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Show : w THE HOUSE OF FEAR i' A Vivid, Modern Detective Story of the Mystery of a Broadway Theatre ' BYWADSWORTHCAMP tsxiS'X "Wey ,t y, Uak.n se upiil tdvT" Mi. HmoN demanded. Mik( hand! wcrfced fretfully I hit hat. Jon' ton an, a I lake aay more iliame with Woodford a" I 'That realty com erne you?' b 1 aeked quirk 1 r "n em b tragedy'' I Hut h wmilOn t lak bar literally ( "Id rather think jour anxiety lee general." Ha dliln I let bin go on. Hh oioikI away, inii be followed ber to lha door, glannng up at tba farad of tba aimi tiui lit house. star building, build-ing, evidently iprni.lt. "Thla la whr you live." i Hhr mxlijrd. "I wonil-r," he went oo hesitatingly, if aom lima I might" ""bn lb ni art a liillt nor settled." set-tled." ah Interrupted Pcrbepa aftrr the oprnmg I'd lib you to mm lo Ira "V"U make it loo remote." ba objected. ob-jected. 'Mo mmb baa happened to throw lha .p. nlnr Into doahl." "Than .win: I you wleh." aba said, and frankly nffeied be.- band. It waa cold enr ll.'cleaa la bi iii b dtew it away and walked paal th' wailing hall boy at th UKir. Qua. la returned to lb cab, and. a lha ihaufteur drove b m rapidly off. ft I lulu a reveile, disiouleniad. al-moat al-moat morbid H entered th apartment with cal-k.us cal-k.us Indifference Ho much had happened hap-pened within tba I ant few bourt thai th propped of th orcult hell bad rraaed for lb moment to terrify him. Hllenre. however prtadrd tba place. I !(. lie raaBtllan to tba )wlnie ood ford forty year old tlbanaa in arresting, ttaperallte, oa no ao rniint to b deoled I H IPTf E XIII. Ik cask lb Desk. Kor aom mnro'tiK Q'lallw tlarcd at lha old photograph of Wood for J, contrasting It wilb th dim ftgur In lha roup puad laat night. "Woodford'" b m il lurad finally. "It a the thadnar of Woodford " Mi Hugh bit at hi cigar. "1 bought you'd se It " "I didn't want to aa It." Quail aoaaered dul y. "You nun bat b'ard of spirit phoiig rapby." "Oh. ya. I n hrarl of It. That look Ilk a shining eiampl. ' "l' never loought of aura things serlouly," Qualle buril out. "Yet laat nlgbt I beard and aw that la fiplalnahl aa nothing but Wood ford spirit, aal now thla" "Hrar op. Quail,. , looks bad. but If tin day out ." Quill gated f,0:B tt window. "New York!" b- luld "If It had bappenej torn lonely, rouiui bou In lb coumr, Hut In the heart of , Vork. within a faw frei 1 J I I' ll 1 f i a Sly") '? y X, .'-;ViitV,-; "Non ihoiil what happened ber," Quaik anawared hoi ;y "W' make up our mlnda about that In lha niorami." lb manatr aald. Q'lalla. tinrertaln. a r""d d"al hurt followed him down the aiale. "Can w go BowT liarbara aaked 11 th rllmhad to th Hti. "la hurry" Mrlluxh anld to I know. Hh ahlaerrd "It rnld her. I I in afraid I I want to go." "All rlhl uu and Mwai'i open ! Iht al;e dHtr ahi'a I put oul lha lighla Her a the be; " Qua le lik 111- key and ! d llar (bara to the Imn dir He unlocked nd opened It whil Mi Hutli ihrew th luhea. The dfkna lowered tia blaik pall a If It had turn ei-peetant. ei-peetant. .Mrlluah h'lrri'd to I hem. "It ran be dmk In here." h aald wllh an unroinfotlalila laugh. ' tiot ni gueaalng. No one a gun cit, o no on rould ha leen here " A If In drHaiit i.niiraill.'t.no through rhe darknrea bhind tbrm earn th anund of limping fooistrpt 'r Breilng niomnit llarbar lirank - agalnal U'lille. Mi Hugh atiffi ned. "Good Ood! You bear that 7" lloa behind Ihio Quail caught a genii paddiru r'rom oul tb plt-iik plt-iik nlgbt of tb . theair tiny. Iran, black body gliod pat I he in, allppcd Icto th alley, and b'lur b could loui h It, befnr be could conTlnr blmarlf that It bad arlutually beal there, bid alunk fioin aibt clou to tb wilL Al tb aaui luoiueol tb limping footelepv craacd. liarbara faltered lolo tb alley Quail and Mi Hugh followed. Sbll the manager lammed th door and turned lha key Qualla ran up tba alley al-ley tl far aa lb fenr. II louod no sign of a cat. eama bark, apeaklng wllb a derlalv relurtanca. Ilia eea had had oo cbanca to ao-Icuatoua ao-Icuatoua thrniaellea to th ocw'daik-aeaa. ocw'daik-aeaa. Tb llilog bad been ao rapid, ao uneipe, led. be waan't oofldaut tb oibera bad aeen what h bad. 'I thought I aaw" ba begau. Mrllugh nodded. 'Then I did. but It went by to quick." "A abadow." Ilarbaia wblapered. No doubt remained, but Ilk tb aa-llatanU aa-llatanU Tommy, who had Imagined a cat that drat afternoon, non of them could ba qulla aura of baring keen a lining thing t Quail walked oer, tb policeman , at bla bela. '.No dream ahnot thai." Mrllugh eid. ! II Indicated a gnwt la on of tb Una alepa. then led tbm to th brtrk all whkb la on plac had bB ' newly 0ked. "Your builei there." b announced an-nounced He thrual hi finger In a small orl- n "I can fel t. I Quail anoeed uneasily. 