E-text prepared by D Alexander, Mary Meehan, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (http://archive.org) Note: Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See http://archive.org/details/houseroundcorner00traciala THE HOUSE 'ROUND THE CORNER by GORDON HOLMES Author of A Mysterious Disappearance, The Arncliffe Puzzle, etc. New York Grosset & Dunlap Publishers Copyright, 1919, by Edward J. Clode Printed in the United States of America CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. WHEREIN THE HOUSE RECEIVES A NEW TENANT 1 II. SHOWING HOW EVEN A HOUSE MAY HAVE A WAY OF ITS OWN 21 III. A MIDNIGHT SEANCE 42 IV. SHOWING HOW EXPLANATIONS DO NOT ALWAYS EXPLAIN 63 V. GATHERING CLOUDS 84 VI. THE STORM BREAKS 106 VII. A FAINT-HEARTED ALLY 127 VIII. WHERIN PERCY WHITTAKER PROVES HIMSELF A MAN OF ACTION 147 IX. SHOWING THE REAL STRENGTH OF AN ILLUSION 167 X. ARMATHWAITE STATES A CASE 185 XI. PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE 206 XII. THE DAWN OF A BLACK FRIDAY 226 XIII. DEUS EX MACHINA 246 XIV. IN WHICH THE AREA WIDENS 267 XV. THE LAYING OF THE GHOST 287 CHAPTER I WHEREIN THE HOUSE RECEIVES A NEW TENANT The train had panted twelve miles up a sinuous valley, halting at three tiny stations on the way; it dwelt so long at the fourth that the occupant of a first-class carriage raised his eyes from the book he was reading. He found the platform packed with country folk, all heading in the same direction. Hitherto, this heedless traveller had been aware of some station-master or porter bawling an unintelligible name; now, his fellow-passengers seemed to know what place this was without being told; moreover, they seemed to be alighting there. A porter, whose face, hands, and clothing were of one harmonious tint, suggesting that he had been dipped bodily in some brownish dye, and then left to dry in the sun, opened the door. "Aren't you gettin' out, sir?" he inquired, and his tone implied both surprise and pain. "Is this Nuttonby?" said the passenger. "Yes, sir." "Why this crush of traffic?" "It's market day, sir." "Thanks. I didn't expect to see such a crowd. Have you a parcels office, where I can leave some baggage?" "Yes, sir."