Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-05-08
CHAPTER xXXvI

MI. Simon Brill's expression
grew thoughtful. He took his
comfortless eyes off Mr.. Bones too
ruddy face and transferred them
to the ground. And. gradually, the
lurking smile expanded and
changed in character. II was as
though q devil inside the man had
decided to reveal itself for an in
slant and TO take a frank peep
at Mr.. Bones through Simon
Brill's eyes.
"Or something infinitely more
terrible. Mr.. Bones" murmured
Brill. Something undreamed Of.
Say. for instance-an invasion from
within, Ell? Armies creeping up
wards towards the earth's crust,
Ell? Strange creatures struggling
for air and light-struggling to
reach the outer surface-exploding
their way upwards! A pretty
thought. you'll admit Here. at
this spot, and here. at this moment
Of time. we find the consumma-
ton Of years Of upward toll, eh-
perhaps centuriesl" He stared at
Mr.. Bones. and IL he had sudden
Nv sprouted horns and a tail, Mr..
Bones would scarcely have been
surprised. There Is your third al
tentative. sir. There Is your third
theory TO think about while the
sun goes down in the silent fields
outside. and the shadows creep
over the rooms, and the storm
approaches"
He broke into quiet. cynical
laughter. For an instant Mr.. Bones
thought he had gone mad. An in
slant later he wondered whether
he. himself. had gone mad also, to
risk crossing words with such an
adversary, and to shoot out the
question:
"Yes-but what's the fourth al
ternative?"
Simon Bril- stopped laughing.
The question appeared to startle
him.
What Not satisfied with three
dimensionS?" he exclaimed. rasp-
ingly. Don't dabble in a fourth,
my mani In fact. are you wise to
dabble In any? Were two other
young men wise to dabble yesterday
lin view OF what has happened TO
them?
MY God-what has happened TO
them?' burst out Mr.. Bones.
Why should IL matter to you
what has happened to them. Mr..
Bones asked Brill searchingly,
unless BY chance they arc friends
OF yours?"
Mr.. Bones. all at once. snapped
his lips together, and pressed
them tight. lest more should es-
cape through them. The old man
went on:
But then I have a strong suspi-
cion that they are friends of yours,
In addition to your patent anxiety
Tor their welfare, / have two other
demonstrating another trilocy,
Mr.. Bones. II you understand that
word. Things express themselves
In threes, both in Coomber House
and throughout the universe. Here
are my other two reasons. You
know so much about this place
that you might almost have heard
me talking about 1t before We met
THIS afternoon-yesterday evening,
for instance"
wouldn't a caretaker be toId?'
interposed Mr.. Bones, unsteadilv.
An. but my other reasons. Mr.
Bones" said Simon Brill. his YES
narrowing. MY other reason Lis
ten TO this. I pray. When we made
some passing reference lust now II
the former caretaker-who dis
appeared. you recall?-your ewes
went for one instant towards that
cupboard door there. Now why
pray. did you look towards tina,
cupboard door-Mr. Brown"
Cod Now for t." thought the
new caretaker. In a panic. And
trembling in every square inch OF
his body. he shouted.
wen, damn you-why did you?'
The next instant Simon Bril-
grew very close again. The new
caretaker was conscious OF witch.
ing fingers. and Of the reappear.
ance Of the demon at the windows
OF Brill's eyes. Then q voice from