'Thea waaa t a man la front nl mm H would aurely baia bee a hIL 1 h pom eman anlffed. "Funny ainell bar Why don't yoa air tb plain out" , Mi Hugh glanced at him doubifully ; 'Kntir as la beyond me." th po-Ibenian po-Ibenian went on. "Somebody loiks . and unlocks Ibat door from tb la-rid, la-rid, thea find tber wss nobody lo do It " ! Wnb a nioilnD of aignlflcaae Melt Me-lt ugh put hit band In bla porket. "Kay you'd look Ilk a fool, wouldn't you. If you reported Ibis caa at Headquarters" Head-quarters" 'Nollilng ela to do," th man no-saered. no-saered. ' Kuppoa l ee been caught iff poll" ' You Juat let m know and I II 01 I wllh lb (.'ouimlasioner," McHugb aald. Quail looked conildrr alely away, but b auapected money paaaad b-t b-t aeen them. Mrllugh at least wag b H.g honent with th Hunres. whe owned tb building. A b had promised, prom-ised, b wai doing his beat to keep th ugly acandal from spreading. liarbara had watched and listened restlessly. "riupiMte you'll hat to aea her borne." Mcllugb aald under his breath. "Mo coma to tb ofTlc lb first thing In th morning. I want eery lltll deUII that happened whll jou wer alone." II raised hi eolra "I'm slumped, Qualle. Who locked tbst door? Who raised that curtain Not bera now anyway. 8o wa might aa well all go horn and aleep on It Belter plrk up that lamp of yoara." Qualla taulted lha footllghia and walked up tb alsl to th aeal wber h bid willed for tba thing that ; limped. Tb cover was pushed back si be had left It. Ha glanced at tha dies clrcl from which tba thing had first Imposed Its nearness upon htia. Tha whole adrentura during tba last bslf hour had been placed upon auch an Insecure foundation that h found ' I in nrn h uior a'raid of you ' ninrlly ' ! "Whale 'list? fih Now mayb 'joiid I t tun himie and g t your lmui e!-'p Not i',al you leally mi d H " ' I d iik lo sla and see Ihe eg- rlt. ii, nl," flu- jld Willi ijulik diirlnK flia plated ber- 'If on uiia 1 idle ground 'llriri, r-rlM, aitiit'lNidy will are lnat I gl home ' Mrllugh didn't rii ;,i' from Q iall I ri ge.tum of rll.laale. ! ' If ihat ih" ii) j u fre, all right," , II di l',r slate il'-.t rhu. Ih ked l and I'lnoi'd the k-) He ekan-In'. ekan-In'. I the kir i I. I.i for dropping ti In bm Inp toi k l "Jual the iih ." hr .ml. "thla iloor eorih giiniding Thr i op doean t ae-m t l lie linding Him h mil I brie Hlip-rK-e )ou run ttirougti th dressing tiei ii and I In- Infu. Qualle Mayo Id biier do ii uitaif You slay by Una door." It Ws libioi llial Ihe manager iah"l I'.atliara kepi undiT oliserta-iinn oliserta-iinn a mm Ii n the do-ir Quail nod-did. nod-did. Mi lluh lik a handful of n.airhra fimu In . poi krt and climbed ll.e lion s'alrraae. lUilara fa tu I lil Ha tlrarlty "I iiip I in a fiMil to atay," b aald. At !at the io rar h rs met oa the slage and with puiled Urea da-Mr da-Mr mini to Ihe rellsr. 'They ya found notli ng yt." liarbara liar-bara aald. QuAlle cIIik lied bl bauds. "Hhrn tiny will. furely dowa there "- Hut Mrllugh and the poltreinan returned re-turned nniiir-handcil. Th prolagoo-il prolagoo-il of the uirrnalliral lllualon hid left no trace. "nut I heard groan af'.er I had fired." Qualla liiMetrd. There's no blood." Mrllugh an-sw an-sw ircd. ' Kireiy diMir'a ih ked. W' been In earh rat hole." "Kin pi Ihn paanagr," Quail reminded re-minded him. Iln wint forward and glanced through. Mrllugh pe'red oer his shoiildrr. "Wlirr did you Hand when 70a Bred?" he. aaked. Qualle entered and at a dlstanr of setrr.il i-rt fjred tho manager. In lha narrow spar the acrid odor of tb powder still lingered. "And wber was the figure?" Moll Mo-ll u Bh went on. "A llttlo In front of where you're Handing Juat Inalde." Millu.-h turned and hurried to th rear of the slage. where hn supplement supple-ment the tai;iie Uclit with a number num-ber of mslihes. 