But, becoming calm
from this exciting vision, I slept soundly until the morning sun peeped
into the room with the cheerful announcement that a new day was born.
In the fresh morning air and the bright morning light, I felt that I
might have been unduly suspicious and had fled from harmless citizens;
and I was ashamed that I had lacked courage to return to Henry's room
as I made my way thither for a change of clothes. I thought better of
my decision, however, as I stepped within the gloomy walls of the house
of mystery, and my footfalls echoed through the chilling silence of the
halls. And I lost all regret over my night's lack of courage when I
reached my door. It was swung an inch ajar, and as I approached I
thought I saw it move.
"I'm certain I locked it," was my inward comment.
I stopped short and hunted my revolver from my overcoat pocket. I was
nervous for a moment, and angry at the inattention that might have cost
me my life.
"Who's there?" I demanded.
No reply.
I gave a knock on the door at long reach.
There was no sound and I gave it a push that sent it open while I
prudently kept behind the fortification of the casing. As no
developments followed this move, I peeped through the door in cautious
investigation. The room was quite empty, and I walked in.
The sight that met my eyes was astonishing. Clothes, books, papers,
were scattered over the floor and bed and chairs. The carpet had been
partly ripped up, the mattress torn apart, the closet cleared out, and
every corner of the room had been ransacked.
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