint's voice became sud- denly excited. "One-what one?"
 "rm not going to tell. But know I knoww
 There was silence then for a mo- ment. and Fairchild, huddled in the darkness below, felt the creeping, crawling chill of horror pass over him as he listened. Above were a rogue and a lunatic, discussing between them what, at times. seemed to con- cern him and his partner; more, 1t seemed to go back to other days, when other men had worked the Blue Poppy and met misfortunes.
 Squint Rodaine was talking again.
 "So you're not going to tell me about the one, eh? What have you got this door shut for?"
 "No doors shut"
 'It is-don't you think I can see i ! Tbfc door laodipo into tho fropt roo,,, [,
 The sound of heavy shoes, followed by a lighter tread. Then a scream above which could be heard the jan gling of rusty lock and the pumping of a shoulder against wood. High and strident came Crazy Laura's voice:
 "Stay out of there-I tell you, Roadyl Stay out of therel It's some. thing that mortals shouldn't see-it's something-stay out-stay out !"
 "I won't-unlock this doorl'
 'I can't do 1.-the time hasn't come yeti mustn't-"
 You won't-well, there's another way" A crash. the sudden. stumbling feet of a man. then the scratching of match and an exclamation: "So this is your immortal, eh?"
 Only a moaning answered, moaning intermingled with some vague form of a weird chant, the words of which Fairchlld In the musty. dark hall be. low could not distinguish. At last came Squint's voice again, this time In softened tones:
 'Laura-Laura, Honey"
 "Yes, Squint."
 "Why didn't you tell your sweet heart about this?"
 "T mustn't-you've spoiled 1t now Roady."
 "No-Honey. I can show you tht way. He's nearly gone. What were you going to do when he went-T
 He'd have dissolved in air, Roady- I know. The spirits have told me-"
 Perhaps so" The voice of the scar faced. mean-visaged Squint Rodain. was still honeyed, still cajoling. "Per haps so-but not at once. Isn't there barrel of lime In the basement?"
 "Yes."
 "Come downstairs with me-"
 They started downward then, ant Fairchild watched them pass, Rodainf in the lead, carrying a smoking lamI with its half-broken chimney careep ing on the base, Crazy Laura, mum bling her toothless gums, her hag-likt hands extended before her, shufflini along in the rear. He heard them gt far to the rear of the house, then de scend more stairs. And he went fla to his stomach on the floor, with hi: ear arainst tiny chink that he nigh