'Tome here, Qualle." ha snapped. V ' imt im urn: 4in. lrsrlr waraimrs aeemiaifl; ( fteraalnral naliur. hui failid ! lop Waaairer ) lliuh la hi retlial ! Ihe eld rrpertnlna nirlmlinuia, "tunaid's lire," at M Il.ir.' Ihralre. I hre lalerfrrem ra are allril.nl'd In Ihe ahosl of the li)..Rr tl Ilmd hlmu'lt ba fnrlj jtara J diid on Ihe Imre whll ailing la IhU omr liie. tail-In tail-In a, hla liailing 111 4 H In I1"' rridal. , , haa rfrnpM'4 died while rrhiaralag "eld maa M iMidord' purl. l. Hack t 1 1 nfi, and iIm- IJu.iili, (he j play wrii;liL til .Ih are in a alal' el arriiim u.ifnr, uhlih aAeets Tlia nhnle rorii.i 11 1. Im luidnit Hil-lint, Hil-lint, the b'Iiu who ba laki a I art-tea's art-tea's I'lare, and I.. iiu'Uul liarbara Morgan, Hie Ii ailing Imll. 1 lalle baa JimI apral a nitlit walihiiii I the hannlrd llieiilrr, drpll- iarlara'a ef. furta In do'iia li' Mm. Ml. r . tmaal trrienre. la wlilik be Hrr an Im (tei llie almt at a ti'in J n e. Ire, he eai-epc fr.iai Ihe hnaae, to llnd liaibara walllnir nnMde Ihe alatfe di'iir. Ihry nil a fMilireman. uiil fur! Mrllagh, sad ulart Intr.lli-allna. I II lf'1 1 It Ml. 1 be intirs of a I amp. 1 ' 'JL f IIKY walihd Ihe mail b I g 13 Ji in-t hiu--. diilurlrd Jf shadow. The prnirreaa !N of MrlliKh and tb 1 iMillmiMn ma le a hollow hol-low sound wlnib Iimihi iI limuy ei bora. It bad In tie In common wllb II. 0 limping limp-ing trpn QuiUl had bruid. Thrn tb managir ws at th switchboard, and l.gbl Da-h'-d sasinat tb tawdry will and etpoird tbo toid of th auditorium. auditor-ium. Quail took a airp forward. 1 ' Tba curtain, U Jluicli!" "Why. jre," M.lliiKh drawled. "Vetma to ba up Juat a I left 1L Thought you laid lha curtain was down ? You been dreaming?" "Tba whole thing seemed, a night-Biare," night-Biare," Qualle answered; the. door, too, but I'te wlliieesrs of that." "Fo yon have," MiHukU mused. J "Tbst's no dream anyway." Kor the Brl time he Mo!e to liarbara. liar-bara. II f;ucl ber wllb a brulaJ abruplncaa. "What you doing hereT' Qualle studied the girl luxlously. tipectlng an awkward and InsufDrlent ' excuse. Tho rnpld eaie of hrr reply, therefor. satonUhrd him. "I guessed Mr. Qualle was coming (boat hunting to-night. I couldn't re- 1st the temptation. I hoped ho might 1st m Join h 1 111. but I got here too late." "Ncrey girl!" Mi lliuh grinned. l like nervy girls inynrlf. Clad to know there's one In the company who Isn't afraid of Woodford' aiiook." ' Phe amlled plm ldly burk at lilm. la bli bedroom he fared a mirror. Ills hands tightened on tba edge of the bureau. 1 be countenance that stared back waa gray and marked by unfamiliar linea The eyes were bloodshot. blood-shot. Tbe lids twltrbrd. Suddenly Ihe fare broke lino a cynical smile 1 be time-worn smile bad flashed Into his mind "Like a man who ha seas a ght." He hurried to bed, and, thoroughly eihautaed. alept. Tb vivid 1 1 Taw of th street awakened awak-ened him He gated from hla win dnw at tb dawn of perfect day. His a 111 waa stronger. He would Dot argue the merit of list night's adventures, whlrb had th savor of a bitter dream, until he bad talked with .Mcllufh. Lrly aa h wa at lha office th manager waited for btm. He aat at bis desk, staring at the wall with -a expreaalon ufteatlv of Bw be-alldernicnL be-alldernicnL II seemed, however, surprisingly sur-prisingly fresh. Tb firt was a tonic for Qualla. "You seem to hive slept well, Mcllugb" Mc-llugb" he said. "I tbougbl I bad bold of myself," the itiioirr detective aald. "1 waa be-gii.ning be-gii.ning to use my thinker again when ,ui.t now" i Ha broke oft. He fumbled among pile of photographic proofs on bill i.rak top. "I've Juat gut h prlnti of those pictures pic-tures we took laat nlgbt." "They're good " 'All but one," Mrllugh answered slowly. He passed Qualle a bundle of proofs, but hia band covered one which remained re-mained on Ihe desk. "These are clear enough," Qualle 1 said, beginning to suspect. "But here's the one of the big scene? You bad It taken for a poster." Mrlluch raised Ihe picture he had withheld, hut he kept Its face hidden. "Who was on the alag when that pu t lire w aa liken?" "Why. Miss Morgan." Qualle answered, an-swered, "and Polly and Wilkim." "You'd swear ther wa no one else" "Certainly. You could lee aa well as I. You know as well as I do." "I thought I saw. 80 did Tommy and Mike and the photographer!. Just take a look at thl" W llh a quirk gesture b turned the proof of the big seine Ihat aam grouping that bad seen Ih death of Woodford ind. forty yeirt liter. Cir ton's similar end. Quail initchcd th plctur from 1 Mrllugn'i hind and bent close abov It, , It challenged hla reason is deliberate-1 ly ai the figure In cold white flam had done last night. Kor It contained, where he knew ther bad been ouly three, a fourth form, Blinding eloae to Wllklns Indistinct, scarcely outlined. 