The Room with the Tassels Page 5

  CHAPTER V Eve's Experience

  The investigators had investigated for a week. They were now having teain the great hall, to whose shadowy distances and shabby appointmentsthey had become somewhat accustomed.

  Kept up to the mark by the Landons, old Jed Thorpe had developed positivetalents as a butler, and with plenty of lamps and candles, and a coupleof willing, if ignorant maids, the household machinery ran fairlysmoothly. Supplies were procured in East Dryden or sent up from New Yorkmarkets and by day the party was usually a gay-hearted, merry-manneredcountry house group.

  Every day at tea-time, they recounted any individual experiences thatmight seem mysterious, and discussed them.

  "It's this way," Professor Hardwick summed up; "the determining factor isthe dark. Ghosts and haunted houses are all very well at night, butdaylight dispels them as a sound breaks silence."

  "What about my experience when I slept in the Room with the Tassels,"growled Gifford Bruce.

  Braye laughed. "You queered yourself, Uncle Gif, when you announcedbefore we started, that you were not bound to good faith. _Your_ ghoststories are discounted before you tell 'em!"

  "But I did see a shape,--a shadowy form, like a tall woman with a shawlover her head----"

  "You dreamed it," said Milly, smiling at him. "Or else----"

  "Milly daren't say it," laughed Eve, "but I will. Or else, you inventedthe yarn."

  "If I'm to be called a----"

  "Tut, tut, Mr. Bruce," intervened Tracy, "nobody called you one! Playfulprevarication is all right, especially as you warned us you'd fool us ifyou could. Now I can tell an experience and justly expect to bebelieved."

  "But you haven't had any," and Eve's translucent eyes turned to him.

  "I have," began Tracy, slowly, "but they've been a bit indefinite. It'sunsatisfactory to present only an impression or a suggestion, where factsare wanted. And the Professor says truly that hints and haunts areconvincing at night, but repeated, at a pleasant, comfortable tea hour,they sound flimsy and unconvincing."

  "What did you think you saw or heard?" asked Norma, with a reminiscent,far-off look in her eyes.

  "Every morning, or almost every morning, at four o'clock, I seem to hearthe trailing robes of a presence of some sort. I seem to hear a faintmoaning sound, that is like nothing human."

  "That's imagination," said Braye, promptly.

  "It is, doubtless," agreed Hardwick, "but it is due to what may be called'expectant attention.' If we had not connected four o'clock with thestory of this house, Mr. Tracy would not have those hallucinations atthat time."

  "Perhaps so," the clergyman looked thoughtful. "But it seems vivid andreal at the time. Then, in the later morning, it is merely a hazymemory."

  "You know Mr. Stebbins said that every one who died in this house alwaysdied at four o'clock."

  "I know he _said_ so," and Braye looked quizzical.

  "Oh, come now, don't doubt honest old Stebbins!" and Eve frowned. "Wemust believe _his_ tales or we'll never get anywhere. I'm going over toEast Dryden to see him to-morrow, I want a few more details. And, itseems to me, we're getting nowhere,--with our imaginations andhallucinations. Now, to-night, I'm going to sleep in the Room with theTassels. I've no fear of it, and I have a deep and great curiosity."

  "Oh, let me sleep there with you! Mayn't I, Eve? Oh, please let me!"Vernie danced about in her eagerness, and knelt before Eve, pleading.

  "No, Vernie, I forbid it," said her uncle, decidedly. "If Miss Carnforthwants to do this thing, I have nothing to say, but you must not, mychild. I know you people don't believe me, but I surely saw an apparitionthe night I slept there, and it was no human trickster. Neither was ithallucination. I was as wideawake as I am now----"

  "We know the rest, Uncle Gif," and Braye laughingly interrupted therecital. "Stalking ghost, hollow groans, and--were there clankingchains?"

  "There were not, but in its shrouded hand the spectre held a glass----"

  "Of prussic acid, of which you smelt the strong odour! Yes, I know,--butit won't go down, old chap----"

  "The prussic acid won't?" and Landon chuckled.

  "Nor the tale either," said the Professor. "It's too true. The shawledwoman filled the specifications too accurately to seem convincing."

  "You're a nice crowd," grumbled Mr. Bruce. "Come up here for experiencesand then hoot at the first real thing that happens."

  "All your own fault," retorted Norma. "If you hadn't advertised yourpropensity for fooling us, your word would have carried weight."

  "All right, let somebody else sleep in that room, then. But not MissCarnforth. Let one of the men try it."

