The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-12-04
Chapter II
Something Horrible

M AAA JOA
w Eve demanded, and from the
insistence of her tone l thought
for moment that perhaps Alice
had seen Eve herself, though it
Is true Eve was not now wear
ing the fancy pajamas Bill had
described. Instead, the fiame-col-
ored velvet negligee. wrapped
around her with elaborate casual
ness, revealed rather a lot of
astonishingly inadequate white
chiffon and lace nightgown.
But, clasping and unclasping
her hands. Alice looked from one
face to another with sort of
scared = rabbit expression, as
though begging us not to think
her demented. Shaking her head.
she said. 81 don't know. Some
thing horrible"
"But what on earth were you
proving around for?" Bob asked
the question which was in every
body'S mind.
Il thought of something want
ed to ask you, Bob" she said. a
little defantly. why shouldn't
I go down to the library to speak
to my own brother?"
"Well, it was foolish to say the
least" Eve reproVed, as though
she herself had not been prowl-
ing also.
Alice gave Eve another of those
looks 81 open hostility which l
had seen in the dining room. 81
think we should let Alice rest,
said Claire, coming to the rescue.
She's terribly upset and prob
ably doesn't feel like talking.
Probably she just had a bad
dream that frightened her and
that's why she wanted to see
Bob"
81 wish it had been a dream"
Alice shuddered.
Would it make you feel better
to talk about it?" Claire asked.
Il think | should tell every
body" said Alice. shutting her
eyes and shiyering again at the
thought of whatever it was she
had seen. "We must all get away
from here. | don't know whether
I had been asleep or not" she
went on. But | wanted to see
Bob about something. IL lit my
candle and Started out. It was
very dark in the upstairs hall"
Here her voice Wavered as the
candle must have done. The
lamplight from downstairs made
a pale sort of glimmer in the
Stairwell. but that was all. After
started. | was terribly afraid
and almost turned back. But |
knew Bob was there in the
library and that by the time l
reached the head of the stairs l
could call down to him without
disturbing anyone.
Then. she continued, 81 felt
a sort of draft as though a win
dow or door had been opened
somewhere. and" - Alice's voice
hurried her words, as though she
herself was running away from
what she had to tell-"my candle
went out and something brushed
against me in the darkness.
II touched it with my
Alice stopped and began to
shake so that | was afraid she
was headed fer Mysteries. But
Bob made her take another sip
from his flask and tried again 10
persuade her that she should
calm herself and go to sleep.
mo, no." she insisted. 81 want
to finish. Because you will all
realize then that we must leave"
But what happened?" Eve de-
manded again.
Il must have been almost to the
stairway by then" Alice said. "for
saw it going down the steps"
saw it?" | breathed.
"Saw WHAT" asked the literal
minded Eve
"Oh. Alice. you couldn't have
seen anything" demonstrated Bob.
"Yes. | did" she told him. Ct
saw a ghost"
"Oh. no." | heard myself OBJ
ject, as incredulous glanceS met
across the bed,
Shape On The Stair
LICE. darling. what did you
a see? Describe It" This came
from Claire. in the tone one
might use 10 a child when one
hopes 10 rOut an imaginary fear
by bringing il out in the open.
Il don't know" Alice admitted
There wasn't much light. Il was
just a shape. A big bulk. moving
down the stairs Then is when |
screamed and-and the thing ran.
/ tell you. IL ran. And then I sup
pose / tainted"
"YOu were Just frightened and
sick. my dear" Bob tried 10 re-
assure her Think what you had
been through this evening"
That's IL" said Bill. sally al
most had . spell. herself after we
got to bed"
| could have killed him cheer
fully. but nobody was paying
much attention. anyway, for
Alice was almost screaming. mo.
no, | tell you. / touched it. There
was something"
Gould IL have been a curtain?"
Kirk asked "YOu know a curtain
tapping about in the wind?"
We all voted for the long dra-
perieS at the window on the stair
way landing. In the uncertain