1 a If out of focus: and crouched ! Its feet was a small black ball like a est. "Uxik it this." Mrllugh sal.1 hoam- j ly while Qunile's eres widened. ' ! He iiskxmI him a fa led cabinet photograph photo-graph of a difrk-farcd. repellent band-aome band-aome num. "That's Woodford." h said, "mid the year h died," Qunil compared I: lth 'he tn-unaccountable tn-unaccountable figure In the picture taken last night. Although that was 1 nebulous, like a thin icea through o. Broadway! M,Hugh. thla .Balr .1 miking me a moral coward." ? "" l" ' b ,0' '" Mrllugh said dryly. "Last nlgbt you were on the point of surrender." Qu.ll. reminded blm "What about It now?" "Jfa a fine day." Mrllugh repeafed, "ao fine that I .till want to weigh the ficu. I ll give It to you without frills. When I first aaw that picture you could have knocked me over with a feather But the aun kept coming In, and th racket out there wag like a bracer. Al yi gti me tbit way. 80 I'm going lo look tbe new faoti all over. You've enly told me about tbe high apot of Uit nlgbt. Get down to casesevery little thing, no matter whether you think If Important or not." Qualle aat on tbe edge of tb d -sk nd reheersed each detail of his terrify-log terrify-log vlgll In Ihe theatre from bla first Impression that aom on waa looking t him over the gallery railing, through th approach of th limping footitcps nd th cat, to that final moment In the choking passage when a figure had cemed about to materialize before blm In cold white flame. After he had finished Mr-Hugh con-ldered con-ldered for some time. "If I hadn't gone down myself." he Id, "I might hive been a lot cockier. But I heard the footsteps, too, right fter I'd (worn the house wss empv, nd I saw that black cat. Take It all In ill It looki like a clear ease of a haunted house. Seems ai If Woodford's plrlt waa as Jealoui aa tbe man waa Ir. life, aa If he waa using all the et powers In hell to keep us from reviving hi play and stealing hia glory. Good Uird! Ilav w got to fill for that? Have we got to let Carlton' death remain re-main a crying mystery?" He looked up. "There'a one thing we can be pretty ur of. That noise you beard like wind must hav been th curtain coming com-ing down." "Surely." Quelle agree-1. "I eouldn't bellev It at th time, and, at a matter of fart, who waa there to lower It or te rds It igiln?" "Se her. McMugh. after last night and thla this mad picture, a you going on with the revival? Will you produce 'Coward s Fire' In Woodford's Theatre?" "Why, of eoure-lf my health last and I can put it over In spite of old Woodford." Tbit settled It for Qualle. He knew that Mrllugh had not surrendered unconditionally un-conditionally to th supernatural. 1 Then I m off." he said. "I'll try to j get Wllklns again for luncheon. I'm I remembering your advice to keep an i eye on him is fsr possible" 1 "Good boy!" Mrllugh approved. "We cin put It down as settled that, playing Woodford's role, he's the one In the worst danger. Say. you haven't got in extra bedroom In your flat?" "I hive. Vhyr "MLgit aik Wilkin up to my with you until the play , - ;. bl llvuiv aloni in 1 bniirdliig hou e " "Certainly, If )nii h 1 r u "Then don't a k V. 1 1. 'o in; to-day. I want nu 1 . ,. 1 im rr "Honored, I am sir " "I did a heap of !. 1. it lira got homo lat null!.' M' Hig'i u "That huxliirK iIohii .it tl.i- lit bad got pietly tar un'ti-r my si: fc'ver bi ar of Itali'Uh .1 e. tne E i llh lilRh-brow th.it liiMrnj 1)1 Columbia?" "Yc. W hat about blm" "I've aekrd hi. 11 to . 1:1 1 si'hp and me." Qualle left. uneac ri-'fn'fi: 1 fac e of thla new arrant!1 :u' nL Jor be had no doubt, w.is a ir.ist-r' aftgrcaidt fanatic who .n.i ,1 ml'i1' lo reduce every var ni uti Iron u normal to terms of bla on 1: "h-a. vocabulary. More than i vi r, !tn.e supernatural hid "o cm'nrl'. trcngtbenctl IU carr. hi- wires ' contrary shouti-d st bmi pun to-- tbe evidence of his own ' ws. He was antouliihi d in I r-li'"-therefore, to find the Ki i-Iitu well set-up. mldille-asi d nun. ntw'; abivin and n rui-ulnu-'y l.u.nrid He sci-ined capturnl l y ' ' and tho color of Ihn ri t.i ir..r:t they lunched. Mclluirh. ou r iW' fee, hud to drive ldt ati"iit -'3 W'-1 purpose of their iiii-rt1'..- J"-1 amlled tolerantly. I "Ono finds It dilTlru 1 ; - U'M spiritual maiilfrsiutloii' n '! 1 try of your. It l li-' hf'; 1 young and alive." I "We get old young Inf.' MrH"-H grinned. I lie profiii-e.l Ms an 11. i t nf ' h.id happrned at WinmI! ' l 'h dim 11 nil for yrrery. J" ' ""' displaying, however, a t "I J" astonishment. Ir I11. .111 Qualle. ua Mrllugh wi-lit 3. ' Engllhniaii really iA - ' I ' of urn oiumon Inter"!