Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-15

some one he didn't think would dis
turb me-"
1t was easy. it seemed. to obtain
an answer to this question from
headquarters. He had made an ap-
pointment to call at the Haste house,
ostensibly to get a glimpse of Eve
CAROLS letters, but in reality for
another object quite as important
to him, If not more so. This APP
pointment was for an hour hence,
hut he was sure that Haste would
be at home, and he could not re-
sist calling him up on the phone.
Can you see me now, instead of
in an hours time, as we arranged?"
Dagon asked.
Certainly, 1 would prefer it," the
answer came.
And the detective started out in
search of a taxi without an instant's
delay.
Kennedy Haste's house was in
North Audley street. He had lived
there only since his engagement to
Eve, at which time he had sold the
big and somewhat gloomy old home
of his boyhood Eve had selected
the new house herself, or, at least,
had said that she would like to live
in North Audley street, which had
decorations and everything had been
chosen to please her. excepting the
suite which Ken had set apart for
his adopted sister, Pan.
The first note struck, even on en-
tering the hall, was gay modernity.
Dagon was shown into a drawing
room with black carpet, and FUN
iture mostly of old Chinese lacquer,
much OF it red. There were green
curtains. with splashes of purple
embroidery and wonderful irridescent
bowls containing fantastic colored
fruits which might have been stolen
from the stage at a performance of
"Chu Chin Chow" Poor little lone
Iy Eve. She would have been a witch
Ike vision of beauty here. in the won,
derful gowns that she affected.
Where was shelving or dead? 1t
was as il a voice whispered the
question in Dagon's ear.
After moments waiting he was
taken to another room, combina-
ton of library and smokingroom
and there Haste met him at the door
a pale and haggard Haste.
This house is killing met" he
said:~ ITS worse than at that
haunted hole of Rawdon Wells
she and l chose everything together.
L
Ter from some horror.
I'm glad you came early.
want TO get away-to get back to
Essex. Anything may have hap
pened there while I've been gone
who knows
II know that nothing has hap
pened to interest you," Dagon tried
10 sooth him. But you can get
lack as soon as you like. so far as
I'm concerned. l see how you must
feel here. But didn't you tell me,
when you spoke of your new house,
that Miss Pandora Haste had
furnished her suite entirely with
things from her old home? Why
shouldn't we both go to her rooms,
where there'll be nothing to call up
painful memories for you, while I
look through the letters you're going
TO let me have:"
Not u bad idea" said Haste.
THE sight of those old things of
the past may cool my nerves a bit.
At present they feel like red-hot
wires with the ends cut off,
He took from q drawer in a gor-
geous Empire desk an olivewood box,
about the size of an ordinary glove
box, and then showed Dagon the
way upstairs. Pans suite was at
the top of the house, for an ex-
tension at the back gave plenty of
room for servants. Kennedy Haste
opened a door which was not locked,
and ushered the detective into a
room which might have been the
'parlor' of an early Victorian wo-
man-but an early Victorian OF
much individual taste.
Pandora is only my adopted sis
ter. as you know" said Ken, yet
she adored the old house and every
thing in it. never cared. But she
cried like a baby when l decided to
sell and to let most of the furniture
go with the place. You see, this
house isn't really large enough for
the big. solid things of my fathers
day and Eve was unimaginable
against Victorian background
Dagon looked about with intense
interest His heart was beating fast.
He felt as children feel in playing
a game of 'hide-and- when
some one calls out. You're warm"
EARLY Victorian things are rather
splendid think" he said, trying to
be calm. Now. that secretary book
case, for instance, there between the
windows, with the cupboard under
meath. and twisted pillars running up
the Sides"
THAT old thing Is a special pet of
Pans" answered Haste, distracted
for an instant from the gnawing
torture Of his loss. "She keeps all
the souvenirs Of her debut into our
family in that cupboard"
This was precisely what Dagon
had been leading up to as well as
he could without asking questions,