Show In I I I j t I 1 I I OUT OF THE NIGHT II I BY Bl CONRAD WI It was n-as asserted b by ono on professed man WI wll I o to havo seen tho the owner o 01 Cre Grey house with wit he his own eyes t thai t walked on all fours four at and d like a n pig pie I b by another that hopel ate finny ho was waN a B a imbecile that nc itc had hall a and d b by yet another neither These legs nor arms worn worl all mere mero Idle tho thu fact conjectures of ot the matter ratter bod body had being that nobody no no- set eyes oyes on him Gre Grey house was surrounded ed b by a walled sigh garden and stood alone alono upon a n barren strip of ot land lund that sloped towards tho sea sen Cl Tho The housekeeper much to tho the Indignation of or the le fernalo population refused population to gossip about her master sire also allo had hall an Irritating habit of ot pretending to bo be deaf deat which baffled barned and bested tho the t scan scan- dal dat gleaners The rho local grocer had tried to obtain Information from tho the white haired d man servant er and had bOil body como off orr BI so vcr very second boat bost that nobody no no- no cared to lo repeat the tho experiment Two facts alono became evident c. to that brat at the tae t c ma master whatever er his a appearance was rich and anal that his name nama was wasa Nathan Xa- Xa thun than Oliver Nathan athan Oliver er had arrived late ono one night Too The villagers had been anxious to catch cotch n a glimpse of him aim having ha heard of the tho lavish wn way In which Grey house house long long untenanted- untenanted Hud nud been renovated nd and furnished But nut tho carriage had driven b by with tho the blinds drawn down and had d i I geared eared within tho the garden gates gales On the following day amok was seen ascending from the tho tall old old- j fashioned chimneys and that was and remained rcman d the tho on only I sign shw that Grey had bad at t last found a master Who ho was teas Nathan Nattan Oliver Oll Was as he young good looking a dwarf hardly suma luman In Iii appearance or a giant A whole holo year oar had passed his arrival or- or orI J ar-J I rival rhal and nobody sane nobody Rae save those sifted gifted oj 1 lively Imaginations imaginations know I 1 I O 0 4 I 1 I S h. Boom S-h-h-h. S Boom Doom S n h r I the thud of ot tae breakers and tho the long Ions drawn 81 sigh h taut followed from th tin o bench The Tho snow drove In lines line before the gale galo an and clung to th the side o of oC t an any upright ht object The storm lend was abroad fumbling f g with window catches ar and d' d bellowing s defiance down the chimneys 8 Inside tho the Gre Grey house before a L b lazing blazing lire Nathan Oliver cr sat Eat alone He lie was reading rending Presently he laid hi ills his 5 book hool aside and stood up lie wa was s nealI nearly six fe feet t high but hut his ample shoulders mado made him look 1001 shorter horter II IIo Ho e leaned his arms upon the c leee Ieee- and gazed grazed into too tho tire lire lost in to thought The Thu remnants of his hb fine eyebrows were drawn rawn together ether over 01 what had once been boen een a well sapped nose his low broad forehead told toW o of Ima Imagination his mouth of sensitiveness a and Ill his chin of decision Ho Ito must have been and would have been a 1 handsome man hot hat that his taco face was Will seamed Hc dented and drawn by hr I red and rutty tt scars iCal'S terrible to behold Tie He yawned und and stretched himself lf A ma magnificent black blak cut cat that was lyIng ly- ly hIn ly Ing In- Inon on the thc rug hearth opened ono une vel- vel ellow low eye eyo an and look looked ell at lm nen Bending down don he took the animal Into his arms and stroked It tenderly I Moses Joses he said It I Is time I went to bed and before I sleep Motes Moses I In Intend In- In tend to thank th God that I air an one useless use use- less da day nearer to the da day dav of mv In my 1 death lentil re Arc you yon as grateful m for mJ I 1 