-! t 1 - -shaiprni'd with th" re.' ton's d..at!i. but It -raptured only h"i J ' ' ' '' leatinotiy as to the shrtl",, V- ' and told his own rxi'"'"1"' fooietep. the rat. and t e ' cold white flume. "fieally r-'mirkahle '" k,( then, "parllrul;ir;y no in ' Hut It s only fair to tc: '" stirt. there's notli'.ig you'ie hasn't it' counterpart I 1 th f" of the Society fur IVyrli or other similar organ """" "What about Carlto-i'v .'. "That I very trnl" '',,r ' . swered, "and I shun t : v '" ." yo't for your own ' ' f hnldinu 1111 bi'efii !.r '' ', only reni.iulirig you '" nd why not our oirn r i i "')r -live after us. That th "" " fCoHdimcd on afar, i"-''"1' "W rant do anything mot to-alirbt," to-alirbt," Mi Hugh agreed. He turned from an unseeing star at the ate light on the corner to Barbara. Hla manner loaard ber, which bad been haiab and contemptuous, contemptu-ous, altered. He attempted a rough kindness. "You look sort of sick. Barbara. Rvmeuiber you're a nervy girl. If old Woodford la walking around Inalde he's gut nothing against you. lxn I you worry. And, until we find out what went on in tbrre to-night, you keep your mouth shut. Iwn't you let any of 11 get to W llklns." "You ran trust me. Mr. Mrllugh " He Jerked bla hand In farewell and started up the street. "What doea It mean?" Barbara demanded de-manded hyslerlially, "the steps like Wood fords, the cat, Iho thing that happened wbru you were alone of which you won't tell me?" "What would be tbe use?" Qualle aald. He glanced at hi watch. "It's after I o'clock. A useful hour for all that a happened." Fhe had controlled herself She followed fol-lowed hi in silently across the ktrret nd entered the cab. When he was seated beside ber the girl s tlllude I uiged on hi 111 sn Increasing sympathy. I "You aie nervy." be said softly. "Moat women would hae ecreamed made a scene." Her hand moved, but she didn't answer. an-swer. During most of the tide. In fact, she remained withdrawn In her corner, and, he fancied, a more profound pro-found emotion than frlghl held her io. He became a trifle anbamed of tbat unguarded moment In the alley, yet even now he fought bark a temptation to break down her rrseive with a, rapturous iuatrrlalim. In a sense he waa tied when the rab drew up In a quiet aid street before a large apartment house He helped ber lo the sidewalk. "You'll let me thsnk you aca'n for coining dnw n " Fhe sighed. "We were all like children to-night -looking for bugaboos. If only we hadn't found them! Now goodhy, and you have bad warning enough, haven't It dlffli uit to real I is he had actually sat thai and suffered Ita (luslve phases. Tb ftuabligbt. however, waa sufficiently confirmatory. He stooped nd found It where he had remembered remem-bered hearing It roll beneath the aeats. Aa be rose be exercised a per-tuncloty per-tuncloty pressure on the control. He braced himself heavily against tbe seat. A brilliant path of light tore Uroas the auditorium to the further vk all. He anapped It off. The abadowa Jeered at hi in. "McHu.h!" be ahouted. Tbe manager sprang from the wings, scrambled over tbe footlights, and ran long the aisle. 'What' up now, Qualle?" Quelle aaw Barbara step on the stage and look anxiously In hla direction. direc-tion. He held up tbe ryllnder. Thla." he aald. "I told you when the limping thins went by It wouldn't work. Just now when I picked It up look!" He pressed the control. The light glared. Mrllugh initched the cylinder cylin-der from hla hand. "You found I' exactly where you dropped It?" "Yr." 'Then you were too excited. You Aiuldn't hive worked It right." "Don't think that. McHugh. You can't do any more than nap the button but-ton back fir ai It will go. I did that time and atiln." 'Thli Ii the trngest thing yet." McHugh mused. "I'm glad you came anyway, Qualle. Tou'v given me a lot to think about." "For Heavens aake." Qualle cried. "Hive you any ldeT" "Mighty few tbt you haven't handed hand-ed me." Mcllunh replied. He pressed the control a number of time. The light gleamed, died away, flashed forth again. "What ire you doing wllh that light?" Harbin cilled. "Maybe signalling Mare." he M-swered M-swered dryly. "Easy. MrHurt!" Qualle warned. McHugh grinned. "You've a lot of Imagination, Qualle," he said, enigma, tcally. "An awful lot of Imagination.' 