  "Thank you, none for me," said Braye. "I detest shawled women waking meup at four o'clock, to take my poison!"

  "I'll beg off, too," said Tracy. "I wake at four every morning anyway,with those aspen boughs shivering against my windows. I'd trim them off,but that doesn't seem like playing the game."

  "Wynne shan't sleep there, and that settles _that_," and Milly's grasp onher husband's coat sleeve was evidently sufficiently detaining.

  "That leaves only me, of the men," asserted the Professor. "I'm quitewilling to sleep in that room. Indeed, I want to. I've only been waitingtill I felt sure of the house, the servants and--excuse me, the membersof our own party! Now, I've discovered that the servants' quarters can besecurely locked off, so that they cannot get in this part of the house;I've found that the outside doors and the windows can be fastened againstall possibility of outside intrusion; and, I shall stipulate that ourparty shall so congregate in a few rooms, that no one can--ahem,--hauntmy slumbers without some one else knowing it. I'll ask you three youngladies to sleep in one room and allow me to lock you in. Or two adjoiningrooms, to which I may hold all keys. Mr. Tracy, Mr. Bruce and Mr. Braye,I shall arrange similarly, while the Landons must also consent to beimprisoned by me. This is the only way I can make a fair test. Will youall agree?"

  "Splendid!" cried Eve, "of course we will. But, Professor, let me try itfirst. If you should have a weird experience, it might scare me off, butnow I am brave enough. Oh, please, do that! Let me lock you all in yourrooms, and let me sleep in the Room with the Tassels to-night! Oh, pleasesay yes, all of you! I _must_, I must try it!" The girl looked like aseeress, as, with glittering eyes and flushed cheeks she plead her cause.

  "Why, of course, if you want to, Miss Carnforth," said the Professor,looking at her admiringly. "I'll be glad to have the benefit of yourexperience before testing myself. And there is positively no danger. AsI've said, the locks, bolts, and bars are absolutely safe against outsideintrusion, or visits from the servants. Though we know _they_ are not tobe suspected. And as you are not afraid of the supernatural, I can see noargument against your plan."

  "Suppose I go with you," suggested Norma, her large blue eyes questioningEve Carnforth's excited face.

  "No, Norma, not this time. I prefer to be alone. I'll lock you and Verniein your room; I'll lock Milly and Wynne in their room; I'll lock you fourmen in two rooms, and then, I'll know--I'll _know_ that whatever I see orhear is not a fraud or trick of _anybody_. And I think you can trust meto tell you the truth in the morning."

  "If there's anything to tell," supplemented Braye. "I think, Eve, as toghosts, you're cutting off your source of supply."

  "Then we'll merely prove nothing. But I'm determined to try."

  Again Vernie begged to be allowed to share Eve's experiences, but neitherMr. Bruce, nor Eve herself would consider the child's request.

  "Every one of us," the Professor said, musingly, "has told of hearingmysterious sounds and of seeing mysterious shadows, but,--except forBruce's graphic details!--all our observations have been vague anduncertain. They may well have been merely imagination. But Miss Carnforthis not imaginative, I mean, not so, to the exclusion of a fair judgmentof what her senses experience. Therefore I shall feel, if she seesnothing to-night, that I shall see nothing when I sleep in that roomto-morrow nig
ht."

  "I am especially well adapted for the test," Eve said, though in no wayproudly, "for I have a premonition that the phantasm will appear to memore readily than to some others. Remember, I knew that was the hauntedroom before we had been told. I knew it before we entered the house thatfirst night. It was revealed to me, as other things have been even duringour stay here. You must realize that I am a sensitive, and so betterfitted for these visitations than a more phlegmatic or practical person."

  "What else has been revealed to you, Eve?" asked Braye.

  "Perhaps revealed isn't just the word, Rudolph, but I've seen more thanmost of you, I've heard voices, rustling as of wings, and otherinexplicable sounds, that I know were audible only to me."

  "Lord, Eve, you give me the creeps! Finished your tea? Come out for awalk then. Let's get off these subjects, if only for half an hour."

  That night, Eve Carnforth carried out her plans to the letter.

  Gifford Bruce, and his nephew Braye in one room; the Professor and Tracyin another, were locked in by Eve, amid much gaiety of ceremony.

  "Set a thief to catch a thief," Braye declared. "Tracy, look after theProfessor, that he doesn't jump out of the window, and you, Professor,watch Tracy!"

