J. Paul Suter

“ He saw the diary," I told him.
"I'm afraid there can be no doubt," the coroner confirmed, in his heavy, tired voice.
He was an old man, with lacklustre eyes. It had seemed best to me, on the whole, that he should read my uncle's diary. His position entitled him to all the available facts. What we were seeking in the well might especially concern him.
He looked at me opaquely now, while the policeman bent double again. Then he spoke—like one who reluctantly and at last does his duty. He nodded toward the slab of gray stone, which lay in the shadow to the left of the well. ”

“ The interruptions seem to come always at the same hour—about three o'clock in the morning. I had been dreaming of the well in the cellar—the same dream, over and over—everything black except the slab, and a figure with bowed head and averted face sitting there. Also, I had vague dreams about a dog. Can it be that my last words to her have impressed that on my mind? I must pull myself together. In particular I must not, under any pressure, yield and visit the cellar after nightfall."
"August 18th. Am feeling much more hopeful. Mrs. Malkin remarked on it, while serving dinner. ”

“ I demurred. "A man would have to be rather strong to lift it."
"To lift it—yes." He glanced about the cellar. "Ah, I forgot," he said, abruptly. "It is in my office, as part of the evidence." He went on, half to himself: "A man—even though not very strong—could take a stick—for instance, the stick that is now in my office—and prop up the slab. If he wished to look into the well," he whispered.
The policeman interrupted, straightening again with a groan, and laying his electric torch beside the well. ”

“ Sarston, many a time, 'It's all well enough,' says I, 'to have bugs for a hobby. You can afford it; and being a bachelor and by yourself, you don't have to consider other people's likes and dislikes. And it's all well enough if you want to,' says I, 'to keep thousands and thousands o'them in cabinets, all over the place, the way you do. ”

“ I looked away; but, as he laid his burden down at the side of the well, the detective whispered to us:
"He had her covered up with dirt—covered up. . . . ."
He began to laugh—a little, high cackle. like a child's—until the coroner took him by the shoulders and deliberately shook him. Then the policeman led him out of the cellar.
It was not then, but afterward, that I put my question to the coroner.
"Tell me," I demanded. "People pass there at all hours. Why didn't my uncle call for help?" ”

“ I could tell from the coroner's labored breathing that he felt it more, being an old man. The policeman, however, seemed untiring.
The rope tightened, suddenly, and there was an ejaculation from below—just below. Still holding fast, the policeman contrived to stoop over and look. He translated the ejaculation for us.
"Let down a little. He's stuck with it against the side."
We slackened the rope, until the detective's voice gave us the word again.
The rhythmic tugging continued. Something dark appeared, quite abruptly, at the top of the hole. My nerves leapt in spite of me. ”

“ I shall let his words speak for him, without further interruption:
"My nerves are becoming more seriously affected. If certain annoyances do not shortly cease, I shall be obliged to procure medical advice. To be more specific, I find myself, at times, obsessed by an almost uncontrollable desire to descend to the cellar and lift the slab over the old well. ”

“ There wae no final scamper of tiny footfalls to suggest rats disturbed at their occupations.
"Indeed, I wes conscious of a certain impression of expectant silence—as if the thing behind the noises, whatever it was, had paused to watch me enter its domain. Throughout my time in the cellar, I seemed surrounded by this same atmosphere. Sheer ‘nerves,’ of course.
"In the main, I held myself well under control. As I was about to leave the cellar, however, I unguardedly glanced back over my shoulder at the stone slab covering the old well. ”

“ Let me put this into writing. The mere labor of composition has a soothing influence upon me. God knows, I need such an influence now, as never before!
"In spite of all my watchfulness, I fell asleep, tonight—across my bed. I must have been utterly exhausted. The dream I had was the one about the dog. I was patting the creature's head, over and over. ”

“ The foundations and cellar were examined today by a workman. He states positively that there is no place of ingress for rodents. He contented himself with looking at the slab over the old well, without lifting it. ”

“ For instance, there often is a draft of air along the hallways, which causes a rustling among the specimens impaled on the walls. Lately, too, there have been other nocturnal sounds, strongly suggestive of the clamor of rats and mice. This calls for investigation. I have been at considerable expense to make the house proof against rodents, which might destroy some of my best specimens, some structural defect has opened a way for them, the situation must be corrected at once. ”

“ Have fastened heavy rubber strips on the bottom of my bedroom door."
"August 15th. All quiet, for several nights. I am hoping that the rubber strips, being something definite and tangible, have had a salutary effect upon my nerves. Perhaps I shall not need to see a doctor." ”