The Grey Room

he had once been tossed by a wounded buffalo bull. By good chance the creature threw him into a gully some feet lower than the surrounding bush. Thus it lost him, and he

in his life, and detested the experience. This stream of sympathy and the chastened voices much oppressed him. He was angry with himself also, for a guilty conviction that, in truth, the interest of the visitors exc

oncerning Tom May. Had he enemies? Was it conceivable t

Mrs. Travers. "She is magnificent. Thank

Nelly, with

fore you. Indeed, the worst has yet to come. You must keep up for

al Research," urged Felix Fayre-Michell. "It is just a case for them. In fact, when this gets known widely, as

his is, of course, a police affair. I should think they will so regard i

Walter-so simple and fine and modest-just perfectly kept, grassy mounds, and simple inscriptions. I was looking at them after service

unday service from the neighboring market town, and proved, to the relief of Colonel Vane and Mr

Tom's father," he said, "and if it's an

thankfull

e of himself. The latter had spoken of an inqui

said. "He's absolutely top hole at this s

have hear

got to the bottom of that

ford. "I knew intimate fr

ll young. But that was less amazing than the German spy-you remember now, Sir Walter? The spy had been too clever for England and France-thanks to a woman who helped him. Peter Hardcastle got to

id Felix Fa

Hardt or Hardfelt, or

s the first man at this business, and

e. Keep it a secret. If Hardcastle could come down as your gue

hope you'll invite the Ps

ntrated on the name of Peter Hardcastle. He remembered

e-Michell also

"That struck me as so wonderful. There was a reason given-that he did not wish the public to know him by sig

believe he

don't s

d his presence-nay, secured him! It is certainly one of the mos

d still, or does he work indepe

he can. I shall leave no stone unturned to reach the truth. Yet what even such a man can do is difficult to see. The walls of the Grey Room are solid, the floor is of sound oak, the

I should ask him to come as your guest, then nobody need know

left the room. Then the conversation showed signs of drifting back to sentimentality. Sir Walter s

our plans? I fear this terrible event

ng beside your sorrow, dear

y would gladly stop at Chadlands, but since they were powerles

should have come through Jutland, done worthy deeds, won honorable mention and the D. S. O., then to be snatched out of life in this incomprehensible manner-nay, perhaps even by supernatural means, for we cannot yet actu

e of that." He left them and presently

early to-morrow. I don't think I shall be able to dine with them to-night. Tom's fat

the fighting sort, but he believes in a lot of queer things. I'm going in to Newton with Colonel Vane, and shall meet Man

uiry. If he's left Scotland Yard and acting independently, none the less engage

hey will e

ogether. Indeed, I may do so in any case. Mary

e awfully decent in their way; but I know how they try you. They can't help it. Such a thing takes them out of their daily round, and beggars their experience, and

, I think. Has the

, un

h us here. I should not supp

Mary would

May before everybody. She put her own feelings f

wou

n at the station that his son is dead,

to tell. I remember long ago, after the wedding, that he was interested i

ok pause at t

will, of course, be as deeply concerned to get to the bottom of this as I am, though we

terfere. I only hope we c

rrives, and not sooner. I'll see Mar

t? Should you care

urn here presently. One can't tell who may be wanted, and who may not be. I don't know-the

ask

horror. The dark temple of realization had opened for her and she was treading its dreary aisles. Henceforth for long

stayed but a few minutes, and presently they heard his car start again, while

ern criticism. Once certain spirits, smarting under pulpit censure, had sought to be rid of him; but no grounds existed on which they could eject the reverend gentleman or challenge his status. He remained, therefore, as many like him remain, embedded in his parish and unknown beyond it. He was a poor student of human nature and life had dimmed his old ambitions, soured his hopes; but it had not clouded his faith. With a passionate fervor he believed all that he tried to teach, and held that an almighty, all loving and all merciful God controlled every destiny, ordered existence for the greatest and least, and allowed nothing to happen upon earth that was not the best that could happen for the immortal beings He had created in His own image. Upon this as

e almost entirely with his boy, and when night came kept vigil beside him. Something of the strange possession of his mind already appeared, in cur

were the first to depart on the follow

en so sympathetic and understanding about it that I think they ought to feel rather grateful. They might realize

ink we should have hidden our sufferings and faced our duty; but perhaps we are exceptional. I dare sa

prided himself on the c

de them farewell. The lady wept, and her tears fe

here is something terrible about him. He has no bowels of compassion. I tried to co

makes every allowance for a father's sufferings; but they should not take the form of abrupt and harsh

rnest; they come from defects of temperament, no doubt.

