The Dark Secret of Weatherend Read Online Free PDF Page B

fiend, and she had windows open all over the house. As he listened to the terrible noise Anthony grinned. He had heard Miss Eells playing her parlor organ before. A parlor organ is an instrument that, even when played well, sounded like a muffled accordion. Miss Eells did not play well. Not that she minded much—she only played to amuse herself.
    Anthony rang the doorbell. The noise stopped, and in a few seconds Miss Eells opened the door. She was wearing a quilted blue robe, pajamas, and slippers. A pencil was stuck into the bun of gray hair on her head.
    "Hi, Anthony!" she said cheerfully. "What brings you out on this rotten night?"
    Anthony put down his umbrella and shook it. He eyed Miss Eells nervously. "Can... can I come in?"
    Miss Eells laughed. "No, you have to stand out there and let water run down your face. Of course you can come in! Don't act so timid and apologetic—you've known me longer than that, for heaven's sake! And what's that you've got under your arm, eh?"
    Anthony blushed. "It's... it's that book we found out at the old estate. That's what I want to talk to you about."
    Miss Eells was surprised, but she said nothing. Anthony stepped in and propped his umbrella in the corner. He hung his dripping raincoat up on the coat tree and followed Miss Eells out to the kitchen. She turned on the flame under the teakettle, and when the water was hot, she made two big mugs of instant cocoa. Then the two of them went into the living room to talk.
    Miss Eells settled herself in an easy chair and sipped her cocoa. Anthony was on the couch, with the book propped awkwardly on his knees, trying to figure out where to begin.
    "Now, then," said Miss Eells, smiling pleasantly. "What is all this? Have you found the riddle of the universe imbedded in the mad bibble-babble of old J. K. Borkman?"
    Anthony squirmed. He wished that Miss Eells wouldn't make fun of him. After taking a noisy slurp of cocoa he set the mug down on the coffee table and picked up the book. It was stuck full of paper bookmarks that he had used to mark passages he thought were important.
    "You... you know all this weird weather we've been having?" he began.
    Miss Eells looked at Anthony strangely. "Yes... yes, I am aware that we have been having peculiar weather lately. What about it?"
    Anthony took a deep breath. He opened the book to one of the places that he had marked. "Just listen to this," he said, and he started to read. " 'The world is a filthy and defiled place. Human life is made ugly and unbearable by sickness, war, cruelty, and stupidity. If only all could be made clean again! What if whirlwinds and fires from heaven, tempests and floods and rains, were to wash clean the earth so that life might begin anew? If the slate were wiped clean, the new writing might be fairer than the old. And with the aid of the Four Servants, the gods of tempest and howling gale, the unimaginable deed might be done! Elsewhere in these pages I have set down the method by which the deed may be accomplished. But still I am afraid, mightily afraid to begin this thing. Is it right to do this? Would good come from such utter devastation? I cannot do it myself. Let one who comes after me set the wheels in motion. Would that I might live to see this New Earth that is to come! Earth might be fair, and all men glad and wise... that is what the hymn says, and those words may yet come true...' "
    Anthony's voice trailed off. He laid the book down and gave Miss Eells a long, meaningful look. "Well?" he said. "Doncha see? Doesn't this explain what's been goin' on lately?"
    Miss Eells looked utterly mystified. She gazed off into space for a second... and then it hit her. "Oh!" she said, and her hand shot up to her mouth. "Oh, good grief! You mean you think—" The corners of her mouth began to quiver. She wanted to laugh, but she didn't want to hurt Anthony's feelings. Her face went through several contortions, and then she faked a sneeze and blew her nose into her hanky. Finally