"Billy!"
"Billy--what is it?"
The diminutive butler made a pitiful attempt at his usual grin.
"It--nothing," he gasped. The Unknown relapsed in his chair--
again the dazed stranger from nowhere.
Beresford took the Japanese by the shoulders.
"Now see here!" he said sharply. "You've seen something! What
was it!"
Billy trembled like a leaf.
"Ghost! Ghost!" he muttered frantically, his face working.
"He's concealing something. Look at him!" Miss Cornelia stared at
her servant.
"No, no!" insisted Billy in an ague of fright. "No, no!"
But Miss Cornelia was sure of it.
"Brooks, close that door!" she said, pointing at the terrace door
in the alcove which still stood ajar after the entrance of the
Unknown.
Bailey moved to obey. But just as he reached the alcove the terrace
door slammed shut in his face. At the same moment every light in
Cedarcrest blinked and went out again.
Bailey fumbled for the doorknob in the sudden darkness.
"The door's locked!" he said incredulously. "The key's gone too.
Where's your revolver, Beresford?"
"I dropped it in the alcove when I caught that man," called
Beresford, cursing himself for his carelessness.
The illuminated dial of Bailey's wrist watch flickered in the darkness
as he searched for the revolver--as round, glowing spot of
phosphorescence.
Lizzie screamed. "The eye! The gleaming eye I saw on the stairs!"
she shrieked, pointing at it frenziedly.
"Quick--there's a candle on the table--light it somebody.
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