| Show if c The House Mouse or of oar rear Fear Continued from page 1 that's all aU I see in the tho papers nowa- nowa lYe Sit down QualIe and McHugh obeyed the the- ex- ex command McHugh turned and inked faked broadly then faced Bunce Bunco rain lath Bunco leaned forward Watson J he called The fI serving lan Ian opened tho door I If If my brother left let tell ten him to como comb down n When the serving erving m man an had closed ie tedoor ledoor door ho he permitted a a. little curios curios- y to slip sUp Into his hie voice What you want Woodford's Woodfords for obert abert and t I been talking it overfed over Wed fed decided d there Rae no income er sere Nobody's ys y's made money In the ous Ouse since Woodford died Sudden- Sudden r an angry flush swept across his Ice ce ice Look here You wasting my mye We e talking about moving pictures McHughs McHugh's jaw protruded Kaw aw How much time you oU think g Sot Kot t to throw ana away away heres here's fought rought Cowards Faro up date data Ma Mayyou Maye May May- e you ou remember that play of Wood Wood- Im I'm getting an expensive o cast all r all tho the old I can tn m In going to make the old barn what hat was wall as and with It Its own pia play but I pt ot of to get good terms You under- under tand Far Fair terms had seen memory stir In the la Id mans man's eyes oye eH at the tho mention of ot Cowards Coward's Fare That different Bunce Dunce said That Thal Thalas as a first class play I l used to have nave Ch chair at Woodfords Woodford's two or three throe m roes mes s a week we-ek forty years ago The he rental ho finally mentioned was was was' e proof ot of r his complacence What hat about your brother Mc- Mc hl URh h asked d i lie lv leaves eaves such things s to me me- meI I 11 rid W I you ou Id I'd been t talking to him The Tho oy of II 11 do clo what I eay eay j joy The door opened The bo boy who JO in Iu the doorway was at a hazard 11 II fears Hars old He lie wore oro evening clothes handsome some fac face with a grizzled MI i wu was distinguished That the gnu nr f h family should hould haw harp produced two en divergent nt HIJ MM was ns m ahll nearly ITh rc's no o point the Id newcomer dryly drYl In ln my mr intruding Children be b fi seen fien and n not l heard Th Tho 1 to elder 1 1 r Dunces Bun s shawl hawl fell ne neglect neglect- lect- lect 0 the tho hair arms armR come in In Robert RoberL Your parties wn watt wall II a minute These gentlemen t e brought a sur rise They're to lo g golo go go- Cowards Coward's Fare back tog toto to I Sounds un s. s familiar Robert mused h To lo B M I bo sure flure Doubtless I rejoice I Sorry j I must limit my 01 myn u nn I T have havo hu nn an appointment h n re e 6 SOne n ot Other er bald hald ld headed bo boys e. e atson KoaL help hell me mC with my m 01 It eh Its It's going to he bc a aIno fine Ino thing thine Wea IcI We- We I put PUl It In a Full of ot atmosphere h ht Dulls Pulls eVe everybody body If It you ou pIa play It Il u up i p Seems 8 promising Robert nobert answered tr er his coat oal I Arra Artan Arrange r. r It t with h ed brother t Im I'm Vm off off- Hc lie no nodded an andt andI and r 1 I med tJ Jut out v briskly Th The front I door Dont you rou worry worn Josiah complained com com- I Lease will bo he read ready In tho morning You can fix details with the agents He Ho dl displayed an eagerness to discuss McHughs McHugh's plans He showed real re regret regret re- re gret at their departure stopped McHugh as he was wa entering his limousine Bunco seemed actually frightened he said Youve heard superstitious talk about Woodfords Woodford's I daresay Natural any enough enough any old place Nothing r to remember I 1 saw Harvey Carlton Carlton this afternoon afternoon after after- noon said Raid a little abashed atthe atthe at atthe the necessity of ot repeating such a con con- He spread himself on ru rumors rumors ru- ru mors that Woodfords Woodford's influence survived survived survived sur sur- down there Seemed to take It seriously on the whole Its It's worth thinking about I mean theres there's no use getting trouble makers in the cast Ifancy I Ifancy Ifancy fancy It will seem pretty desolate at first Theres a 1 lot of talk about that I Istock stock company forfeiting its lease five tl years cars ago ago McHugh placed his hill hand on I ar arm 1 Ho IIa spoke impressively Dont Don t fool yourself ho my 01 boy Carlton's Carlton's Carlton's Carl- Carl tons ton's right The old bird with tho shawls shawl's right A ghost was 11 1 responsible for that failure The com company pan did go goto goto to smash on account of ot It It wan wag ter ter- rille The ghost didn't walk at all CHAPTER 11 II I Limping Footsteps i t The next da day nevertheless the unI unexpected un unexpected un un- expected Intruded once or twice an and d I failed tailed to r retreat treat before It had harl startled startle d even the matter of fact manager spent most moat of the afternoon I In it the office completing with McHugh t I the thc casting of ot tho the piece The r r had promised thc they would 11 visit vial t I the theatre und and inspect it for themselves themselves themselves them them- selves as ati soon as their task was comI completed com corn I It was lato late when hen saw lIko o Brody Brolly enter and go through h to the e private ato