The Argosy — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

28 Faithful unto Death. against the moonlight. The next door but one to mine was Aunt Dinah’s ; opposite was Tom’s; and at the other end was the stair- case. The gas-jet had not been put out, on account of Aunt Di’s illness, and the corridor was as light as day. I could see nothing unusual. Still, hardly daring to breathe, I thought I heard those slow, soft steps ascending. But I called to mind what tricks the imagination plays us in the night, especially when rendered anxious by illness in the house, and I told myself I must be mistaken. Taking courage, I advanced a pace or two. Keeping my eyes strained on the staircase, I saw the intruder come into view. He seemed to bring a deadly cold with him, for a blast as of an approaching iceberg struck upon me. I[ didnot scream. I did not dash into my own room, or into Tom’s for protection, for 1 had instantaneously recognised him, and all other emotion gave place to astonishment. It was Lionel Payne. He looked just as he used to look, except for an intense pallor. I had never seen a face so pale before. He wore no hat, and his coat, a dark frock, was buttoned up close to his chin. He advanced slowly and soundlessly along the passage, his right hand held out towards me, his gaze fixed on mine. I went forward to meet him; we met close to Aunt Dinah’s door. Putting out my hand to his, I found he did not take it; instead of that, his own dropped. His face looked frightfully white and mourn- ful; his eyes, fixed on mine, had a startling sadness in them. ‘The cold of the air and the strange gaze set me shivering. ‘How did you get in, Lionel?” I asked. ‘What have you come for, at this hour?” He made no reply, but passed onwards behind me, and I certainly heard him sigh. A deep, long-drawn sigh, which died away on the air. J turned to look after him, and—-—could not see him. Had he gone into my room? There was no other door open: yet he had not had time to reach it. JI went to my room, and looked in. But he was not there. Utterly bewildered, I turned to the corridor again. He was not in it: and the cold blast which had chilled me was not in it either ; the temperature had returned to its previous warmth, that of a summer night. “Lionel!” I called out. ‘“‘ Mr Payne!” Tom’s door opened then, and Tom stood at it, half dressed. “What is it, Grace?” he asked. “Is Aunt Di worse ?” “Tom, I want to speak to you—no, no, it’s not Aunt Di.” I was beginning to shiver and shake, for a frightful dread had come rushing over me. Crossing over to my brother for protection I told him all. “ Grace, child, you must have dreamt it,” he said, soothingly COMMICOOOKS».E@