Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-05-07
By J.JEFFERsoN FARJEoN

mentS which may actually raise the
dead in this very room-I advise
you. speaking as n human being
to another, Mr.. BoneS-to return to
Newcastle and give up the job"
Il couldn't do that" replied Mr.
Bones Why, then there'd be no
careaker here at all"
"H'm-the house has got along
very nicely without one for a week"
Perhaps It has, sir. but it's not
my business to-"
And the last caretaker. as maybe
you know. did not finish his engage
ment. He-disappearedI"
Mr.. Bones made no comment. but
the eyes OF both men rested for an
instant on the cupboard door.
Suppose you disappear. too. Mr..
Bones?" suggested Simon Brill,
watching him with a cynical smile.
Well. I'm not disappearing yet"
retorted the new caretaker. none too
happily.
THAT is fairly obvious" agreed
Brill. II can't help wondering what
happened to the last caretaker,
though-and whether history will
repeat itself. After I have gone. and
when you are alone here"
Brill's tone was not pleasant. Mr..
Bones received a strong impression
that the old man was deliberately
trying to brighten him away. And
suddenly Brill laughed. and held up
his hand.
"Listenl" he said.
MI. Bones was listening. The
ground whispered beneath him. Or
was IL. after all. his imagination7
Floors couldn't whisper. really. II
was Just the old mans tone, and
the old mans eyes-unpleasant,
piercing eyes. that bored right
through into your heart-tha were
playing on his nerves, causing him
TO think things. Though. Of course
MI. Bones was well aware that III.
Booml
| Now the ground shook. Then 81
lence.
Not very pleasant" observed ST.
mon Brill. after a pause. And II
it's unpleasant now-how much less
less pleasant wien you are alone
without even an irritating old gen.
tleman like me to talk to? The
shadows will grow longer, the sun
will sink, darkness will fall -. There
listen again"
"Ah. but that was thunder, that
time" exclaimed Mr.. Bones.
Simon Brill glanced towards the
window. through which could be
seen a great, dark cloud with
sprayed. finger-like edges. He nod
ded.
Yes. It was thunder" he agreed.
And more thunder will follow. ]
should say. So a storm will be add
ed to the pleasures of your visit. Mr..
Bones. Thunder above, and thun-
der below"
Look herel" cried Mr.. Bones,
abruptly, what's all this about? II
you think you're going to brighten
me off, you're mistaken. so there!"
Brill looked at the excited little
man coolly.
Unless you maintain control Of
your nerves. Mr.. Bones, you will
brighten yourself away he said.
why should I want to brighten you
away7"
Yes. that's what I want TO knowl"
But you don't know. And nor do
I. I am merely trying TO save you
from a very unpleasant experience
q very unpleasant experience. Mr..
Bones. The storm about You won't
harm you. though IL won't sdd TO
your comfort. But the-the storm
underground"
He shrugged his shoulders and,
turning. walked slowly to the win
dow. Was he going? MI. Bones
hoped 20. 1t must be getting on
for threel And. at three
But Brill paused at the window.
and turned back to the new care
taker again.
What do you think that BOOM
ing sound is?" he asked. suddenly.
Waves retorted Mr.. Bones, dog
gedly. That's all"
you feel quite sure OF that?"
"Yes. Dead miners, indeedl Who
heard Of such a thing?"
you seem 70 have, my friend"
murmured Simon Brill. suddenly
leaving the window and drawing
closer. SO the booming has moth