The Argosy — page 229: what you’re looking at

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

212 Featherston’s Story. “There is some peculiar form of terror here,” he went on. “JI cannot make it out; it is very unusual. It does not come close to you; not yet, at any rate; and it seems to surround you. It seems to be in the house.. May I ask ”—dquickly lifting his eyes to Ann—*" whether you are given to superstitious fears ?”’ ‘Do you mean ghosts?” cried Ann, and Charley Palliser burst out laughing. ‘‘ Not at all, sir; I don’t believe in ghosts. I’m sure there are none in our house.” Remembering my own terror in regard to the house, and the nervous fancy of having seen Captain Fennel in it when he was miles away, a curious impression came over me that he must surely be reading my fortune as well as Nancy’s. But I was not prepared for her next words. ‘Truly she has no more reticence than a child. ya ‘My sister has a feeling that the house is lonely. She shivers when she has to go into it after nightfall.” Signor ‘Talcke let his hands fall on the table, and lifted his face, Apparently, he was digesting this revelation. I do not think he knew _ the “sister” was present. For my part, disliking publicity, I slipped * behind Anna Bosanquet, and stood by Charley Palliser. ‘Shivers ?” repeated the Italian. ‘Shivers and trembles, and turns sick at having to go in,” affirmed Nancy. ‘So she told me when [I arrived home from England.” “Tf a feeling of that sort assailed me, I should never go into the house again,” said the Signor. “But how could you help it, if it were your home?” she argued. | “All the same. I should regard that feeling as a2 warning against ; a Vm the house, and never enter it. ‘Then you are not yourself troubled with superstitious fears?” he broke off, returning to the business in + hand, and looking at the cards. ‘‘Well—at present—it does not seem to touch you, this curious terror which is assuredly in the house——” | *‘T beg your pardon,” interrupted Ann. ‘Why do you say ‘at present?’ Is it to touch me later?” . | - “Tcannot say. Each time that the cards have been spread it has shown itself nearer to you. It is not yet very near. Apart from that terror—or perhaps remotely connected with it—I see evil threatening _ you. Great evil.” *‘ Ts it in the house?” Yes ; hovering about it. Itis not only yourself it seems to threaten. There is someone else. And it is nearer to that person than it is to you.” ‘ But who is that person? Man or woman?” “Tt isa woman. See this ugly card,” continued he, pointing with his pencil; “it will not be got rid of, shuffle as you will; it has come nearer to that woman each time.” The card he pointed to was more curious looking than any other in the pack. It was not unlike the nine of spades, but crowded with comicbooks.com