  "They can't jump out the windows," said Eve, practically, "they're toohigh. And if they could, they couldn't get in the tasseled room. Thosewindows won't open. And, too, I know the Professor won't let Mr. Tracyout of his sight, or _vice versa_. Rudolph, you tie your uncle, if heshows signs of roving."

  Eve's strong nerves gave no sign of tension as she completed all herprecautionary arrangements. She locked the doors that shut off theservants' quarters; she locked the Landons in their room, she locked thedoor of the room that Norma and Vernie occupied, and at last, withvarious gay messages shouted at her through the closed portals, she wentdownstairs to keep her lonely vigil.

  She did not undress, for she had no intention of sleeping that night. Akimono, and her hair comfortably in a long braid were her onlyconcessions to relaxation.

  She lay down on the hard old bed, and gazed about her. A single lamp litthe room, and she had a candle also, in case she desired to use it.

  The light made strange shadows, the heavy, faded hangings seemed to swayand move, but whether they really did so or not, Eve couldn't determine.She got up and went to examine them. The feel of them was damp andunpleasant, they seemed to squirm under her hand, and she hastily droppedthem and returned to the bed.

  There was an uncanny, creepy atmosphere that disturbed her, in spite ofher strong nerves and indomitable will.

  She had locked the door, now she arose and took the key out and laid iton a table. She had heard that a key in a lock could be turned from theother side.

  Then, on a sudden impulse, she put out the lamp, feeling utter darknesspreferable to those weird shadows. But the darkness was too horrible, soshe lighted the candle. It was not in the historic old brass candlestick,but in a gay affair of red china, and the homely, cheap thing somewhatreassured her, as a bit of modernity and real life.

  She listened for a long time, imagining sighs or sounds, which she couldnot be sure she really heard. The whispering aspens outside were audible,and their continued soughing was monotonously annoying, but notfrightful, because she had accustomed herself to it.

  At last, her over-wrought nerves wearied, her physical nature refusedfurther strain, and Eve slept. A light, fitful sleep, interspersed withwaking moments and with sudden swift dreams. But she kept fast hold ofher perceptive faculties. If she slept and woke, she knew it. She heardthe aspens' sounds, the hours struck by the great hall clock, and thesound of her own quick, short breathing.

  Nothing else.

  Until, just as the clock tolled the last stroke of four, she heard a lowgrating sound. Was some one at the door? She was glad she had taken outthe key.

  The candle still burned, but its tiny light rather accentuated thanlifted the gloom of the shadowy room.

  Slowly and noiselessly the door swung open, inward, into the room. Evetried to sit up in bed, but could not. She felt paralyzed, not so muchfrightened, as numbed with physical dread.

  And then, with a slow gliding motion, _something_ entered,--somethingtall, gaunt and robed in long, pale-coloured draperies. It was unreal,shadowy in its aspect, it was only dimly visible in the gloom, but itgave the impression of a frightened, furtive personality that hesitatedto move, yet was impelled to. A soft moan, as of despair, came from thefigure, and it put out a long white hand and pinched out the candleflame. Then, with another sigh, Eve could _feel_, in the utter blackdarkness that the thing was coming to her side.

  With all her might she tried to cry out, but her vocal cords were dumb,she made no sound. But she felt,--with all her senses, she _felt_ theapparition draw nearer. At her bedside it paused, she knew this, by asort of sixth sense, for she heard or saw nothing.

  Then, she was conscious of a faint odour of prussic acid, its pungentbitterness unmistakable, though slight.

  And then, a tiny flame, as of a wick without a candle, flashed for asecond, disappeared, and Eve almost fainted. She did not entirely loseconsciousness, but her brain reeled, her head seemed to spin round andher ears rang with a strange buzzing, for in the instant's gleam of thatweird light, she had seen the face of the phantom, and--it was the faceof a skull! It was the ghastly countenance of a death's head!

  Half conscious, but listening with abnormal sense, she thought shedescried the closing of the door, but could hear no key turn.

  The knowledge that she was alone, gave her new life. She sprang up,lighted the candle, lighted the lamp, and looked about. All was as shehad arranged it. The door was locked, the key, untouched, upon the table.Nothing was disturbed, but Eve Carnforth knew that her experience,whatever its explanation, had not been a dream.

  When her senses had reeled, she had not lost entire control of themthrough her physical fear, she had kept her mental balance, and she_knew_ that what her brain had registered had actually occurred.

  Alert, she lay for a long time thinking it over. She felt sure therewould be no return of the spectre,--she felt sure it had been aspectre,--and she was conscious of a feeling of curiosity rather thanfright.