I 1 mercies as that old oM boy Im I'm afraid I III I not I hn have a II strong strong- idea that you ou ar aro mo o a u disciple of ot the devil Ah Moses yo you OU u I need nut fear tho the lI light ht of ot da day I didn't once before before The round mirror r i t. t Into 1 ho g-aze- g gazed added distortion to his Imis scarred features 1 he se said again and relapsed into sil sll- sll en ence cH c Jl lie H. turned from the minor mirror with a Ic gesture turo of disgust Js and I commenced to stride a about tho the room Su Suddenly ho stopped l IJ in his the tho middle JO of f a n stride at a and clinched his hin I My y God God J ho he I crl cried d Is It Just Just Just-Just just to punish mo r for tOI that tsat O O. O for Ol a n. moth tho n a wools wook a a. cia Iny an Jin hour of th tiro tho JU Jays days that were were cr Ho Ito flung hm himself CIC into a a. chair and ami sat flat staring Into tile the t le font fast dying dylag lire fire mOl Tho clock upon tho the wolf Ii bUrr burred rl and miU struck 1 12 L and anil as UM the tho list stroke slowly tiled died into Inlo the th howling of or the wind Nathan Oliver raised MH his liston Surely HU n n. faint pours pound or of nJ lia had l reached lH rn car ain ITo He opened the door 1001 find and stood In the tho draughty halt listening Yes Vos there It was WL again Louder I I now no v. o Someone Son was knocking kno at tho tine outer floor n not t using tho the knocker l noCk r. r Judging but but but jud Judging llIs from the th Hound sound beating Upon th Uw the stout na oak panels with bare hands lIe Ito lit u n lump and Io the hall haH again stood tood 1 listening Silence now no save sa for I the of ot the gale door was wall bolted double boiled barred and chained I ned I but In to Us its center a small gritting ru could be ill open opened open lI Sliding back the HUll I guardian trap he peered 11 between bars Into Inlo the nl night ht Darkness nothing but hut shrieking howling darl darkness d yet et had anyone nono been without th they y must surely nave seen th the light Ho Ito hesitated and then slammed tho the little door to to irritated that his nerves I should nave have la e troubled trouble him hint Into believing behoving such n a. manifest Im hn- hn possibility The garden arllen doors were all double unable locked but locked but e ct cVen en as he turned to retrace his stops st the knocking re recommenced to- to commenced commenced- Doubt vanished from mind someone something was there seeking admittance It was waN no cas easy matter to shoot those rusted bolts bolls and dislodge the heavy y bar but hut ho he mana managed ed it ft at last Ills Leaving Leav Leav- J Leaving nInG n ing the door still sUII upon the chain ho he opened It and standing within v do tio sha shadow o ho he shou shouted ted Who ho Is la there There was no reply Ho Ito was about to repeat his ails Question when glancing downward he caught HI sight night ht of or some I small object lying within the crack crad I of ot the tau open door lIe He bent hent down dawn to I examine It and saw with a a. gasp of astonishment that It was the nand land ofa ofa of ot a a. child dim led and soft sort but blue blut with cold Without hesitating to 0 calculate calculate cal cal- the results of his action he unloosen unloosed un un- loosen loosed tile the straining chain The he door I crashed open upon him hen h he sta staggered tad ind fell tho the lame of or tt the lamp amp streamed upwards and left him In darl darkness himself he ho forward fOl and felt groped hl his Wo way Curls Soft among tho drifted snow silky curls curia It was then no phantom of his hh brain lie Inc gathered a 1 limp HUll bundle Into his arms and laying 1 It tt down within the hall he hc battled with the door Then once a again aln he se Ie stooped rind and with his hie burden groped his 13 wn way ba back l to the sitting silting room Once there ho lie stirred tho the dying fire Into a L blaze and laying the child cr upon l the he ru rug