1 : f"l !)l ' ill ' ; in ; - ' n; - j ,' . , I ' ' ! !'', , n'i i - - v H it v -'I a .V "Mow lonely vrythiog tnln h whiprd. v Hit hand crpt toward hr, (ouchod harm, m carr.d to hia brain an into-.oatmfl oontant ( ,a yh contact for tho moment mada words .ntxpraaaivo, unfit "llr a h ntd th fmtala HKHlft " .ov-a pnl in. i "Thai wn ranv to u"i.' Mrlluuh Mid "W all ' N han ? W lnTf ' ' "Whrn I firat i-artm do n " Mika an -awared 'No ntnttrr what ou Honk. Mr. M' HiikIi. I m aura. Ila a-atn'd lookina. air hath ton ayary hra. I ran mil and waitrd until tha othfia iHina. Thn ther wra no oo more f.Mtifpa ' "The i hi" M lluuh ankd. Mik liH.kad up. aurptmait. MrlltiKha lil.tm- not tiaila'a. It did md t-onifitl hia tmuhlf. You ram ittli'T w hut a told you rttwuit la Ml n if hi , JoM-a." M aw ii n if on Mik , Mtti rnp'lna hla old ton of twinfer "It wanit't hka the other afternoon, xlr. Th eat dtdtt t an m In he kCu him " "i ou'va not an darned fiim li nnji'i-liiailoii nnji'i-liiailoii M m it ahutTM voii hp ii I a pin v wrticht hka Mr fjimile You uo ! on tnlkliii: to thin telil lem. i) It lid Ii II at mm hi "ii ou out . HI i lit h ho i, .lnyra. when nn'te through ith hi in. and I'll vend In.IIv to on at Ihe futt Iter i hrerf ulnenn dirntrtinh an Iha Kna-liahm.in Kna-liahm.in queat imel her. r or Jyra hutiMalf, evidrntlv. Iha lahaaraal meant noihina riirournalna llm hiand oal humor of tha reiiaurant had Bona He mi longer amiled. Ma aprarH ra. In e. when I mily left l.im Nml Me. Huah. at the roiiiiiieiirernant of tha tua arena, aroaa, ami, followltia hla rua-tom. rua-tom. f-lwprd hla luinda and railed out: "All rlffht. YYilkln That will do ('nm on, Harhiira. Hkip aa uaual to 'Mother, now you hava the truth.' " ijuaila mnp aniinua for .loyre'a ver-lii ver-lii l. hut Mrlluah rarrhd tha man off. Mlntoat p'Hiiieilly, In hla limmialn. and it wann't unnl iha tiait afiermam that he hal an oppnrluiut to aak iuaa-tiona. iuaa-tiona. M lluuh wan oddly retleent then. .ore. ha admitted, however, had found tha atmonphere of iha tha-m tha-m I re ilepreanina and innleyolenl "I thoiicht he'd he m hetler man than ou lo hide here for the rtiKhl i lave him Ina rham e, hut ha took Wrtier-i yreat. hia. upatandlna Buy like him'' Ha d there waa a feellna of t ' q mnrh evtl Thouttht nm a e re I I realisation. I arrept Ihe an pern at urxl an a fart. t 'nnataittly t (tinea happen that avlmlt only of an orrtill expiunn-j tlon. I iva you my judament frerly on tha general queatlon, hut I with- j hold m v opinion of thla particular raae which I hava at Mirond haul The reaponnthlllty la loo great Am in haa heen killed. Aa lone aa the jo-alhillty jo-alhillty of a human crime ex let a e muat aeek to diat-over and punlah. I j me loik the theatre over, th-n. Ie ma talk to theae eoie, go ahead for the preeent. hut on no account reheara that acene until It la a -lutely neceaMiry. If we are dealing with tha aupernatural It would he danaeroua In the extreme." MrHtijch roe. The rornera of hla thin lipn twitched. tjuaile had heen ' piixleil tiy hla tiearlna IhrouKhout the I entire luterlew. He could not ac count for hla hnvlnn miucM It a all. They drove quickly to the t heat ra land entered the plley. Mtk waa out-ld out-ld the ataite door, hla face reionliua: a nharper perlurtmHon thn uaual. Mr-lltiah Mr-lltiah railed I nilly. Aa the old hc t trean came lo Ihrm Qua lie mum eiiiiiki "The House of Fear" In. ky Itarhara rained that Tucket w lieu he did I'rohrthlv pulh'tt ) 'l nut of a had hole. "What aa hla opinion" fjuaile anked. "M. ha i.hiMi aeitlna mil The foimer drte tie evaded the ueailon "I don t l ave In take Iha advhe of averv acho-il leai her I talk to. do I" "Then whv did u an lo htm at all-" Qualla anked rtally. "Wanted eary anple." Mi lluh muttered, mut-tered, and that waa all gunll mold al frm him. Krueotlv ljuaile tried to toniine a few ml on lea uninterrupted mnverna -Hon with Itarhar. Ilia 1 j k of auc-jntnlrih auc-jntnlrih fnt Ihit le ait I avoidlna him Kor a lona; tlma a Hitve hhn tin rhanre to accept her I vilatfon for tea Oreumatancaa ro aplred In make that poenlhla paly the afterniNn leforp tha draaa I hrurwl. I u-fore dlamlaalnt; Iha mm pan v n day Mclluah ralletl thp matnlarp do aie and faced them, a trlfla ai harranacd. Qtialla thought "Thlnaa hava run pmoother thai eiecied." ha paid. Ihruatlng 1 thumb In tha armholep of hip wal cit "Yon deaervp a IMtlp varatt. a I'm Boiiif to Bva It to you tnnig h all amept oHy and Bar harm a Wllkma. You thrap atay. Tha r unihoMdoTjiirp i f 'nnt miied ftoin pt lit. a p..