The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-10-04
OUT Of the NIGHT
Copyright, 1897, NEA Service, Inc

ing in the street, you could see
nothing about the first floor.
You had to DC up high, where
you could look down into the
rooms. Her eyes travelled slowly
upward; the dark roof of the
house opposite held her gaze
ALPHABETICALLY. Up there, on that
roof, she could look down into
the Bayvicw apartments. She
could watch every family: the
Smiths in 2-B. the Downeys in
IA. the Hunters in 5-A. She
could look. unsupported, into the
vacant apartment of the Carruth-
erS who were in Bermuda, and
into the recently deserted 4-B.
where Mrs. Wheeler had lived.
The longer she thought of the
idea. the more it absorbed her.
The roof across the way was dark,
too. and just as terrifying as the
one above her. Amy's shrek of
death still rang in her ears. 1t
would be an ordea Ito linger on
that black roof long enough to
catch 4 glimpse into the lives of
the tenants. Cilly'S mouth felt
dry: her hands were clammy. But
she brought her teeth together
and swallowed hard. If
she could discover just one tiny
clew. il would certainly be worth
the trip.
She went into the bedroom and
looked for the old pair of opera
glasses which had been her
mothers They would not be rs
good rs field glasses, but they
would do. She put on dark coat
and slipped the glasses into the
pocket.
\ few minutes later she was at
the door of the St. Ann apart
mcntS. She tried the door. 1t was
locked. To get into the house. you
rang the apartment bell and the
tenant pressed the buzzer in his
The front door click
ed. and while it was clicking, you
could open it.
To get into the house, there
fore, to reach the stairway to the
roof. Cilly had to ring somebody's
bell. She looked ut the name
plates. Mrs. Corbctt, of course.
She night stop for a monet to
inquire if Mrs. Corbett had seen
Sergeant Dolan. Without heSita-
ton. she rang the bell. Almost
instantly, the front door clicked,
and Cilly entered. She walked up
the five flights to the Corbctt
apartment. hoping she had not
them as they were pre-
pairing to retire.
But no. The sounds emanating
from the Corbctt apartment
gave no indication OF retirement.
Cilly halted on the stairway.
We're they having 4 party? All
the better, she decided. She
would have an excuse not to stop
in: she could continue immediate
y uD 70 the roof.
Even rs she decided this. the
lOOr opened wide. A man appear
ri on the threshold.
who's doin' all this ringing
e" He stopped, seeing Cilly. He
was an enormous, uncouth sort
Of person. PreliminaricS to re-
tircmcnt had apparently been
considered, for he was i'm his UNI
ieI'Shirt, and only one-half of his
supported sloppy
pair Of Slacks. He held Il tall
rink tightly in his hand.
"Oh-h-h-h! Hello, sister. Come
light in."
He lurchcd forward and with
exaggerated gallantry held open
he door. Cilly noticed that he
vas drunk, very decidedly drunk.
She heSitatcd.
Come on in, baby. You're Just
what we need to make this real
party"
At that moment Mrs. Corbett
in the hallway. "Why,
It's Miss Pierce" she beamed.
Come right in. dcary, | do want
TO get better acquainted with
you"
GraciouSly she took Cilly by
the arm. Mrs. Corbett was less
iuebriated. But in her present
state, she was marked contrast
to the timid. nervous little wo-
man Cilly met on Monday morn
ing.
mo, perhaps Id better not
stop now" Cilly demurred. 1T
was nothing important. E"