The-Crawling-Death-Chapter-09

A LITTLE more remains to be told.

Three months later I was removed from the hospital, a broken man. The serious attack of brain fever, following my terrible experience, was all but fatal.

During the whole period Jim never left my side. His remorse was pitiable. He has never ceased to execrate his cowardice in forsaking me.

But I do not now hold him a coward. On the contrary, I consider his act in coming back for me, after what he had seen, one of sublime courage.

I have no explanations to make, no theories to advance. I must add, how-
ever, that the portrait was found to have been torn from top to bottom, and the heavy glass protecting it, shattered into a thousand pieces. Back of the canvas was a cavity, in which rested the skele-
tons of two immense hands, and a manu-
script which, so far, has defied all at-
tempts to decipher. It may contain an explanation of the facts which I have re-
lated.

I no longer take any interest in the oc-
cult. My one thought and hope now is to live down, if I may, the recollection of that night of horror.

One word more. The last Ormond was found dead in bed, in a little hotel in Italy, on the same night I spent in the room with the red-paneled door.