to get out matches and light his
lamp.

The drawer creaked as he pulled it out, and deadened a sound behind him
as of one softly rising from a chair, and a piece of stone--a large
fossil--grated as it was taken from the mantelpiece; but, rapt in
thought, Stratton did not hear it as he opened the box, took out and
struck a match, which flashed, and threw a bluish, ghastly light upon a
hideous face, with beside it an arm raised to strike.

The next minute there was a crash and a heavy fall.

It was about half an hour later that Brettison ascended the staircase,
and as he reached the landing there was a puffing and panting behind
him.

"It is you, then, Mr Brettison," cried Mrs Brade joyfully; "I thought
it was you as you passed the lodge, and I am glad, sir. We began to
think you must be dead and gone. Now do let me come and tidy up your
room, sir, and make you a cup of tea."

"No, no," said Brettison. "I am going in here. Mr Stratton and I are
leaving town."

"Mr Stratton has gone, sir. Leastwise not at home."

"What!"

"Mr Guest was here a quarter of an hour ago, and said he'd been here
once before. He couldn't make no one hear."

"Something has happened then," said Brettison to himself, and a thrill
of horror ran through his frame.

CHAPTER FORTY NINE.

A PLACE OF REST.

"Well, if ever two strange gentlemen did live in inns it's Mr Stratton
and Mr Brettison," said Mrs Brade as she reluctantly went back to her
lodge. "Nice state their rooms must be in; and him, once so civil and
polite, as awkward and gruff as you please."

She had some cause for complaint, Brettison having dismissed her with a
request not to talk quite so much.

In spite of the woman's declaration of Stratton's absence, the old man
felt that he must be there; and after knocking twice, each time with his
heart sinking more and more with dread, he applied his lips to the
letter-box after forcing open the spring flap.

"Stratton, if you are there, for Heaven's sake open at once!" he
whispered loudly.

There was a rustling sound directly, the bolt was shot back, and
Stratton admitted him, afterward taking a letter from the box, glancing
at it, and thrusting it into his pocket.

"That woman said you had gone out," said Brettison eagerly. "I was
alarmed. I thought--how is he?"

Stratton pointed to the chair where the man lay as if asleep.

"Why, how haggard you look," said Brettison excitedly. "Has there been
anything