office More then than sentiment had urged McHugh McHugh Mc Mc- IcHu Ic- Ic Hu Hugh h to enga o the old man matt map He lie ha had d worked for tor him off oft and an anon on during durin g many years lied had frequently frequent Y heard the tanager manager boast that Mike In spite spite- of oC his years year WAS teas the mos most t reliable property man In New York York- Within five tl minutes McHugh wa was waR s roaring for tor Ethel She went In re returned lO turned and nodded to Boss wants you op opened ned tho door dool and stepped steppe d Into a room crowded with discontent oven even timidity ty The rho manager sat back facing Mike MIkol What do you think The Thu Theold e I old numbskull kull wants wanta to quit on me Mike made an embarrassing appeal I l old him sir air that I thought mabe may ma- be Id I'd better not tako take on the job U I understand answered that you were pleased at tho the pros prospect pros pros- pest of or going back hack Yes YeN sir Ir i was vas I had some somo of ot the e best hest lIm of or my mr life wh when n nr I r was a kill kid at Woodfords Woodford's but hut that's bee been n tort forty years and ancl arid and H tin broke off earl and returned to the c I I ic rc restless fingering ln of or his cap I First time anybody ever wanted to I resign 1 on me mc Hugh said In a hurt tone What do you zou thinks think's biting him f. f offered him more money 7 McHugh burst Into unrestrained laughter No Im I'm the be best t pickings In tho the bu business Old O fools fool's afraid of ot Bertrand Bertram Bertrand Ber Ber- tram Woodford joined In the mirth Do you know how long hes he's been dead Mike A reluctant grin appeared on Mikes Mike's face tace I didn't say that Mr r McHugh Maybe jouie youre right though If It you ou want me mc Ill I'll sa say Go on on Mike Hike tho the manager said good Walt for tor us downstairs down down- stairs Mrs Mr and I will wilt go to the theatre with you in a minute We want to see Roe what what's been done I But when hn the man had left McHugh McHug-h. turnEd fumed a puzzled face tace o 0 Quane Guess you ou had hal the right ht dope last night after all he admitted tot to keep our e eyes cs open and make It cheerful at al Woodfords Woodford's Surely Sure said Miko Isn't such fluch a fool as to think he saw anything anything any any- thing No But Mikes Mike's cs c's pretty pratt old I guess It took him back to go JO Into that barn after fort forty years ean He didn't sa say anything anything any any- thing you could put your finger er on Was as Just frightened Said It tl was dark and cold and he couldn't help thinking thinking think think- ing of ot his old boss Mike lIke says Woodford Woodford Wood Wood- ford worked d himself to death because I I he was too Jealous to let lct anybody play pia his hiI part I i Mike mention anything about a Il cat the cat the wa way he ho acted tho the night of or W Woodford's Woodfords death T Mean to say Carlton gave you OU that too 1 Yes Yes mentioned mentioned It l I McHugh arose Ive Iau laughed hed Mike out of ot it any any- wa way I make take tako a shot at Carlton Como Come on Lets Let's go 10 They joined Mike on th the sidewalk k and drove to Woodfords The nl night ht had descended ed by the time they arrived at tho the theatre but hut tit the o glitter of ot the 1 street lights lIght was ws deceptive deceptive tive it softened the scars of at tho the old building it penetrated beyond the theIron Iron railing which guarded the lobby I being undisturbed r Wheres Tommy Pommy Ball Dall 7 1 McHugh said I told Tomm Tommy Ball nail to meet meek m mo o here hart A young youn man too sedulously clothed I deserted his hiM contemplation of ot a shop I window and stepped forward recognized McHugh's McHughs assistant stage manager manager-a er-a er a youth who alwa always s amused him with his fervent efforts to copy hl employers employer's eccentricities Been Deen In yet Tommy McHugh asked Not since glace noon But Bul I dont don't guess leBS you'll find a whole lot lut to do I Mike Ilko thrust threat his liana bond In his pocket producing a Ila heavy old fashioned key Stage entrance Is this wa way Mr Me- Me t I Hugh I Ho He led th them m. m not vel very eagerly Into tale a a. narrow alley which penetrated the tho I block between the theatre and the tho loft lol building Mike turn turned d there earl and In- In earned his 1 key koy in n the lock of oC an iron door Th The s hinges abandoned until to toda today to- to today da day for PO Ao o lung long to the HIP weather wather complained com coni- plainer shrilly and nn as if from Crom an unexplored un- un un unexplored un-I un l explored and nd adventurous c cavern vern arose an The black empty I stage at Woodfords Woodford's flung back into I tho the aile alley the thc dismay of ot the opened opened door I A match scraped Its flame flickered I on Mikes Mike's wrinkled face which wore for an expression of ot disapproval of or positive o disinclination The property man stooped fumbled within the thc doorway doorway door door- way and found a 0 candle to which he lie applied tho the match Better Betler not let tho the fire department catch you at that McHugh warned wondered If the manager took In the shaking of or the candle In tho knotted hand Get In there McHugh directed and switch on your kitchen border