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    86 views53 pages

    Rosemary Border - Ghost Stories (EnglishOnlineClub - Com)

    Uploaded by

    daniela tosetti

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
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    SAULT (ASA sin Ghost Gat moore Gaeta neoreeeessiete CONTENTS Smee A.M Brrge ‘The Judge's Howse Bram Sioker “The Serangerinche Mist ALN.L Many “The Confession of Chas Linkwonth Ef. Benson “The Ghomt Coach Amelia Frlcile Jobe Buchon Acris: lore Reading scree: While Reading ACTIVITIES: Afer Reading 8 ses * 101 ‘Smee 1 © sit etn ht nate mo. ‘won't play ide ad eck” itwas Christina Eve, and there wore foarten of usin ee home. We had had 2 good dinner, and we were alla he ‘mood for fur and games ~all thats except Jackson. When somebody suggested hide and seek there were loud shours fof agreement. Jackson's refusal wasthe only one Iwas oe like Jackson to refuse 0 play & game. “Arent you feling well” someone asked. 'm perfec al righ, thank yoo, he sid. “Bu! he added with smile dat softened his ese bur dd nor change i "Ta sll ot playing hide and sec. “Why not someone asked. He hesitated for a moment before replying ‘sometimes go andstay aa hoove where a fil wae killed, She was playing hide and seck in the dak She didn’t know the house very well There was door that led tothe servant staircase, Wher she was chased, she ‘ought dhe door led 0a bedroom. he opened the door and jumped ~ and landed 2 the bouomof the stairs. She broke her neck of course” We all looked serious. Mrs Feriy sid, "How terse! And were yo there when happened?” Tackson shook his head sadly "Noy he sai “but Iwas there when someting ee happened. Something worse "What could be worse than th =a Ghost Stories “This was, said Jackson, He hesitated fora moment, then he said, ‘I wonder if any of you have eve played 2 game called “Smec™. IPs much beter than hide and eck, The name comes from “t's me", of course, Perhaps you'd lke t0 play it instead of hide and seek Let me ellyou the eues of the game “Every player is given a sheet of paper All the sheets ‘except one ae Blank, On the lst shet of paper wren "sinee”. Nobody knows who “Smee” is except *Smec™ himself or herself. You ten out the lights, and “Smee” 0c: uicly ou of the room and hides. After aime the others goof to search for “See” ~ but of course they don't know who they ate locking for. When one player meets another be challenges him by saying, “Smee”. The other Player answers “Smee”, and they coninae searching "But the real “Smee” docin't answer when someone chullenges. The second player stays quiely beside hi. Presently they willbe dacoverd by a thie player. He will challenge and receive no answer, ade wil oin the fst «wo. This goes on uni all he payers are inthe same place. The as ne 0 find “Smee” has to pay a fof Is a good, noisy, amusing game. In a big house it ofa takes long. time for everyone to ind "Since". Feshap you'd like to tr. happily pay my fore and sihere by she fre while you play “Itsounds 2 good game, Iemarked. Have you played it 100, Jackson?” "Yes, he answered.‘ played it inthe hose tha 1 wae telling you about “And she was there? The gil who broke — 2 Smee “No, said someone else. “He told as he was there when she broke er neck Jick thought for s moment.‘ dont know if she was thete oF not, Pm afeaid she was. know that there were ‘hinen of us playing the game, and there were oniy twelve people inthe hour. And I didn't know the dead gis name. ‘When I heard that whispered name in the dark, it didn't worry me. But tl you, 'm never going to play hac kind of fame again. Ik made me quite nervous for along time. 1 prefer to pay my forte at oncel” ‘We all ated at im. His words dl not make sense a al “Timm Vouce was the kindest man in the world He smiled steal “This sounds like an intersting story, he sid. Come on, Jackson, you can elo ws nstead of paying afore.” "Very well said Jackson. Aad here i his soy. 2 Herrin Sener ta comin and they line in Sotrey. Five yeas ago they invited tme to go and spend Christmas with them, i ws an ol hoor, wih sof unnecessary passages and staircases A stranger could get lost ni uit easly. ‘Well went down for that Christmas. Violet Sangston promised me that I knew most of che other