The Argosy — page 54: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

On the Supernatural. 4I Rising immediately, with the intention of calling my friends, I was just at the point of putting my hand on the handle of the door, when the most terrific shriek I ever heard in my life rang through the long corridor. Immediately after, apparently close outside my room, there was a noise as of two people in deadly struggle—which ended in both appearing to fall together against the door. Never shall I forget the thrill of horror which ran through me at that moment. Rushing forward—for I had drawn back in fear—to turn the key against them, I stood almost paralysed; lest, failing in my nervousness to lock the door at once, the attention of those out- side should be attracted. My fears of the supernatural had changed into other fears—I thought there were thieves in the house. So I stayed cowering where I was, hardly daring to breathe. What the mortal terror of that moment was I cannot write. To bed I could not return ; the heavy breathing still followed me about the room. Lighting a second night-light in addition to the one already alight, and putting one on each end of the mantel-piece, I dressed myself, moved the dressing-table from the window, drew up the blind, and sat shivering until half-past six o’clock the next morning, when day was just beginning to dawn. The dreary monotony of that fearful night, only broken every hour by the measured step of the almost invisible policeman going his rounds, to whom more than once [I felt almost irresistibly impelled to cail—can never be forgotten. My head was constantly turned in the direction from whence the breathing came, expecting every moment to see, as well as hear. But that, I am thankful to say, I was spared. In the morning I told my friends, as before, what had happened, and also repeated my determination not to spend another night in that room, at which the Doctor only laughed, professing to believe all to be the result of my imagination. But his wife looked grave. The business which had called me to London detained me nearly the whole of that day in the City, and it was almost six o’clock before I returned to Wimpole Street, tired and chilled, and by no means desiring to change my quarters that night. After dinner I held to my resolve of leaving them, and going at once to my other friends at Carlton Road, Kilburn. ‘The Doctor laughed more than ever, and declared that he would not hear of my leaving them for so ridiculous a reason. He appealed to my bravery and strength of mind; but I told him that another night passed in that room would jeopardise my senses. “Well, look here,” said he at length ; “‘ you shall sleep with M.”— his wife—‘“ you cannot, I am sure, object to stay on these terms !” “Very well,” I replied, ‘ to that I consent willingly—provided the room you take shall be the one I have slept in these two nights.” | “Oh, to be sure,” he answered, gaily; “Tll take the haunted chamber. In fact, ’ve no choice ; for there’s not any other ready.” COMICOOOKS.EO am _