- l' focija of nod fold k "lif.it tire Jif llm jritiuKy iiH lulini: p.i-nton. iiiitid here. a nol luiporrlhl' th.it Hi. it Jialoimv ahould leioam. u rti.ipn wh.d- I undire. ted hv W If .r.l h W t- ford. Thla iil thitu: nutht hive u-- l UltlulMteil a) Itu I ' point W lirri' l .tiiMeil Woodford M de.ith in n ..r. e a to make rt rcpi tnn-u of tin- ir.m. ih, Under prei-lnelt, miliar t U 'imir-tu ui rn, a It oiret her la nail dr." ' V'Mt talk well" Mi HiiL-h n.ild ".ind Mr-M 'I've intend d in rat n dtclionarv for J oine tune. Are ou (rlna to aav it would he murdf-i to n nd another mm on in t'rtrlloua pln'.'" j "A tit-eat deal." .lovre anawerM il''H l . "would depend upon the re I FUMume of the Individual attacked" i "I'vt u of k Nttona man for the part, Mi lluiih iniiltertd. "and I want to put I ihiH revival over in npiie of WiHMlford. 1 in rpite of the dev il htmadf. You re md I ell i n mo it run j le done?" 1 ,iiih amilril, hhiiktntf Inn head. I 'I tn onlv i . 1 1 . L' iiMiT r Hi of In- . uy an alteration in ner pppraram e j 'a rhanae derided I y pleaaiint. MelluKh walrhd her out of harrow j eyea. "I va got a aKHik doctor out nld I IniIIv. Ilea lalklnp to Mike. When! he cornea in I want you to stve him all Iha dope ou run ahout Wooflford a jealouay and Iha rohane and the cat " In.IIv lauKhed. t I "The cat' Il lan't here today. I don't feel it near anv mote A audden reaolutlon animated Mr. Iluah'a fen Hi re a. "Mike"' ha railed. Tha old property man entered, followed fol-lowed hy Joyce. "Come over heie. Mike." Mrlluah i ilemandefl. "Why are you looking no1 I upaet lodav ?" i Mike a hamla worked fretfully at hin . hat. I "I know you don't believe me. Mr. j , Mrllutfh tjuiiile eiepp'd to the alar. where' he had ri-'-n I'.al I ara . -n i i im mi Ihe nnfii. In a wxv i ahiank fiotn Iheii ( firnt inei tinit afl-r I f t nliflit n feat ami lioi i rlainto n An he itmmc.I ulie , did ind ineel hla vn, and hefme he j could npeik to to-r Mlbiuh auiu ' mnned him ov r Hie fool In; It t n -Hid lomitlMUded Hie i nWHV I Illltl"h e rehearfiiit; I In tin auditor Pint I In' manat-er threw Held' hla pietenae "It a an iiirer an Hie irt of tl." he na id. "he a n-e, i'mi lie, we did r , aouirthinu w o-d ( the door mi l dn pe ir ' The in.n-al imh rd. nffer'd f ul -t her proof I ll.it tile the.it re W H - lem - 1 poiH'ilv lit lea-' Ml nf olte di-t Ml I'lliC rtt:m S 'lit' followed arene With lill' n ii f ii mil in I Ntiioot h n i'Mi Wu.ule mh . I Ntl v en 'er the h'K w hire Jo re had , made lum-elf . . .f ! t a hie He wt- led I THE HOUSE OF' FEAtl ! run anvl I M,,vr l -' fri ! f-warwl f-warwl lmurrn lthi. ' ra a-ir. ! r. iH '! mh-t !. fr - i" fini.n f..r i tm im a4 ir " I H- .., IB " p.rr-i. .r t-n if ttoi j tVl.lla lh .lwl. .inn I lmt.4 la ! ' " l' -n imwixl 4arMnltw. II " I (nulnwi (. lor Mtll " 1 fit f in r-irl ih i a l rurtmia kruiw ir J"r ! i..l1 i-'m f inihi in h-l l' hi4 h rt. .1.1 ". 1 Nln roilM " M mo f.ilr '!" Kl .'Wrr.l. f I Mrllitch rMirx1 I I (ft) ! Iiptntl II ' tn Il ia Irwk lunKlil. r"-l worth MI ot-rlr. P H '' 1.1 I Whw ! 'l I'' '"i""'" T-t. J.i) ilni i-'4 mm in go alir'l hr mi ! npiomri 1t.n I Hir-lr"" Hir-lr"" lrlluli til r.n. IfiT .' ,wnii Ix.i'r i4 Wiiliim v"" o"! mri II at If "'l'H h " W-wati awMl l nwnil't t4 Vnipnw In ihmtln aiirh a fort-"i II arr.lJ II arlil'lmiial pf"f Vrlliif h a 4oiihl .f I r irl l fl i.ho Ht.a didn t unit ml " Huh aktnr. and th. Mrmlll of hf ariMianr lrlil ap"ninit t rtatnl If -ifi wlh I ba ) r rwm " PVOIVIl, r ( ra a ten there airead., Ho'lv" , Hurprteed. Qitaila aaw 1h old j trea ahaka bar head Than" Mrllngh diraried -ever. ho1 d hatter put down tha adrtraa" I I la alarm gave them tha number and a 'reel, turned and atarted for the atage door Minca M''la had been at an 4- . Ing nearbv it waa natural ha ahmild j leava tha Iheatra Vlth bar Hhe. had an appearance of reairaloeal fhfclil aa aha went down tha nlun. H ( knew 1'iat tonight would o'fr n- ehaioa for quiet talk or for hoae queaiiona ha felt he mit put to her lha hurried from the month of the ( al'ev and croaaad Ihe aidewalk There a a rab I'nUl balf taat J 1 klr Wuaile " Ha owught bar at tha curb j "Wara frea ao earlir tdi." he aald 1 "lan't It g aplendld hour for 'e rhe glanced helplaalv at the lah ( "You ra reminding ma of mv invt- f tat Ion" I He radflened I -f I va been lartleee I'm aorrv . ha 1 aald. but lately we've aeen ao Utile of I ear h other ' 1 I Hhe moved a aav J "Cnmi br. atl mean, and nethapa j vou tl onder-afand why I haven t been mora cordial ' ! 