so we wo dont don't br break ak our necks Place I smells like a one night stand in the great and glorious provinces I All right Mr McHugh And the they entered those spaces and oppre oppressed sell b by their emptiness stood for some sonic time Ill at ease case attentive The stage itself offered more defini tion He Ho saw the vat vast t expanse of the I brick curtain wall the circular staircase staircase stair stair- case at either side leading to dressing dressIng dress dress- I ing rooms and fl fly galleries ro To the right there a small door which almost al almost almost al- al most certain certainly opened on a passage connecting with the tho auditorium Dont Don't build stages es like this nowadays nowa nowa- I days the tho mana manager el said with admiration admira admira- tion Could give a three three-rine eire cirrus here Tommo youve you've got ot the lists You and Mike e rung run over to tho storehouse store sture- house In the tho morning and chase that I furniture in Company's called for fort t 1 1 Mr going to read the i script to oni em right on the stage Just l like old Woodford l I done This engage engagements engagement's ement's e- e ments ment's going to be fired all artistic His Ills sudden blatant laugh set Bet nerves on edge dg Como here Lets Let's have a peep at the auditorium Ha lie walked to tho the little tittle door which I Qua Qua-llo had noticed and opened it i saw Mike Ilke and Tommy Tomm I tart start toward to toward to- to ward the stage tao entrance He understood understood under- under I stood hut but McHugh pretended not to I Where here you and o going Tommy By y tho the stage e door sir Ir Its It's pretty prett dam damp in iii here All right McHugh said ald but I want you OU within call followed the tho manager r Into the pa passage sago A certain amount of ot lI light ht entered entered en en- en with them and a little more morl diffused dif dif- diffused fused from trout the thc auditorium showed at al the otherl other end The Tho passage was sur- sur ly constricted d It It was necessary ar I to go In single file lie Ho lie gathered from i Its length probably length probably seven 1 or 1 pac paces that paces that 8 that It ran behind tho the boxes be much use ho commented commented com com- as an exit by wa way of ot the stage In case of ot fire tire Building meets the tho fire fre laws taws Mc- Mc Huh always practical answered Tho They Thoy reached the auditorium Funn Funny McHugh went on on how a little gold Jold dust thrown In peoples peoples people's eyes wilt will make them see so millions The place was fixed up five Iv year ago ao Now Nowa a few new hangings and a 11 little tinsel on th the box fronts its fronts Its It's n fI cinch Why you OU KO so talkative had not realized the thoroughness thor thor- thoroughness of or his silence since entering the theatre Frankly McHugh h ho ha said aid ald Y I T begin be begin be- be gin In to understand how ho these unwholesome flom some stories start Such nn an atmosphere atmosphere atmos atmos- phere as this has ban things s to 0 say iy to the tho ignorant and the superstitious I hope I Im I'm neither r. but It does get Rrt rl on my I nerves ncr more or leIs ices I mean I 1 quito quite I understand why Tommy and Mike Ilke prefer pre pre- prefer fer the alley entrance McHughs McHugh's voice rose In a gigantic sneer sneer Woodfords ghost A fine Cine chance for a ghost host around m my theatre To It was almost as ns If It a challenge chal chal- challenge lenge had been accepted The shadows might suddenly have gathered strength to smother the row ro row of or gleaming Without warning wanting the they expired He lie could feel the blackness rush upon him film McHughs McHugh's hand touched his arm then snatched back The managers manager's voice rose angrily What the devil Mike Get In to the switchboard Switch something on Dont Don't bother about your candle As 5 If the darkness had opposed a a. palpable barrier Tommys Tommy's exclamation matton and mikes mike's response r reached them faintly Caln They heard the tiro old man start starton on the th sta stage e. e What Vhal followed seemed to I lIe Qu at the tho moment Inevitable never ne to have havo been avoided ll Through tho the i black blaek and heavy air ah Mikes Mike's cry arose nrose hoarse difficult half halt strangled h by an nn irrational fear It gathered Itself Into four words almost unintelligible My I God Mr Woodford shrank back More than Mikes Mike's terror-drawn terror cr cry challenged ed his reason Just across the blind footlights foot- foot lights almost within hands hand's reach ho heard dragging and a curious stealthy padding Tho rho dragging footsteps continued to stray across the tho stage the stage the footsteps of on one who limped and in the Intervals of or their painful progress came that furtivo fur- fur five tivo pattering like tho the noiseless pursuit pur- pur pur PUI- suit of a cat remained rigid ld Hc lie wasa was a aware waro of ot breathless beside him Then as abruptly as tho they had IH commenced tho the footsteps ce ceased and from tho wings where shero Mike like had cried out his Impo Impossible fear tar came a n alow alow low sob choked and formless CHAPTER III The Tho Cat waited expectant of a a. return through tho the darkness of ot the limping footsteps and ami the |