  At last she rose, and unlocking the door, went out into the great hall.By the light of her lamp, she looked it over. The carved bronze doorsbetween the enormous bronze columns, were so elaborately locked andbolted as to give almost the effect of a fortress.

  The windows were fastened and some were barred. But all these details hadbeen looked after in advance; Eve gazed at them now, in an idle quest forsome hint of hitherto unsuspected ingress.

  But there was none, and now the clock was striking five.

  She went slowly upstairs, unlocked the various doors, without openingthem, and then went to her own bedroom.

  "What about it?" cried Norma, eagerly, running to Eve's room.

  "A big story," Eve returned, wearily. "But I'll tell it to you all atonce. I'm going to get some sleep. Wake me at eight, will you, Norma?"

  Disappointed, but helpless, as Eve closed her door upon the would-bevisitor, Norma went back and told Milly, who was waiting and listening.

  "I don't like it," Norma said, "for by eight o'clock she can cook up astory to scare us all! I think two ought to sleep in that room at once."

  "Go to bed," said Milly, sleepily. "And don't you suspect Eve Carnforthof making up a yarn or even dressing up the truth! She isn't that sort."

  As to Eve's veracity, opinions were divided.

  She told the whole story, directly after breakfast, to the whole group,the servants being well out of earshot.

  She told it simply and straightforwardly, just as it had happened to her.Her sincerity and accurate statements stood a fire of questions, a volleyof sarcastic comments and a few assertions of unbelief.

  Professor Hardwick believed implicitly all she said, and encouraged herto dilate upon her experiences. But in nowise did she add to them, shemerely repeated or emphasized the var
ious points without deviation fromher first narrative.

  Norma and Braye went for a walk, and frankly discussed it.

  "Of course, Eve colours it without meaning to," declared Braye; "itcouldn't have happened, you know. We were all locked in, and Lord knowsnone of us could have put that stunt over even if we had wanted to."

  "Of course not; that locking in business was unnecessary, but it doesprove that no human agency was at work. That leaves only Eve'simagination--or--the real thing."

  "It wasn't the real thing," and Braye shook his head. "There ain't nosuch animal! But Eve's imagination is----"

  "No. Mr. Braye, you're on the wrong tack. Eve's imagination is _not_ thesort that conjures up phantoms. Vernie's might do that, or Mrs.Landon's,--but not Miss Carnforth's. She is psychic,--I know, because Iam myself----"

  "Miss Cameron,--Norma,----" and Braye became suddenly insistent, "don't_you_ sleep in that infernal room, will you? Promise me you won't."

  "Why?" and the big blue eyes looked at him in surprise. "As SentimentalTommy used to say, 'I would fell like to!' Why shouldn't I?"

  "Oh, I don't want you to," and Braye looked really distressed. "Promiseme you won't--please."

  "Why do you care? 'Fraid I'll be carried off by the Shawled Woman?"

  "Ugh!" and Braye shivered. "I can't bear to think of you alone downthere. I beg of you not to do it."

  "But that's what we came for. We're to investigate, you know."

  "Well, then promise you won't try it until after I do."

  "Trickster! And if you never try it, I can't!"

  "You see through me too well. But, at least, promise this. If you try it,don't go alone. Say, you and Miss Carnforth go together----"

  "Hello, people," and Vernie ran round a corner, followed more slowly byTracy. "We've had a great little old climb! Hundreds of thousands of feetup the mounting side,--wasn't it, Mr. Tracy?"

  "Thar or tharabouts," agreed Tracy, smiling at the pretty child.

  "And Mr. Tracy is the delightfullest man! He told me all the names of thewild flowers,--weeds, rather,--there weren't any flowers. And oh, _isn't_it exciting about Eve's ghost! I'm going to ballyrag Uncle Gif till helets me sleep in that room. He'll _have_ to give in at last!"

  "Don't, Vernie," begged Braye. "What possesses all you girls! I wish we'dnever started this racket! But you mustn't do it, Kiddie, unless, thatis, you go with somebody else. But not alone."

  "Why, Cousin Rudolph, what are you afraid of? Are you a mollycoddle?"

  "No, child, I'm afraid for you. A shock like that, even an imaginaryfright, might upset your reason and----"

  "Fiddle-de-dee! my reason is deeper rooted than that! Come on, Mr. Tracy,I'll race you to that big hemlock tree!"

  The two started off, Vernie's flying legs gaining ground at first, overTracy's steady well-trained running step.