Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1925-07-11
By Elizabeth Jordan
GO by The Century Col
WNU Service

foreigner was, In a way, pardonable.
Certainly he had INDUCED in II without
the sense OF recon he now felt. The
recoil merged into a grim amusement
at his own expense. He was making
progress, he was getting back in touch
with life, when he found himself spec
ulating about women He res0lutely
centered his thoughts on the black
leather case.
He went up to hts room at eleven
o'clock Before he opened the door
he stood for a moment In front of it,
silently studying the lock. It vas a
good lock, but Al ordinary one. A
trife he had bought in town would
effectually prevent It from being
locked from the outside. He entered
his room and inserted this trlfe into
the keyhole, noddIng with satisfac-
ton as he did so. No one outside
could lock his door tonight On the
other hand, neither could he himself
lock IT, He drew forward a chair, In
serted its back under the door-knob,
and so placed II that a certain effort
would be required to push the door
open. He could not be taken wholly
by surprise. After these simple prep
aratiOns he read and smoked for a
time. Then, with a sense Of exgacta-
ton mingled with other emotions. In
which excitement, resentment, anxiety
and nervousness predominated in turn,
he undressed, got into bed and turned
out the lights, putting one Of the new
revoyers under his pillow, but within
immediate reach, as the final precau-
ton for an interesting vigil
He waited with taut nerves. II was
almost midnight, time for the noctur-
nal activities Of the Thing to begin.
AS soon as he heard the sounds nm
nouncng the Things near approach.
he would fling open the door and
spring out upon whatever was there.
After that-well after that he would
at least know what he was up against.
The clock on his mantel struck
twelve lie was almost convinced that
nothing would happen. Possibly the
Thing did not roam about every
night. Possibly It would never roam
about again Probably 1t had been
shut up, confined
He closed his eyes. and swiftly
opened them again. Something had
touched them, passed them. and was
focused on the wall II was the blue
clrcle-and this time he studied Il
closely II was circle about the
size OF silver dime Its blue color
was a sIugularly vivid hue II danced
and Qulycred on the wall beside him.
so close to him that he could put up
his hand and touch IT. AS he did So
II vanished and the familiar darkness
OF the room closed around him
lie lay still aud for the first time
seriously tried to explain the circle TO
himself Ii was. Of course. as he had
held from the first, a reflection from
somewhere from something That
wise conclusion was still obvious But
from what?
The visiting light appeared again. It
was as feyerlshly active now as It
had been motionIess on It's previous
visits II touched his face. fitted
about, and came TO rest on the foot
board OF his bed 1t touched his hand
and few to the opposite wall It
played about his lips and leaped to the
door leading to the hall where 1t
glowed silently on a panel.
Renshaw watched It with a gaze
that shifted when ii did II he closed
his eyes, IL fingered on the lids till he
reopened them its character changed
II had been interesting at first Il be-
| came annoying, like the repeated at
tacks of one mosquito on hot night.
II became more than annoying II be
came first infurIating and at last sim.
ply devuish.
lie rose and, going in turn to the
rooms four windows, stared out at
each with his movement the light
| disappeared lie could see nothing
outside but the storm and the tor
rured. windaung branches Of oaks
and naples lie went 20 his door
opened II and glanced down the dark
corridor No sound or movement
there rewarded him. lie closed the
door. replaced the chalr-hack under
the knob. ana returned 70 his bed As
soon as he was comfortably settled
/ the blue bah entered. touched his face
and danced for moment on the wall
Then suddenly Il grew quiet and re
manned fixed in one spot, ike a watch
tul and Internal blue eye
The aock struck two, the deep
toned strokes sounding ominous in
the darkness. Two O'clock And he
had been on the edge Of his nerves
since elevenl THAT sort Of thing
would not do IT simply could not Ne
endured Tomorrow he would tell
| Campbell that he. Renshaw, must 20
away ina, he was not up 10 the work
But ne. that would not dos either He
had already shown that be was up to
the work Campbell had referred at
dinner to a let ot things 60 be done
he next day. Well. then he could
say he was not IN as good condition
as be ha3 Imagined
A sudden memory scared his con
ScleUsre>s He could no, resign He