Evening star., 1935-05-28
'Not a bit. Good! I'll 60 and start

St0OQ ratner Stlll Wnlle MS NgNI,
quick footsteps went down the long
passage to the hall She felt most
unreasonably glad that he had asked
if he might take her up to London
and her eyes had a starry light in
them as they rested on Cafe.
After all, If there had been any,
thing funny, would he deliberately
choose to take her to her fathers
house? So easy to part at the station,
so easy to leave things there.
There was a small. demure smile
on Alison's lips as she went up the
stairs to collect her suit case.
Ready? Let me have that. Is
this alp" He took the case from her
hands.
That and my trunk in the porch.
I'll just see I've left nothing about"
Yet as she ran back through the
house, Alison was not looking for
any possession; she wanted to i'm
print freshly on her mind the picture
of that house. To glance by daylight
at the pantry where they had met
in such a queer fashion, to peep
into the drawing room where the desk
stood with its broken drawers half
open; to run back into the kitchen
where they had sat at breakfast,
seeing him again smiling at her with
the frying pan in his hand.
She did not admit it to herself,
made excuses even in her own mind.
III just see that all the lights are
off"
With Cafe at her heels, she went
down the seven stone steps that led
to the cellar; how grisly it had felt
last night, with the stable lantern
casting its dull yellowish beam down
those steps!
Turning the key, she peeped in and
saw all the lights inside we're still
on, blazing, but the cellar held no
horror for her now. She ran through
and turned the main switch down.
half ashamed of her own terrors. and
lost in the picture of the two Of them
exploring.
She was on her way back when a
low. unpleasant growl behind her
made her stop.
Cafe! Come on, Cafe"
The big dog did not answer. He
was standing few feet away, staring
intently back into the darkness. all
four feet rigid, tail bristling, ears
pricked and teeth barred.
"Gaffe!" Alison stamped her foot.
The dog looked back at her, but did
not relax. and as he turned back to
the cellar she could see the hair
along his back rising stiff1y, as though
there were some enemy, invisible, in
the darkness beyond.
In spite of herself, sense of some
thing creepy, terrible. hidden there,
returned; she ran forward and
caught at the dogs collar, Juggling at
him. but he was heavy and he would
not move, resisting her with. all his
weight.
Its a rat" Alison told herself,
remembering the one which had run
from the linoleum last night. But a
dog chases rats, shifts at them; he
does not stand rigidly, glaring and
growing.
Cafe, come on!" A sudden spasm
OF fear shook Alison as she, too,
stared with straining eyes into the
dark; was it imagination or was
there something pale over there. be-
hind the fallen roll of linoleum in
the far recess?
Her hand frightened on the bull
dogs collar. Suddenly he wrenched
free, raced past her and away up the
cellar steps, with Alison pelting be-
hind. She slammed the door to,
turned the key and few breathlessly
to find herself charging straight into
Guy Westurn.
Where on earth have you been?
I've been hunting for you every
where" He seemed upset, was star
ing down at her, frowning. Good
Lord, you're white as sheet! What's
happened?"
Cafe was leaping up at him,
nuzzling his hand: Alison. ashamed
now of her fear and rather hurt at
his brusque words. said shortly:
Nothing. I went down to turn the
lights off and Cafe wouldn't come
back"
I'VE ought to be getting on. Therell
be people about if We wait much
longer" he said. Look here. would
you like to stop and telephone to
your father?"
IF it wouldn't take too long?"
The car was small and rather
ancient two-seater, painted dark blue,
and with Alison's luggage slowed in
the rumble there was no room for
Cafe
Sorry! This is a bachelor car.
Cafe and I generally travel alone.
Can you manage him like that?"
The bulldog was heavy. but Alison,
one arm around him, said cheerfully,
Good heavens, yes"
Cafes owner, she noticed, drove
well; fast, but with sure touch that
gave her confidence at once.
You drive lot?" she guessed as
they ran down the road up which
she had come in the hired car last
night; seen by daylight gray road
winding between chalk pits and the
high rounded downs.
Yes. One has to in my job" He
took the big. swinging curve with
beautiful precision as the needle
mounted.
Il suppose so. An architect has
to rush about looking at places"
agreed Alison.
What? Oh! Yes" For a
moment he seemed confused. "Yes.
get about the country a good deal"
Il don't think I've ever met an
architect" said Alison. naively. "Is
it an amusing job?"
Sometimes.
What kind of things do you build
I mean mostly?"
"Oh, houses and schools and
things" he answered vaguely. II say,
that looks like the main road down
there"
But Alison was gazing back at the
house they had left, tucked in its
hollow in the downs.
I'm horribly ignorant about archi-
lecture" she confessed. II know
that was an old house. of course,
but I've not notion what period it
belongs to-"
He did not seem at all anxious to
talk shop, for he answered unen-
Enthusiastically, "Yes-it was old, all
right"