Within That Room! by John Russell Fearn Page A

Vera to hers. Shaken, dusty, dishevelled, they were still breathing heavily from the experiences.... From the corridor’s further distance old Falworth appeared, approaching with nervous anxiety.
    â€œI trust you are convinced now of the evil presence within that room?” the housekeeper asked.
    â€œI’ll admit that there is something there,” Dick answered her, frowning. “But whether it is an evil presence or not, I don’t know—not yet. I haven’t finished with that room by a long shot!”
    â€œWhy will you not learn sense?” Mrs. Falworth sounded amazingly agitated—for her. “If you persist in this—this baiting of the other world and its secrets, it will bring disaster down on all of us!”
    â€œPerhaps,” Dick said, cynically. “All I’ll admit at present is that it was tough while it lasted—just like a bombing raid. Only I used to go out on a bombing raid again and again, and I’m sort of looking at that room in the same way. Just want to recover my breath, that’s all—and to think things out.”
    â€œBoth of you should leave,” old Falworth put in, rubbing his hands together. “Sell the place, Miss Grantham, and all the horror which goes with it—then we can all get away to something clean and free.”
    â€œI probably shall,” Vera muttered, holding her aching eyes. “For the moment I’m too dizzy to think straight. I’ll go and lie down for a while.”
    Dick gripped her arm as she turned uncertainly. He glanced back at Falworth.
    â€œTake the chisel back downstairs,” he said, “but leave the screwdriver. I’ll need it to unfasten that one screw. I haven’t finished the job yet— Come on, Vera.”
    Still supporting her he led her down the corridor to her room, opened the door for her. Carefully he led her to an armchair and she sat down, holding her head in her hands.
    â€œI—I suppose I shouldn’t be in here,” Dick said presently, with an effort at a smile.
    The girl gestured with one hand and kept her eyes closed.
    â€œAs if it mattered,” she sighed. “Oh, my head! I feel half blind!”

CHAPTER EIGHT
    ODORS AND RED ASH
    For a few minutes Vera hardly moved. Then she began to lower her hands, and a faint, tired smile crossed her face. Dick noticed with satisfaction that color was creeping back into her cheeks, that a brightness was returning to her eyes.
    â€œYou got it worse than I did,” he said.
    She said, “I’ve got to sell—and quickly!”
    â€œYou say an offer has been made for this place?” Dick asked. “Fifteen thousand pounds?”
    â€œSo Mr. Thwaite told me.”
    â€œAny idea who made the offer?”
    â€œNot the slightest: I didn’t pursue the subject. I can’t see that it matters anyway as long as we can get the money—or rather, as long as I can get the money.”
    â€œMaybe not, but it’s a lot of money for a place with such a ghastly reputation.”
    Vera reflected. “The land value will be considerable, and maybe the prospective buyer doesn’t want to live in it. Perhaps wants to turn the place into an institution? It would make a good one.”
    Dick thought it out for a while, strolling across to the window and gazing out at the sunset. Then at length he turned and came back to the girl as she sprawled in the chair.
    â€œYou may not think much of this idea after the experience we’ve just been through,” he said. “I think we should find out who is making the offer before we do anything further. I suggest that we ring up Thwaite tomorrow morning and find out.... From a callbox, of course.”
    â€œWell—all right—” Vera looked up at him and gave a shrug. “I don’t suppose a day can make much difference, anyhow, but I do know when I’ve had enough, and this evening’s experience has convinced me