hearth commenced to lo chafe Its tiny hands And AntI n fJ nei he ho chafed ho wondered d for 01 the a n boy was richly dressed ed In th the ra lon or of a bygone by by- bygone gone bon age more strange still was tho unearthly beauty of ot the boys boy's face framed In lu a mass of or snow snow mat matted ted Jol golden en hair hall And with his wonder I r four fear was mixed fear fen r for tur t too e time when those trose closed lids lIlis should open and tho tImo hoy boys boy's o eyes oes es should meet his bin own He Ire Hei i 1 feared feared- but hut as ho he feared h he be worked orl c worked to bring thos thoE small limbs I back to warmth and antI life lite lie He l knew V ne that h ho he was Wat doing nil all that could bo do and du and he ae I done all done all that man could For Fur forbore to call ct for assistance I sumo some reason he i could not havo hao ox- ox ex exI explained wilY why he ho to save san thoI tho I could himself Perhaps It was that I h ho had not done for tor another r I tor for so su long Ion and und his hh heart was wa filled with a 01 strange c gladness s to which ti it fl iud hud long been a 0 stranger the lov love of at doing oln something for a helpless 8 fellow- fellow o creature t ure Slowly Hu vcr very slowly tilo i ho Saw the blood return to tho the boys boy's lowed bowed sweetly Ah h a l sigh Well done Death was as surrendering A sense of or victory olat- olat ed cd him elm ho ha sprang for wino and forcing forcIn forc fore In ing the tae clenched teeth apart poured some sonic of ot tho the crimson liquor d down tho e boys boyts throat The Tho bo boy stirred and tho the lon long dark lashes that In lay on either r check check flU ored Nathan Oliver cI l knelt neU down Vy ty Vyila n ads ila side sille and supported him In n noW hl his arm I How oW do you ou feel reel teel no now nosy he be re 1 Into tho the little shell pink car Th n nho ho shrank back hack for tor ho he became aW Hl that th the l l oyo sy s eyes Ced veto gazing at hint I Ho lie forced himself to 10 meet their gaze g t there was waa no nil fear or honor horror In sweet trusting eys eyes e. e I only dumb Inquiry and and cs yea tho i bo JO tt was as flow do you Ou feol now no he asked j a The aln e boys boy's lips parted Quito welt well thank you ou he d. d. d Nathan Oliver 01 laughed outright It outright It W was H u long lung time since lie ho Had la l lu u I d. d Youre You're Ul an n optimist ho s said Do Doy y you ou fuel better Ilia Itla 01 better bett thank you OU low law and amI very vory sweet I was i W ti Do Doi you remember how you ou came cam e here 7 I I I I J got caught In a a. storm f I i You Vou were at ot a party weren't you you rou A A 1 t fancy dress part party And then you rou i strayed awa away and got hot lost That was 1 I It Jt wasn't Its l' l L No I i No They Chic sent me The They They Who Who ho They tho the bo boy repeated They I sent me to you ou because o they said you OU want wanted tI me You Vou do tIo don dont don't t you It was quite evident c that too boys boy's mind was wan wandering ering Again ho glanced I at the little velvet garments garnished I with strangely I wrought ht silver buttons How camo came a a. child dressed In n velvet I I Bilk and rare old lace to be bo out In I i that storm I I Gems too A 1 mn magnificent diamond i I brooch In the shape shapo of or u. u heart glitter glitter- I led I cd amon among tho thu ot fr-ot frothy I lace n at his throat thront Ho Ile WILl r recalled from rom I j speculation t to I fact by hy the tho bO boys boy's voice oleo You do I 1 i again dont don't your you ho had a asked I i Do I what nhat Want R ant mo me Of or course dear The fhe ho boy sighed and fim sullied smiled lied happily I I 1 I I know knew now you did he lie said laid storm on only I tho the you ou sec that sec that was waH unfortunate wasn't it And nd 1 I couldn't reach to tu up the l knocker or to make you rou hear I hall hail j been lIen knocking ever er eo so long and It Jt was