Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-05
,TheDoor of Death
By John Esteoen
NsA A:;:se sy.ssg:r Alliance end x's''''n'a.
By John Este0en

significant fact. Presently shall be
meeting Mr.. Balloon under abnormal
circumstances. In simple justice must
know what he's like normally, and avoid
snatching ut conclusions. You under
stand"
II do" said Carl, land I'm grateful.
Francis Is 10 years older than I, and
we've never been intimate-he had
scholarly interests, and I've been mixed
v0uch for his innocence"
mo doubt" interrupted Morse.
"A man of fine TASTE" continued
Carl, wide reading, and quick senti-
ment"
obviously" agreed the other: "this
house proves it. Have you observed,
Ames, that everything in it is, in some
aspect or other, Italian? Before even
examining Mr.. Balloons library, I'm
certain shall find number Of Italian
books there. But not only this is true;
the style reflects rather short period
to hazard guess, should say the lat
ter half of the fifteenth century. Mere
decorators don't succeed like THAT
takes q scholar"
Doubtless" murmured Carl. well
gentlemen. shall we be looking at the
collection"
My earlier visits to the great ROOM
more nearly associated than any other
with the master of GreyhouSe, had
been in haste and for definite pur-
pose. I now had leisure to admire its
size and the richness of its contents:
Moreover. daylight gave an increased
detiniteness. I should say it was about
SO feet long and 20 wide. In height it
was certainly not under 80 feet. Books
lined the walls. and above these were
hung silken pennonS, gonfalonS, battle
standards, shredded and frayed by con-
f1lct or time. Along the center of the
room was arranged what even layman
could recognize as q priceless collection
OF arInor, together with weapons OF
various sorts. These, coupled with the
flags above, gave the impression Of some
old armory-an impression strength
ened by the stone flooring of the room.
although here and there rugs preserved
it from baroness. There were other OBJ
jectS-caSe Of rich manuscripts, an
other OF coins, Of seals, OF worries, and
curios Of the sort. Rendered attentive
by Norse's earlier remark, noticed
| that all Of these belonged practically to
| q single epoch-presumably mid-Renais-
| sance-and I guessed that most OF them
had been derived from Italy.
The end OF the room was reserved
| for q separate collection, the nature Of
which appeared at first glance obscure.
supposed it to be number Of kitchen
utensils, rudely fashioned Of wrought
| iron, and vaguely wondered that these
should be brought into contrast with
| the exceedingly rare and beautiful OBJ
| jects nearby. There were several metal
pictures, brazier with iron rods OF
various lengths. a chopping knife, q
| large wooden block with = handle, such
as Is used in pounding meat, three or
email q a
contrivances of wood and leather, and
the like. Nearby stood o strangely
shaped bench covered with q rug, and
against 1t, as If mislaid from the CEN
ter Of the room, leaned two-handed
sword. could make nothing Of all
this, and would have passed on, had I
not seen Norse's usually serene face
harden to look Of intentness.
Perhaps YOU" he said to Ballion.
"can explain the use Of several among
these tools that I'm not familiar with
for example, the brass basin there?"
Carl smiled, and was drawn to imi-
tate him upon what seemed so idle q
question. But the smile froze to my
lips.
why" he answered, 'after being
heated to the proper shade, 1t was
passed in front of the eyes Of the VIC
tim--with the natural result"
His matter-of-fact words shook me
like q blow. Also the truth began to
dawn.
And that square bar yonder?" asked
Morse.
Again Ballion smiled. "WaS for the
breaking of limbs of any one strapped
to the wheel Francis assures me that
death. at times, did not ensue for sew
eral days" i.
These things were the equipment Of
torture room!
Balloon continued his hideOus cata-
logue: An iron f1aying whip, exceed
ingly rare; a band for COMPRISING the
forehead, q beam for dislocation by the
cord, iron splits Of unmentionable pur-
pose, the Spanish boot, knives OF a Curl
Gus pattern ..