guess. Unforsnately, Ucoulde’e eet away from my job until (Christmas Eve, All the other guests had assved chve the 3 Ghost Stores previous day. Iwas the lst arsve, nd Iwas only ot in time for diner sai Hallo zo everyone knew, and Violet Sangston introduced me to the people did't now. Then it as time to goin to dinner. ‘hats perhaps why did’ hear the mame fel, dack= Inied handsome gl whom I had’ met before. Everyone was in rather a hurry and 1 am always bal at caching oopl's names, She looked cold sd lever. he did't look all fiend, bu she looked interesting, and wondered ho she was. I dda’ ask, Because was sure shat somicone would speak to hee by name daring the msl. Unlucky, oweves, I was a long way from her at table. Iwas siting next to Mrs Gorman, and as sal Mes Gorman was being very bright and amusing. He conversation is ways worth listening vo, and 1 completely forge to ask the name ofthe atk proud gil. ‘There were twelve of us, including che Sangtons then selves, We were all young or yng to be young. ack and Violet Sangston were the oldest, and their seenion-year fold son Regge was she youngest. It was Reggie who suggested ‘Smee when the alk sured to ams. He tod us the rules of the game, just as Ive deseribed them 0 you, Jack Sangston warned us al Ifyou are going play games in the dar’ he sid, ‘please be caret of the bck stairs on the iat door. A door leds to them, and I've offen thought about taking the door af. Inthe datk stranger to the ‘house could think they were walking into 2 soom. A ge cealy did break her neck on thote stirs” asked howe happened. “Tewas about ten years ago before we ame here. There 4 Smee was a party and they wore playing hide and seek. This gi tras looking for somewhere to hide. She heaed somebody Coming, and ran along the passage to getaway. Se opened the door, thinking led toa bedrooms, She planned o bide in here uni the scker had gone. Unfortunately it was the door tht led othe back stairs. She el aight down the bottom of te stairs She was dead when they picked er up.” ‘We all promised tobe eateful. Mrs Gorman even made lide joke abou ving to be nine. You see, none of us had known the poor git and we did not want to fel sad on Christmas ve. ‘Well, we all started the game immediately after dinner. ‘Young Reggie Sangston went round making sure all the lights were of, excep the ones inthe servants’ rooms and in the siting room where we were. We then peepared twelve thet of paper Eleven of them were Hank, and one of them Fad Smee” writen on it. Reggie mixed them all up, then we eich ook one. The person who got the paper with "Smee" on had t hide Hooked a mine and saw that it was Bank A momen te, al the electric lights went out Inthe darkness Tear someone moving very aiey tothe dooe. ‘After a minute somebody blew a whistle, and we all rushed to the door. Thad no idea who was ‘Smee. For five ‘or ten minutes we were all rushing up and down passages and in and out of rooms, challenging each other and “answering, ‘Smee? ~ Se! ‘After a while, the noise lod down, and I guesed that someone had found ‘Smee’. After atime [found a geoup of ‘onl all siting en some narrow stirs T calleaged and fecrived no answer. So Smee" was cher. I hurriedly joined 5 hot Storet Re were ll msn pando ana nd nad cof rm 6 the group, Presently two more players arsved. Each one was hurrying 10 avoid cing [at Jack Sangston was ls, and sas gen 2 fore “Think wee all here now, arn't we he ematked, He iva match, looked up the saicase and began 0 cout. ‘Nin, en elven, twelve, dhirtean he sid and then laughed, “That's sly~ there's one too many!” "The match went ost, and he lit another and began to count He gx as far as ewele, then he looked pure. "There ae thirteen. people here” he said. ‘I havent counted lf yt “Oh, nonsense!” | laughed. “You probably began with yourself and now you want to count yourself vce” is son tok out his elecrc torch. I gave 2 ete light ‘than the marches, and we ll began to count. Ofcourse here were rwelveof as Jack laughed: “Well he sid, was sae I ‘counted sheen ec” From haf way up the stais Violet Sangston spoke nervously. though there was somebody siting two steps shove me. Have you moved, Captain Ransome” "The caprin sid that he hada’. Bur I choughe there was sombody sting betveen Mas Sangston and