wa was was' 1 ao so cold coM Don t l you 1 0 think it would bo be I a 0 good thing thin to have ha a n knocker on on t your our door for children I It never occurred to me mc ho answered an- an anI I smiling With Ith amazement IK ht found Cound that ho was seriously I entertainIng entertain entertain- Ing the absurd suggestion You see see he added you hOU didn t tell tell mo me you I going to pa pay mo me a visit What would have ha been the good oo 1 of ot I m my doing that the time boy asked Nathan Oliver sat pondering over O the I t strangely pertinent question A 1 l vast rot I o L I lit It yearning had risen In in 11 his his s h heart not rl was as DR though the child had j stretched stretched his hla chubb chubby lingers among amon- his I heart strings and tend had awakened a 1 J strange and won melody Evor Every Evory I 3 I look every cery gesture every cry tone of the I I I boya boys seemed to vibrate within J his Inmost t soul Suddenly he hl found what his mind was groping for tor This I lovely oel child that had fought ht Its way to his door through h A n blinding snow I. I Ii storm might night hav Im lave boon been 1118 his hla his hh own to lo hold holl lo tu his heart his to cherish till tm I t death and on the morrow the this bo boy r. r would woul Jea leave c e him hen leave o him hen once more alone a thing apart disfigured ul tI loath- loath J i some and for what Doing his duly duty I rII r- r It II was unjust Unjust He lie did dill not j realize that thai he had cried the word I aloud lie Ifs If had lived so 80 long alono that W the walls of ut his room had become his I I Ji confidants Hush tho the bo boy said sah not unjust j r surel surely Tell fell inc me r As ts through though compelled d b by some hi higher power Nathan athan Oliver Olf stood up a The Lo boy stood also albo the they faced aced each other i r and once again the time boy said sad in that that J same Toll Tell I t me o tone lono of command Fire h ho he cried The They tol told fold 1 me me 5 she he was yn there 1 I saw her hor at the window winlow win win- low dow there was no ladder lUdder no wa I v The only way was through h the house l land and antl up the staircase and It was already already al- al road ready crum crumbling Tho Thoy had hung sung back Juck I so o long Iha The cowards s It hal hail been safe safo enough till then Ihen Then I coma came I saw her The They tried to hold I 5 w. w m me ne e back a I and anil wasted Di rHonl J 1 I I I r I I I I I thank Go God I was strung strong enough s-l s t to lo I II cast them from mc I felt folt m my way I way dark I dark dark I was WilE choking And nd then WWII and then she thon nhi was only n a woman ornan tu i I and weak cal weak call l I had haIJ to lo struggle lc with her herto 1 to to cart Carr carry her An And Just And just and just as I i had grope groped my myVa Va way out out the tho staircase lo shell fell I Jumped A 1 crimson tongue shot out ut to lick at ot us I folded toldo m my illy arms arm about her and placed myself m i between n her an and amid it It and and saved saved-do o i you ou hoar hear I I sav saved tI her They dragged d t us out I r saved suvell I vole her I r rl Look at t mo mol mel Look at al me me I who loved her I saved Il her sa saw saut the horror in her eyes Du Do you ou think 1 I would ul claIm her after r fh that My day f God OtI No Xo It were better 2 I had l died t lie He sang Hank down t I au and j burble III h lilt taco fuco in iii lili hI hands And AnU utter after the boy asleep softly After After aft r r-L r i boirun balun to read It o er everywhere in o everyone's oyes In fn alt alt- tic tlc children in tb the lie v or cry 1 flunkeys s that MIu I mo ie and l then then than 1 came cumo hero to tolt ll a o a Oc do n lu in Taw boy nestled to lo side The Tho black lack ana gold ohl locks OCI R angled I So Su he erp softly you who ho J did 1111 this rat ran Cowa away Was Vas that Hint w well 1 ilono You who could brave bra death leath I f P r fled from |