Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-02-13

him. Hes al DlaChs ana nc eo@ Az
! face, like the Invisible Man
who took you to see the Invisible
Man'?" broke in Lesley.
Rosa" broke in Baby.
Rosa was the children's late nurse
and Max had been devoted to her.
/ Lesley guessed that he resented her
as a usurper and tormented her
out of revenge. During that after
Moons walk he had been in the cham
pionship class of young demons. she
! had grown so breathless while chasing
him away from doorsteps-to prevent
/ him from giving runaway knocks
| that, presently, she weakly accepted
his conditional surrender.
IN stop now, If you'll let me ring
at the empty house"
As she nodded consent, she looked
the most frightened child Of the three.
This was her first engagement and
she was stin in her teens. It was the
darkest time of the year when the
old town was shrouded by the mist
from the river. which flowed through
/ it.
And under the fog and the shadows,
I like the quivering outline Of shark
in deep water, lurked the threat OF
murder.
A series Of crimes, believed to be
the work of a homicidal maniac. had
recently shocked the population. Al
! though the tragedies were confined
to the poorer parts Of the town, Les
! ley went through the ill-paved his
! toric streets with her heart fluttering
at every footstep behind her.
It was dark when they reached the
sweep Of the Crescent. where Capt.
Lamb, who was a widower. lived with
his sister as temporary housekeeper.
The houses were imposing stucco
erections Of Regency period. The Lambs
| lived in the middle, next door to No.
1.-THE empty house.
Amid the lighted semi-circle, 1t
stood out as wedge Of darkness.
Inside was absolute blackness For
a lifetime, it had been unilluminated
even by the flicker of a match or
a thread of moonshine.
Max had not forgotten his bargain,
and he rushed up the steps, followed
by Lesley, who feared further rebellion.
When he tugged at the old-fashioned
chain there was a discordant jangle,
bell seemed to go on ringing further
and further into the dark distances
of the house, awakening the echoes.
On and on-deeper and deeper. The
sounds filled Lesley with the sense
Of having precipitated some calamity,
and she tried to tug Max away from
the door.
mo-" he shouted, clinging to the
ratings, Somebody's coming to answer
the door. Listen"
TITS the Black Man from the cellar"
whimpered Baby.
AS Lesley struggled with Max, she
thought that she too could actually
hear padded footsteps, sithering over
layers of dust. They seemed to be
drawing nearer to the door. In an
other second, they would reach it,.
Smitten by sudden panic, she leaped
the flight of steps in one bound, drag
ging the children with her, and ham
mered furiously for admission to their
own house.
Lesley was dismayed when Captain
Lamb himself opened the door. Al
though she liked him, she was In awe
of him, as her employer.
Just in time for tea" he said
genially, herding the nursery-party in
to the drawing room.
Miss Lamb, who wore trousers, mere
" grinned at the intrusion. She was
a typical John Bull, with a Jolly red
face and a crop Of copper curls. The
big room, modernized with metal
furniture, was so light and cheerful,
that Lesley forgot the creepy darkness
outside. When she was fortified by
tea and mullins, she began to apollo
gize.
"I'm sorry I made that awful din.
But we thought we heard someone
in the empty house"
Rats" explained the Captain. mo
one could get inside that house, or
out of it again"
mot even through the roof? Or
down the chimneys?"
Certainly not. After the last muir
der, the police examined the premises
thoroughly. You see, there was dust
ON the poor creatures clothing, which
made them wonder whether the crime
was committed in an empty house
But every lock and bolt on No. II
was intact"
What a relief. hate to think of
of my bedroom wall, when I'm listen
ing for Miss Lamb to come home.
When Miss Lamb looked at her in
surprise, she flushed.
Its stupid habit got when I
was a child" she said. my nurse
left me alone In the house, and I
was so frightened couldn't sleep
until I heard her come back"
well, you won't have to worry
tomorrow" Miss Lamb told her. Il
shall be away for the Golf Tourna-
ment. Miss Nightingale-who used to
live here's coming instead, and she
asked to sleep in her old room. Sen
timent, you know"
The Captain who had been watching
Lesley's face closely, made lightning
decision.
"I'm going to sleep there, while
my sister is away" he announced.
And directly I'm back from the club,
I'll give three knocks on the wall,
so you won't have to strain your
ears"