me.” st foramoment there was an uncomfortable something inthe ai. cold finger scemed to touch us all. For that ‘moment weal fl that something odd and nplessan: had just happened ~ and was likely 20 happen again. Then we laughed at ourcves, nd a each other, and we felt neal gain. There were oly twelve of us, and that was tht Sil Tnughing. we marched back the siting-coom ro begin rain Ghost Stories 3 "Tits irs Sme: vise ington fund wil as searching fora hidng-place. That ame did ast long. Soon there were ewelve people and the game was ove ‘Violet fel cold, and wanted her acke, Her husband went ‘upto their bedroom to fetch it. As soon a he'd pone, Regs touched me on the atm. He war looking pale and sick, “Quick” he whispered, ‘Tve got to elle ro you. Something horsibie has happened.” ‘We went ito the breakfase oom, “What's the mater" L asked, don’ know. You were "Smee ls ime, werent you? Wel, of course I did't know who “Sais” was. While ‘Mother and the otbees rant the wes sdeof the house and found you, I went east. Ther’sa dep clothes cupboard in my bedroom, I looked ike + good hiding-place. | thought that pethaps “Smee” might be there. Lapened the dor inthe disk and touched sombody’: hand, “Smee?” whispered ‘There was no answer. thought i found "Smee, “Well, don't understand i, bueI suddenly had strange, col felng Ica’ describe it, but fl chat something wa ‘wrong. So T tured om my electric torch and there was obody there. Now, I'am sure I toeched a hand. And body could get out of the cupboard, because | was standing inthe doorway. What do you thi “You imagined that you touched handy I sid He gave a shore laugh I knew you would say that? he said, “OF cours I imagine it, That's the only explanation, T ageced with him. I could se shat be sil fle shake. “Together we returned to the siting room for aasber game of Smee, The others wene all ready and waiting to tar sae, 4 snaps it was my imagination (although Fm almost sore ‘hat it wat not). But had a feling that nobody was tealy enjoying the game any more. But everyone Was 100 polite to mention i. All che same, I had the feling that sonmthing was wroag. All the fun had gone out ofthe game. Sousthing deep inside me was trying to wars me. Take cari whispered, Take care. Tere was Some unnatural, ‘unhealthy influence at workin the house. Why did T have this fing? Because Jack Sangston had counted thirteen pooole iniead of twelve? Because his son imagined he hhadtouched someone's hand in an empry cupboard? fied to lagh ae myself, bu 1 did not suze Wel, we stared again. While we were all chasing the unkown Smet’ we were all x noiy at ever, But it seemed tome that most of us were just acing. We were no longer ‘enjying the me, At Fst {stayed with the others. Bu for several minutes no ‘Smee as found. Left the main group sndstared searching onthe fs floor a the westside ofthe howe. And there, while Iwas fling my way along T bumped into a par of human knees. ’ Ghost Stoves | pu out my hand and touched a sof, heavy erein, Then I knew where Iwas. There were tll deep sndows with windowseats st the end of the passage. The cursing ‘cached 1 the ground. Somebody was siting in 4 comer of ‘one ofthe window-seas, behind 3 curtain, “Aha! 1 sought, "ve caught *Smee"! So I pled he curain to onesie ~ and touched « wom’ sem. Twas dark, moonles night outside, | couldnt oe the ‘woman siting in the core of the window eat, “Sec? I whispered. ‘There was no answer. When Smee" challenged, he ~ or she — does not answer. So Isat down beside er to wat for the others. Then whispered "Whats your name? “And out of the darkness beside me the whisper came: ‘Benda Ford’ ‘did nor know the name, but I guessed at once who she was. I knew every gil in the house by name except ons ‘And that was the el pale, dak git. So here se was sting beside me on the windowseat, shut in benween heyy curtain anda window. 1 was beginning to enoy the game. | wondered if she was enjoying it ton. whispered one or two. ‘ater ordinary question t ber, and received no answer, ‘Sime’ isa game of sence. Wis rule ofthe game chat “Smee and the person oF persons who have found ‘Smee’ fave o keep quit. This, of coun, makes it harder for the others to find them. ut there was nobody elke about. 1 0 wondered, therefore, why she was insiting on slence. 