Creeps by Night: Chills and Thrills

There, said the Traveler when he was gone, that’s over now; that wasn’t so bad, was it? She was still white with the strain. That’s not all, she said; he’ll not take it as quietly as that. Nonsense, said her brother; what can he do? After all, there are two of us. I don’t know, she said; but he’ll come back, I know he will. The Traveler, although he laughed at his sister’s fears, was careful to take a seat from which he could command the door. They sat there in uncomfortable silence until gradually, since all was quiet, the woman’s color returned and they found themselves in conversation. They spoke of old friends, names forgotten for ten or twenty years, reviving childish memories as the only common ground between them. The Traveler, a lonely man, wondered why he had seen his sister so rarely in the past, resented her marriage with this dour brute of a husband. It was true, he said to himself, blood was thicker than water after all; and he told her that if this trouble should end in a breach with her husband she might look to him; she could keep house for him and bring the child; he was not a marrying man, but he found it a poor life that was spent in furnished rooms and commercial hotels.

The evening passed for them both in a gentle melancholy which made them loth to leave the fireside. Well, said the Traveler at last, it’s getting late; it’s been a quiet evening after all, you see; you’ll be all right now, won’t you? I’ll sit up with you if you’d rather. Yes, I’m all right now, she said; thank you, you’ve been very kind to me... I’ll show you to your room. That’s all right, he said; and we’ll go and see the doctor in the morning. He opened the door while his sister drew back the curtains and opened the window top and bottom to air the room. Outside there was a high wind which made a sudden draught in the close atmosphere. The stairs and landing were dark and the house was in complete silence.

As he stood there with his hand on the door knob he heard his sister behind him give a little gasp. What’s up now? he said, looking round. She was staring at the gas-burner over the mantelpiece. The flame flickered and then ceased, leaving the room dark except for what dim, diffused light filtered through the driving clouds and in at the narrow window. He said, What’s wrong with it; does it want a shilling? No, she said breathlessly, it’s not a slot meter; I’ve never known it do this before. Well, he said, there’s not much odds now we’re off to bed; you’ve got candles... Hush, she said, didn’t you hear it, didn’t you... She stopped, breathless. He could hear a slight rustling like wind among the leaves, a tiny click-click from the landing; then suddenly, framed in the doorway, enormous in the gloom, stood the Chemist, an axe raised above his shoulder. The Traveler recoiled instinctively, and on the instant the man was through the door and making straight across the room at his wife. There was a scream, a scuffle, and a crash. Crossing the room in panic the Traveler found his sister still cowering against the further wall while the Chemist lay inert upon the floor, his head in the hearth. The Traveler examined his face in what small glow came from the dying fire; the forehead was wet with blood. Realizing quickly that he had tripped and stunned himself he feverishly tried to turn his mind to action. Quick, he said, we must tie him up before he comes round; what have you got? Have you got any rope? Quick, for God’s sake; tear the table-cloth into strips; if he comes round first he’ll kill the two of us; he’s killing-mad. He struck a match to find the axe, which he hid in a corner. Here you are, said his sister; will these do? She was stuttering with fear, but she had kept her nerve. That’s right, he said; here, you must help me; we must do it in the dark, there’s no time to get a candle. In the dim light they fumbled with the limp wrists and ankles, lashing them together as tightly as they could with the clumsy strips of serge. Pull, said the Traveler; never mind hurting him; it’s either him or us. At last they had him tied, dragged and pushed him towards the table, and made him fast as best they could to the legs. Now, said the Traveler, get a candle, several, and some rope or cord; here are the matches; I’ll watch him till you come back. I’m frightened, she said; I daren’t go downstairs alone. You must, he said urgently; I can’t leave you with him, he isn’t safe like this; quick, now, there’s a good girl. She went.