Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1936-11-27
CHAPTER Z

The HOUNDS rushed forward,
almost dragging Coats with them,
and the others followed eagerly
into the chapel. Reid had an al
most irresistible inclination to
shout. He could almost see those
foaming jaws closing on the dead,
inaninate thing and worrying it
before they could be called off.
He. shut his eyes involuntarily.
There's nothing there" he
heard Colindale whisper in a
frightened voice. as though the
horror was worse because the two
hounds were paving and nozzling
in front of the altar steps.
"Hold . ern!" Colonel Graham
called sharply, and the echo OF his
voice seemed to. go round the
dreary place. Reid approached
and saw something he had not no
ticed on the previous night. There
was a large brass plate in the
place where the body had lain.
Strange" he heard the Colonel
say. Here's the old brass, UNI
touched. and the dogs won't leave
it. What's more, I've never seen
them hotter on a scent. What
dyer say, Coats %
mo, SIR" the man replied,
scratching his head thoughtfully.
Il should say the scent ends here
cant get 'em away from it."
Colonel Graham looked round in
perpleXity. What do you make
Of it, Colindale 2" he asked, turn
ing suddenly on the agent.
1.-THE door was locked, key
dropped Or thrown away, and
nothing touched. No one could get
through the windows, and there's
not another exit"
What is underneath 2" Reid
said in a quiet tone.
The other two wheeled round on
him-they had almost forgotten
his presence.
1.-THE crypt" Colindale said, and
beads of perspiration stood on his
forehead.
The Colonels face was very
stern as he looked down at the
brass.
This is damnable! That brass
plate can be moved from below.
It's an old custom with the
Severinges. I believe they took it
over from the monks when they
got the place, and the name.
Every Severinge. after his funeral
in this charel,fis lowered through
that opening. into the crypt, but
what deviltry have we here?"
Hadn't we better go down to
the crypt" Reid said quietly.
The hounds are evidently want
ing to lead us there
The place was strangely still;
only the bright sunlight made a
checkerwork of colors from the
stained glass windows on the pave
ment. It seemed almost sacrilege
to bring the hounds into this hall
lowed place; their very presence
was a violation. The men made
their way out silently and stood
in the ante-chapel.
IT don't think the crypt is
locked" Colindale said harshly,
for d sense of growing horror had
gripped them all. Sir Henry took
me down there once, when I first
came here, and showed me the
collins"
He. led the way. for the Colonel
hung back from the grim stairs
where green fungus grew on the
damp steps. At the foot of the
stone stairway stout doors barred
the way. but, as Colindale had
said, there was no lock, only two
staples showed where once a pad
lock had been placed. Colindale
pushed the doors open and a
lt1usty, horrible smell greeted
them. He put his hand to switch
and d dim light showed in the ROOF
from dusty bulb.
The hounds were quiet now
only their redeemed eyes and the
hanging tongues showed in the
gfdstly half-light. Reid advanced,
ana the Colonel drew an automatic
from his pocket. There was no
telling what this home of the dead
might reveal.
Heavy iron ratings divided the