ssible to be a Christian and a gentleman. To imply that our faith was weak because we exp

cannot say how I esteem your kindly offices in this afflicti

ither did the subsequent investigations of a Government analytical chemist throw any light upon the sail

eard, but none dissented from it. They held that

while bowing to that, there is a great deal more we are called to do when God's hand falls as it has fallen upon my son. To-night I shall pray beside h

is right, so far. We have secured a famous detective-the most famous in England, they tell

yman shoo

t after the funeral, Sir Walter. But my conviction grows that the reason of these things will never be revealed to the eye of science. To the eye

nephew, and the priest dined together,

eg that you will let me spend the night in the Grey R

curt shake of the head, and t

man. Do you rate your soul so low that you would surrender it for the satisfaction of a morbid cravi

from people offering and wishing to spend a

sed' until you know mo

d charity," ans

he mystery are not concerned with my son's death, only the means that brought it about. Not to such as they will any answer be vouchsa

hing without resentment or demu

desire as much as any human being can an explanation; what is more, I am far more confident of an explanation than you or any other man. But that is because I already know the only ro

not to attend the funeral, but Mr. May argued with her, examined her reasons, fou

nd know what we feel and know, and your youth is called to bear a burden heavy to

's hoofs and routs up with a swine's nose the matter its clients best love to purchase. Mary, supported by her father and her cousin, preserved a brave composure. Indeed, she was less visibly moved than they. It seemed that the ascetic parent of the dead had power to lift the widow to his own stern self-control. The chaplain of Tom May's ship assisted at the service, but Septimus May conducted it. Not a few old messmates attended, for the sailor had been popular, and his unexpected death brought genuin

d take no denial, and his host was thankful that other and stronger arguments than his own were at hand to argue the other side. For Dr. Mannering stayed at the manor house after the funeral, and the Rev. Noel Prodgers, the vicar of Chadlands, a distant connection of the Lennoxes, was also dining there. Until now Mannering could not well speak, but he invited h

s coming should be in a private capacity, unknown to the local police or neighbor

on of Nurse Forrester's death; but it was a perfunctory matter, and those responsible for it un

your own. Do not even wait for the report. There is nothing to keep you, and I shall personally be very thankful and relieved if you will manage this and take Mary to some fresh

hould find out anything, there may be a call upon me. At least, I cannot turn my back

timus May spoke and

his night in the Grey Room, and I ask that no obstacle of any kind be raised to prevent my doing so. The wisdom of man is foolishness before the wit of God, and what I desire to do is God's will and wish, impressed upon me while I knelt for long hours and prayed to know it. I am convinced, and that should be enough. In this matter I am far fr

to the lips of the elder men, and Mr. Prodgers, a devout young Christian of poor physique but great spirit

alter

dead, more acutely than I do. A very famous man of European reputation will be her

ution, for such things would actually disarm me; but my faith is in the God I have served to the best of my power from my youth up. I entertain not the least shadow of fear or doubt. To fear or doubt would be to fail. I rely absolutely on the Supreme Being who has permitted this unspeakable sorrow to fall upon us, and there is no living man less likely than myself

octor

bute your son's death to anything bu

and send His messengers to do so. I believe in good and evil spirits as I believe in my Bible, and I know that, strong and terrible though they may be and gifted with capital powers against our flesh, yet the will of God is stronger than the strongest of them. These things, I say, have happened before. They are sent to try our faith. I do not mourn my son, save with the blind, natural pang of paternity, because I know that he has been withdrawn from this world for higher purposes in another; but the means of his going I demand