1 {poke again and got no answer, I began to fel a litle Ennoyed.‘ethaps she i one of dhose ca, clever gs who faves pace opinion of all men, Tthoueht "She down’ ike ‘me, and she is wing theres ofthe game as an excuse for fot speaking. Wel she doesn sing here weh me, 1 Certainly don't want to st with he! Ltumed away from hr. “Thope someone finds us soon,’ though. [ASI sat there, I realzed tha I dike sting beside this ir very much indeed. That was seange. Te gil Thad seen St dinner had seemed likeable in a cold kind of way. 1 ote her and wanted to know more about he, But pow 1 felt ally uncomfortable beside her. The feeling of seething ‘wrong, something unnatural, was growing I remembered touching ber arm, and I tembled with hortoe. wanted 10 iomp up and eun away, [prayed that someone cle woul fem along soon, Tus then I hard light footsteps in the passage. Somebody on the other sie ofthe curtain brash against ry knes ‘The curtain moved to one side, and a womat’s hand touched my shoulder, ‘Smee? whispered 4 voic: that | recognized at once, It was Mes Gorman. OF coarse she {eezhed no answer. She eae and sat down besdeme, and at once [felt very much bese “Ips Tony Jackson, ini" she whispered “Yes: Lowhispered back. "You're not "Sc, are you?” "No, she's on my other side” Shereached out across me. [heard her fings-ail sratch 4 woman's sil dress "Hallo, “Smee”. Hove are you? Who n soe are you? Oh, is it agains the eles to talk? Never min’, “Tony, wel br the rules. Do yu know, Tony, hit game isbetinning toannoy me sie: Thope they arene ging 0 play ial evening. Te ike co play a nice quiet game, all together beside 2 warm re” "Me too, Tageed “Can't you spges something to them? There's something rather unhealty abou this pariclar game, I'm sure Pra ing very ally Bu cane ger id ofthe idea that we've ge an ex player... somebody wi ought aot to be here a all ‘That wa exsy how fe but I dda’ say so. Howeves, 1 ee very mach ener. Mrs Gorman’sarsival had chased away my fears We st talking ‘I wonder when the others wl nd ws" sid Nis Gorman. ‘Atcr a time we heard the sound of fect, and young Reggie's voice shouting, ‘Hull, hull! Is anybody there? "Yes answered “1s Mes Goeran with you" wae "What happened ro you? You've both got forks. We've all been waiting for you for hours.” "Bur you haven’ found *Smee™ yet I complained "You haven, you mean. Iwas “Smee” this ime "hat “Sec” i herewith wt Iced "Yes; agreed Mes Gorman, ‘The curtain was pled back and we sa looking ino he ye of Regie'selectrc torch looked ar Mrs Gorman, ard hen on my oter side. Between me and the wall was an smpty place onthe window [end up a ance. Then Th fing of ometing rng, something uml ws rowing 3 hot Storie sat down agai. was ling very sick ad the woeld seemed 1 be gong round and round. "There was somebody thers, T insted, "because I touched ber ‘So ddI said Mrs Gorman, ina sembling oie. ‘And on’ kink anyone could eae shi windowasat without us vowing" Reggie gave a shaky litle Laugh, 1 remembered hie unpleasant experience catle that evening “Someone's been playing jokes,’ he sad. “Are you coming down?” Wercencie omar ven we came downto he siing-00m. “Lfound the two of them siting behind a curtain, on 2 window seat said Reggie. went up tothe el, dak gel ‘So you pretended to be "Smee", and then went away! I accused he. ‘he shook her head, Afterwards weal played card the ‘siting:toom, and I was very glad, Some time late, Jack Sangston waneed 0 talk to me. 1 ‘oul se that he was rather cross with me, and s00n he tld re the reston, “Tony he sid, “I suppose you are in love with Mrs Gorman, That's your business, hut please don’t make love to her in my home, during 2 game You Kept eveeynne wating. twas very rude of you, and Im ashamed of you” “ “Bue we werenot alone!’ I protested. ‘Therewasscanebody ‘se there ~ somebody who was pretending to be "Smee" Belew twas that all, daek ie, Miss Ford She whispered her ame 19 me. OF course, she refused to admit i sherwseds Joc Sangston stared at me, “Miss who? he bested “Brenda Ford, she sid” Jack puta hind on my shoulder, "Look here Ton,” he said‘ don't mind a joke, but enough is enough. We don't ‘wantco wore te ladies. Brenda Ford isthe name of the il Inho Broke her neck on the stirs She was playing hide and seok here ten years ago.” The Judge’s House 1 Tigres froin Moar nas sing for an important examination, As the date of the xam came nearer, he decided to go somewhere and read by hime, He didnot want che amusements of dhe seaside, othe beasties ‘ofthe countryside, He decided to fnda quit, ordinary lle town and work there undisturbed, He packed his mitascs With clothes and books. Then he looked in = raieay timetable for a town that he did not know. He found one, and bousht a ticket go there. He did nor el anyone Where he ovas going. After al, he did aot want 10 be Aistrbed ‘That show Moore arrived at Benchurch. I was a market town, and once 2 week it was gute busy fra few hoor “The ret ofthe time it was avery quit, leepy lle place “Moore spent his se night a the only hotel in the town, The Iandlady was very kind and helpful, but the ote was not realy quiet enough for him. The Second day he stated Tooking for a house to rent ‘There wat only one place that he liked, fs was more than quiet ~ it was deserted and very lonely. Ie wat a bi, old seventeemh-cenury house. It had ny srindows Hike a prison, anda high brick wall ll sound it It would be hard ‘0 imagine amore unwelcoming place. Bui suited Moore perfecy. He went 10 Bnd the local lawyer, who Was responsible forthe house. 16 ‘The Judge's Howse ie Catnfod, the lawyer, wat very happy to rent the ows to him, be glad to let you have i fre he sid, ust to have somebody living in it again afer all these years’ been Empty so Tong that people have spread alt of foolish tories “bout You'll be ableco prove thatthe tris are wrong.” “Mote di nor think i was necessary ro ask the lawyer for more deals ofthe Took stories’ Me pai his rent, and Me Camford gave itn the name ofan ld servant 0 Took after him, He came away from the lawyer's office withthe key f the house in his pocket. He then went 0 Mrs Wood, the landlady of te hotel "im renting house for afew week," he sid. ‘Can you vie me about shopping please? What do you think Tall, eed? “Where ate you going to stay, si she landlady asked ‘Moore told her. She threw up her hands in horror. “Not the Judge's Hose” she sid and she grew pale a8 she spoke. "ie asked ert ell him pore about rhe boos. "Why iit «alle the Judges House? he said, and why docs anyone vane to ive ini" a © el, sir,’ she said, ‘a long time ago ~ no, 1 don't now how long ~ 3 judge lived there. He was a hand vl jdgm sr = el hanging jar He chord smerey to anyone. But as fr the hoase self ~ wel, can’ v Ghost Stories say. Pe often ask, but nobody could el me fr ck” She found it hard tc explain. The general fling inthe wn owas tha there was something strange about the Judge's louse. ‘As for me, sr,’ she sad," won’ stay thet alone, ‘not for all the money in the ban ‘Then she apologized to Moore. ‘Tm sorry to worry you, sie really Iam, Buf you were my son I woulda’ le you stay there one night on your own. Fd go there myself and poll the big lar fll thats on the oot” ‘Moore was graufal for her kindness and her ansiey “How good of you tm be so anxious abou me, Mrs Wood! he suid. ‘Bat there's realy no eed to worry. Pa stadying for an imporant examination and I have no time fot boro or myseie." ‘Thelandlady kindy promised odo his shopping or him. ‘Moore then went see the od servant whom Mr Catnford bad recommended tp im. Her name was Mrs Dempste, and she seemed pleasant and eager to please her new master ‘When he returned with her tothe Judges House ewo hous later, he found Mrs Wood waiting ouside She had several people with her ~ men and boys catrying parcels, and another two mea with 3 bed “Bue there are beds inthe hous!” eried Moore in surpise. “And nobody's slept in them for fy years or more! No, si T won’ er you tsk your life in an ol damp bed.” ‘The landlady was obviously curious to sce the inside of, the Howse. Ar the same tne she was clesly aad At the smalls noe she hel nervously © Moore’ am, Together they explored the whole house. After his exploration, Moore decided olive inthe dining-room. It was big enough ‘The udge’s House for both working and sping Mis Wood and Ms so artange evertins. Son the bakes fre paced. Moore sw tat Sad Mo Wood ad Sgt many eo hing er mn ices fo mh Ie heared o Moore nd ssid do ope you wil al th sis Ba Tu say ~ Lest sleep here hal those ghost? When shee, Mes Dempster