The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-07-07
.hapter l6
Hand In The Dark

" things about the old house
from jim Droissard's point of
view was the narrow cot which
had been put up for him in the
room of Mr.. Howe. The cot was
long enough, but the narrow
wooden rods along each side were
almost sure to prod him awake
sometime each night. This night
was no exception, even though he
had gone to bed a scant hour be-
fore. He writhed away from the
rod, feeling the whole fiimsy con-
traption shaking. and wished
again that the expedition were
over.
Are you awake, Jim?" The
lawyers dry voice. whispering,
was like a sheaf of riffied paper.
1sJhh." Droissard grunted UNI
graeiously.
Anything happen?"
"Nuh."
The lawyer lapsed into silence
and Jim bitterly resented the sigh
of contentment with which he set
tied deeper under the blankets.
Then another sound caught his at
tention, the "whush" of a door
closing softly.
He listened but heard nothing
for few moments. Then, distinct
ly. he made out the sound of soft
footsteps. They went around the
gallery and began to descend the
stairs with caution.
From force of habit. he contin-
ued to trace their measured way
down to the hall, not much con-
cerned with their owner. But then
a decided thump and low excla-
nation brought him upright Rob-
ert Howe stirred as well, and
swung his feet over the side of the
bed as Droissard, noiseless as a
cat, pad ded to the door and
stepped outside.
He was back in few seconds
whispering:
Its the girl-the dark-haired
one. She just went downstairs and
slipped on the last step. Think I'd
better go down."
"Rodman's there, isn't he?" the
lawyer questioned. At nod from
Jim, he added, Maybe you'd bet
ter go down anyhow. The girl
may have heard him call, or
something. Don't forget your
sling"
Reluctantly, Jim climbed into
his robe, and pulled on his soc,:s
in place of slippers. Then he adj
justed the sling on his "sprained"
arm. BY the time he had reached
the foot of the stairs, Eve was not
in sight, and the living room
seemed dark, although there was
a faint light from that portion of
the room screened by the fireplace
wall.
Prosaic as he was, Jim recalled
the 'glow-worm light" described
in the old story of the house, and
he realized that the illumination
he saw would just about fit that
description.
But he was not lacking in curl
osity. With more caution than he
had intended to use. he made his
way to the center of the room,
and then, peering around, as Eve
had done, discovered the bookcase
section standing open and saw
that the faint light, growing dim
mer, was coming from the pas
SageWay within the wall. He hest.
tated a second, then stepped for
ward
Clamn1y Hand
I'VE had gone up the stairs GIN
~ gerly, trying out each one.
They were sagging and weak shut
they seemed to hold her weight.
She bow stood within sight ofsthe
door, hesitating about proceeding
further AS she. held her candle
higher, jim Droissard reached out
his hand. intending to lean on it
so that his soft hail would catch
her attention. But at that second a
stray draft sent the candlelight
dancing, and then snuffed it out
Jim, about to tug at Ewes house
coat, found his hand closin G
around her ankle instead. Eve
shrieked from a pent-up agony of
fear and the nervousness which
she had been feeling for the last
fSw minutes.
Jim was too startled for the mo-
nlent tC do more than stay as he
was, but a second later he recoy-
cred himself Dodging out through
she living room with extraordi-
:lary agility, he was at the foot Of
The stairs before anyone but Rob-
ert Howe had reached the stair
rail above. The lawyer hastily put
mis- finger to bis lips, in a quieting
gesture.
The next minute Jim, looking
up, saw the gallery ringed with
Mrs. fsMarbury,S frightened face.
Gina's still sleepy one, Julie,
white with agitation, and Ham
and Neil, who had evidently ar
rived on the scene together. The
last two did not pause, but came
on down the stairs.
whats the matter? Was that
Ewes voice? What happened?"
Neil demanded impatiently.
Il don't know just heard the
scream. -" Jim said prudently
as the door to the kitchen quar-
tiers opened and Mr.. and Mrs.
Jackson appeared in formal night
dress, consisting of voluminous
sleeping garments and brightly
patterned bathrobes.