Septimus May's extraordinary opinions, while to

ed the clergyman, "and I will pray to God, Who sits above both

alter

hen you say these t

for which reason is not responsible. Reason, if we bring these emotions to it, cannot even pronounce upon them. Yet in them and from them springs the life of the soul and the conviction of immortality. 'To act on impulse'-who but daily realizes that commonplace in his own experience? The mind does not only play tricks and laugh at reason in dreams while we sleep. It laughs at reason while

loy the cleverest detective in Engla

I have the only arms that can avail in a battle of the spirit. My trust is shield enough against any evil being that may roam this earth or be held by invisible bonds within the walls of the Grey Room. I will justify the ways of God to man and, through the channel of p

ertheless," replied Mannering. "You have propounded an extr

not ask or expect a man of your profession to agree

nox. "I don't think my uncle agrees wit

a spirit is granted power within my house to destroy human life, then I confess, with due precautions, I could not deny you access to it in the omnipotent Name you invoke. I am a Christian

al man can explain the facts on a

ile stuff, in roof or walls, that reacts to the lowered temperatures of night. A thousand rare chance combinations of matter may occur which are capable of examination, and which, under skilled experiment, will resolve their secret. Nothi

ok and arrogant,"

nering grew a

sertion seems much the more arrogant. This is the twentieth century, and your med

n my behalf or suspend the operations of cause and effect. But I am satisfied that we are in a region outside our experience and on another plane and dimension than those controlled by natural law. God has p

can liberate. If I am wrong, then I shall pray in vain; if right, as I know by deepest conviction and intuition, then my pra

till assumed sanity on the part of the reverend gentleman, an

der others a li

Newman's 'Illative Sense'-a conviction arising from well-springs far deeper and purer than those that account for human reason. I know because I kn

will exercise his rights and respons

nd I am sorry th

Sir Walter. "To you a sudden and peaceful death might be no ill; but it would be a very serious ill to the living-a l

er to the living and p

e to the vicar

able to see with our eyes. Surely common sense shouldn't be le

and natural causes from poor Captain May's death, then no member of our sacred calling should fear to spend the nig

ken," sai

. That, however, is no reason for assuming the causes are beyond all human knowledge. We do not all possess learning in physics. I would venture most earnestly to beg you to desist, at least until much more has been done and this famous professional man has made such researche

accident. He was wrapt from this life to the next in the twinkling of an eye by forces, or a force, concerning which we know nothing save through the Word of God. I will go farther. I will venture to declare that this death-dealing ghost, or discarnate but conscious being, may not be, as you say, a dark angel-perhaps not wholly evil-perhaps not evil at all. One thing none can question-it did the w

t him, and much resented the fact that Sir Walter withstood his claim and declined to permit the experiment he desired to make. A formalist and precisian,

e should undertake this ordeal?" he asked

at word," said

At any rate, the thing was done by an active agency, and Tom was taken in some way at a disadvantage. There was no fair fight, I'll swear. He was eviden

blow, Henry,"

r, surely. And I beg this, that if you won't let me face the infernal thing alo

ther made short work

man precaution and human weapons would sully faith and make of no avail the only sure means of winning light on this solemn

hat I lack any such absolute

which this dark terror can be banished. You are denying God's offer of peace. We must not only seek peace, but ensure it. That means that we are now called to take such steps as the Almighty puts at our service by the road of conscience and faith. I have a right

eat force from his own standpoint. He presented a man overmastered and

nnering bluntly declared that it would be suicide on May's part, and

master of Chadlands, "and after I have done so, then

nd lifted his hands. He w

ive a sign, t

tesy or astonishment. Nothing happe

made-in a spirit, I hope, as earnest and devout as your own. And if after that no shadow of explanation is forthcoming, and no peril to life can be discovered, then I should feel disposed to consider your views

ough you believe it str

efore retiring. He bade them "Good-night" without more words, and went to his room,

lter to set some sort of guard o

he fact that he isn't. He must surely be aware that much he said was superstitiou

. The door was wide open, and the place brilliantly lighted by a high-powered bulb. So had it been by night ever since the di

from some fancied call of the spirit, take the law into his own hands and do what he wishes to do. This must be prevented at any cost. I will ask you, Henry, to follow the doctor's suggestion o

t he's pretty worn out after such a harrowing day, poor old be

to aid you myself, for I a

took up a position in the west wing of the

n chamber, but his sleepless night proved a nee