lughed ‘Gos sessid “Ghost Tere remo ghost Tere aerate and esr and doors tht eed ong. Thee at windows hat blow open the wind. Look at he od oak al of hit oom, si They av id ~ hundreds of years ol! Dot you ink thee be rats and insects behind the wood? You sce plenty of rats here, sir, but you won't see any ghosts ~ I'm fare of hat Now you go and have a ice wally And then you come bad hae this room al ed fo 7. She kept her promi When Moore rete he fou the som dean aod seat A fae war burang in he atlest replace Sh had ithe lamp and put his supper rey theta “Good nights she aid. ‘have ogo sow and wt ny suhan's upper le you nthe morning” “This is wonder sid Moore to msl he ate Mrs Dempster excel food. When be had nied his sop, te pushed the dies tothe ther end ofthe tbe He put snore wood on thee and began to dy Ghost Stories 3 Miers rvs wits storing ana aon deren lok Then epost some more wood onthe fre He a mace jos oe He wor eying Bel much. The re was bring igh. The fg danced on the ld oak wal ante strange shadows ound the som, His te ated exelent, and theres nobody 0 Aisa hin. Then for the Sn ine he noted how moth tie shes were making "Were they sakngall this ote while was ying? he hough "No, do hin they were: Perope they were afd of mea fist Now they have Bete bene ad they ar ming aos weal” ow bs they wee! And what» lof ise hey made! Up and down they rahe, behind the ld ak wall over the cling and nde he floe, Moore semen is Dewpster's word "You'l ae ply af ty bu you wen see ay ghost" "Walle sid wih sls was ght bout tert anyway He picked up th lamp an looked around she room. “How fens he sto hse "Why dct sybody ‘ean olive ia ths esc ol ows? The ook wal were ‘er bea. Thre were some ol pictures onthe wale Sorthey were overs wi dt und colo see thm cy. Hes and thee fo sa smal ole it the walls From ine time thecarous face of tote him. Then with a satch and 2 squeak twas “The ching that ited fn mos, however, as the 20 ‘Te Judge's Howse er aera miherincensmrrs rhe eefoe se stents chien nid ies tene enacts aoe Shimatani Siren emeeertens SoS cree Soar haemiernts oa Sue eaoers em reieineaneetr ace cansnsms notre See em Snare eeenboare Sees Solisnentuttwernte Foca enemy one emirate sos a Ghost Storie 4 H: slept so decply that he did not hear Mes Dempster -come a She dated the room and make his breakfast. ‘Then she woke him ith a cup of tea ‘Alter breakfast he puta book in his pocket and went out for a walk. On the way be bought a few sandwiches (Then [shan have t ston for lunch,’ he said to himsel) He found a prety, que litle park and spent most of the day ‘here, studying. On Bis way home he eae atthe hotel to thank Mrs Wood for her kindness. She looked at him searching “You must not werk to0 hard, si You look pale this morning. Too much staying isnt good for anyone. Bo tll ‘me, iz, dd you havea good night? Mrs Dempster told me you wee stil sleep when she went i.” “Oh, was al right said Moore with a smile "The ghosts haven’ toubled me yet Bur the rats had a party las ight “There was oa old devil with ed ees. He a up onthe ha bythe fr. He dida’e move unl picked up the poker Then he ram up the rope ofthe alarm bel. I did't se where he went Ie was too dark ‘Dear God” cred Mes Wood, ‘an old deri siting by the fr! Take eae, si, take care” “What do you mean?” asked Moore in surprise, "An old devil The old evi, pechaps.’ Moore started to taugh. “These forgive me, Mes Wood’ he said at last. just ‘nul’ t help laughing a the idea ofthe Devil himel siting, 2 The Judge's House Then thei’ het the, argat hci ee a lp 2 Ghost Storie by my fire... And he began to lnugh again, Then he went home fr inner “That evening the noise of che ras began cathe. After inner he sat down beside the fre and drank his tea, Then he sac down a the table and started vo work again, “The rats disturbed him more chan the previous nigh. “They scratched and squeaked and ran about, sod stared at him from the hole in the walls. Ther eyes shone like tiny lamps inthe ficlght. But Moore was becoming used 10 them. They seemed playful rather than aggresive, Some times the Bravest rats fan out onto the Hooe or acros the {ops ofthe pictures. Now and again, when they disturbed him, Moore shook his papers at them. They ran to thir holes at once, And so the erly part of he