The Equinox (Volume I, Number VIII)

THE TELL-TALE HEART lantern forward. He is seen to be smiling grimly to himself. HE is half round the corner ofthe half—open door, and very warilyputs out his right hand to oþen the ray of the lantern. HE stops refeatedly to listen daring all this time. His thnmb s/iþs on thefasten- ing of the lantern, and Με latter swings against the door, making a startling clatter. MARTIN springs uþ in bed, trying loudly]— MARTIN. Who’s there? [A long pause; presently MARTIN gives a slight groan of abject terror. BOTH remain absolutely still. Another long þause. Then JACK again tries to open the lantern with infinite stealth; at last a single tiny dim ray shoots out and throws Martin‘s eye into startling brilliance. Another long fianse, but JACK should endeavour without the slightest movement to let the audience guess that he hears something. At length, with a wildyell, he throws open the lantern— fut!light on stage—and darts into the room, MARTIN shriehs once only and very loud/y. jACK drags MARTIN to the floor, and ;50115 the heavy mattress over him, pressing it down with hideous langhter, though all the time he listens, as if to hear the beating of MARTIN’S heart. HE puts his ear to the mattress. At last, with a laugh of satisfaction, he removes the mattress and examines the eor‘ose, ear to heart] JACK. Dead. Stone dead. Stone dead. Stone dead. [HE 10025 around—1n France, MARTIN will have disaf— fearedfrom under the bedding by a mm door and left Ι37