'I'm not for inf mv welcome j ' Hhe a book her head. a. ha 'ollnaed ; her to tha rah H iring the ride 10 lha aimrimvnt ahe chatted with a gavety a "moat fereriah Tha hallwa). Ihe elevntor tha aer-. aer-. vi. e. all had an alt of genttlltv. Tha 1 houae waa reervetl In a aenae for I bidding A maid opened Ihe door of I Hart-ar a aiuirtinent for lhm The j tmtnobillt v of her fae attracted Q ialte'a I nt area t Her mnvem -nta aa I ehe took ha -oal and hat were amooth ' reapr-eeae!. noiaelr He waa tincom- f or t a hla benrat h the ctinoattv if her glance You II. bring tea a once " Ha tara aald. and led Vi.'le to a lat ga lining rom Tha fedtf'g light eiiiervd iliroi'jth I wide, amall patted window. It waa ' firiently ali-fng to nuiline the nulet ' I lumrv of lha furr.lahinga. Har-hara j ; healtated before the elec tric awit.-h. I "Khali wa have mora liaht?" Qualle could not underatand tier oh- J vioua telnet a nra to preaa the awiich 1 I waa unlike her It gave him a queer, tiucomfortabla feeling thti might h aomethlng here ahe . iahrd the duak to veil. "It ia plraaaiit and reatful aa It ia" ha aatd "lha oervaiil, tteadmg afiv. oroogiil tea on a wheeled ttav. The llneied over It while the duak thickened. whll Barbara a fuca ard figure bacane -9 nd lea diaMm t. and, aa lha night '.owty ahrouded her. lha caution wuh which Mcllugh bad impreaaed him lot Ita aignlficanc. He felt htmaeif ta k at the point from which he had recoiled --on tha verge of eenllmental aurrendm to a woman of whom ha knew nothing bevond tha eluaiva charni of her manner, man-ner, and her personality, unique and inarrutablf. Hr broke a long ailenc. "Yon live bar alone?" It waa too dark to ae her evea 'Terhape vou are why my Invitation lacked warmth." Ha aroae and trailed tn the window, hunting a cigarette. He at a red at the ky In which a wan color at III eur-vtved. eur-vtved. Ha felt hlmeelf an Intruder her, peaking eel flan I y to learn mo.e about her than ahe wag willing to tell. One thing ha had found out vnd t made no different1 "It waa goot of von to let ma come." he aald. "After all the excitement and tinrertalntv down there" Her voice waa low. "It haa been reafful " he aaid, "but f ehnirldn t It glad vou are here Ha heard her arlaa. He dldn t turn, but he waa linglingly aware of her gp. proach He knew ah had reached hla side He turned Ihen and as Hut h" eyes alao had been drawn h the pe" He afterglow w hh h gradual!'. l.n iMhed above an uneven line of ehlm nevs and cornier a. "ll a almost like a view ami-a a fer-! fer-! eisn city, that bit." he an id 'Therrjt .aituallv a chlrnncv pot. I vou 'i j Hhe liiMlded Her voice ha-l " 1 reMinance. j " lived abronl oin e when I ! verv young " ! 'Ho ou ever wtah to go .. ' ha Igaked "I don't know. she mu-ed bsck? I don't know " ! II wsa clear the converaa.iou h'' I for her g meaning beond his coti-p ,p-hmslon ,p-hmslon H wonderetl Then a gte..t-er gte..t-er wonder grew upon htm. Her 1 rat re In the duak waa t.o provof.im Tha melsticholy afterglow se-m'.i t j aurround them with a eolltiide. Imrt-leas, Imrt-leas, bevond th reach of conventi..r.l real mint. rf llow hnelv avervthlng la' 4 " whiaprd. "Kail autiact fill one with lneiine." Hia hstMl crept inward ' r. touched hera. Carried id hi briln sn intoiicstlng content. The contact f" Ihe moment made wutds inexpr unfit. Hhe diew her hand slowly wn Hhe turned and walked acroa- tli room. H hard her algb The aiunfl waa a reproach, an awakemni: h sent 111 blood tJ his cheeka Th beuting of hi heart waa a renounced re-nounced aa It had been before tl" ' r proach of th limping footsteps ' W ha I a re ou going to do ' I asked. ! Her answer wasti quile aira.' "You've remlnrt.-d me why I '1 dirt j w:ittt you to come " I Her tone strengthens!. it la dark In this room. I- I ' ' the tlarkness I "Dui t," he cried "It was i"r" I feet until" Impulaively hr started firwrJ j "You'll ei me t U you f , The maul ami in. . 1 "Mr. Wuatlg is going." Harnaia indifferently. "WHI you pirns t "tC i ma hat aud cost?" J "A a permanent disinisal '" ;, a-ked. ' You sre conung Willi the .ir."ri I ttuilght." she aaid. H Saw the light flush on in the I-- " A paas.onate dissatisfaction swept r "We are always misundersiati i" ench other Will you never care M my Justification? "1 would rather nt hear it,' -" a wered The maid giol back with In ''1 and hau Rjrhara ahtMik hmida f "'' ty. but her fingrra had no warnitn W hlm - t.a "I ara glad 011 could coin said with a formal uiicuuicrrn cira"!. Intended for the maid. . In lb prescme of the servant had no rplv. ao he walketl throus" the lighted hall snd out of the ap'1' menr . ' . ' 1T0 be lontinued next wr'-kl |