night passed quite ied. Moore worked hard for several hour All ar once he was disturbed by a sudden silence, Thre vas nota sound of running or seratching, or squeaking. ‘Thehuge room was seta the grave. Moore remembered the previous night. He looked ar the chai by the Sreside ~ and got a tenble shock. Thre, on the great high-backed ‘ak cha sat he same enormous ee ws staring 3 ime wih hate, ‘Without hinking, Moore picked up the nearest book and threw it I missed, and the rat did not move. So Moore gai picked up the poker. Agaia the rt ran up the rope of the alem bell-And once mote the other rate sated their scratching and squeaking. Moore was unable to se where the eat had gone. The light ofthe lp did not teach 28 fat sth high esling, and the ire had burmed low. 4 The Judge's Howe ‘Moore looked at his watch, ws almost midight, He pat more wood on the fre and made a pot of tea. Then be Sat down inthe grea oak chair bythe fre and enjoyed hie “Twonaler where that old rat went just niow he thought" must buy arattap inthe morning’ He ie another amp. He placed iso that it would shin into che sght-hand corer of the wall by the fireplace. He got several books ready to throw atthe creature Finally be lied the rope ofthe alarm bell. He put ton the able and fixed the end of ic under the lan. [As he handled the rope, Moore noticed how lable it was. "You could hang a man wich i’ he thought. Then he stood hack and admired his preparations. "There, my fend he said aloud, think I'l lean your secret this time!” He stated work again, and was soon los in his studies. ‘Bar once again he was disturbed by a sudden silence. Then the bell rape moved ite, and the lamp on top ofthe rope ‘moved ton. Moore made sure that his books were rady for ‘hoving, Then he looked along the rope. Ashe looked, the great sat dropped fom the rope ont the old oak chai. Ie sat there staring at him angrily. He picked up book and slmed it at he rt. The creature amped cleverly to oe side. ‘Moote threw another book, but withoue syces. Then, 3¢ Moore stood with a third book his hand ready 0 throw, ‘he rat squeaked and seemed tobe afaid. Moore thew the boolcandicie the rats side. With asqueak of pain nd fear, tnd a look of eal ac, iran up the back of the chair and made a great jump ont te rope of the alarm bel. ran up a Choc Stories ‘he rope ke lightning, while the heavy Imp shook with its desperate speed Moore watched the rat carflly. By the light ofthe second lam, he saw it disappear through 2 ole in one ofthe great pictures on the wal "TShllchece my’ anpleatane litle vistors home inthe morning said Moore thinset he picked up his books from the lor. ‘The thd pita rom the replace: shan fogget’ He examined the hooks. He picked ap the third ‘ook that he had thrown. "This is the one that hure him! he said to himself Then his face tured pal, "Why ~ i's ay mother's old Bible! How strange!” He sat down to work gain, and once more the atin the walls stared thee noe. “This did not worry him. Compared withthe huge rt these ‘ones scemed almost friendly. But he could not work. At ast he closed his books and weat to bed. The fst red light of ‘morning was shining through the window ashe closed his os 5 fe sep heavily but uneasily, and he had unpleasant leams. Then Mes Dempricr woke him at srsl with, 4 cup of tea, and he fet heuer. Bur his fist request ro her ‘surprised the old servant very much “Mrs Dempster, while out eaday, will you pease dat of wash thoe pictres— ‘parccularly the third one from the Geeplace. I want 0 se ‘what they ace ‘Again Moore spent most of the day studying happily in 2% ‘The Judge's Home the park. On his way home he again visited Mes Wood at the hotel. She had a visto with her in her comfortable siring000 “Sit ssid the landlady, this is Doctor Thora” ‘Aston as she had intoduced them, the doctor began 0 ask Mooze a great many questions. ‘Im sue said Moore ro himself, che the good doctor didnot ell hereby secden.” He turned to Doctor Thoesll. “The doctor seemed surpised, hut he agreed a once "Did Mrs Wood ask you to come here and advise me” asked Moore. The doctor looked surprised. Mes Wood's face turned very red and she looked away. Bat the doctor wat an honest iendly man, and he answered quickly, ‘She

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