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was reassuring。 Under the glowing effusion of the shop windows the
pavement was a path of checkered brightness。 In Weintraub's pharmacy
they could see the pasty…faced assistant in his stained white coat serving a
beaker of hot chocolate。 In the stationer's shop people were looking over
trays of Christmas cards。 In the Milwaukee Lunch Aubrey saw （and envied）
a sturdy citizen peacefully dipping a doughnut into a cup of coffee。
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THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP
〃This all seems very unreal；〃 said Roger。
As they neared the bookshop； Aubrey's heart gave a jerk of
apprehension。 The blinds in the front windows had been drawn down。 A
dull shining came through them； showing that the lights were turned on
inside。 But why should the shades be lowered with closing time three
hours away？
They reached the front door； and Aubrey was about to seize the handle
when Roger halted him。
〃Wait a moment；〃 he said。 〃Let's go in quietly。 There may be
something queer going on。〃
Aubrey turned the knob gently。 The door was locked。
Roger pulled out his latchkey and cautiously released the bolt。 Then he
opened the door slightlyabout an inch。
〃You're taller than I am；〃 he whispered。 〃Reach up and muffle the
bell above the door while I open it。〃
Aubrey thrust three fingers through the aperture and blocked the
trigger of the gong。 Then Roger pushed the door wide； and they tiptoed
in。
The shop was empty； and apparently normal。 They stood for an
instant with pounding pulses。
From the back of the house came a clear voice； a little tremulous：
〃You can do what you like； I shan't tell you where it is。 Mr。 Mifflin
said〃
There followed the bang of a falling chair； and a sound of rapid
movement。
Aubrey was down the aisle in a flash； followed by Roger； who had
delayed just long enough to close the door。 He tiptoed up the steps at the
back of the shop and looked into the dining room。 At the instant his eyes
took in the scene it seemed as though the whole room was in motion。
The cloth was spread for supper and shone white under the drop lamp。
In the far corner of the room Titania was struggling in the grasp of a
bearded man whom Aubrey instantly recognized as the chef。 On the near
side of the table； holding a revolver levelled at the girl； stood Weintraub。
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THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP
His back was toward the door。 Aubrey could see the druggist's sullen jaw
crease and shake with anger。
Two strides took him into the room。 He jammed the muzzle of his
pistol against the oily cheek。 〃Drop it！〃 he said hoarsely。 〃You Hun！〃
With his left hand he seized the man's shirt collar and drew it tight against
the throat。 In his tremor of rage and excitement his arms felt curiously
weak； and his first thought was how impossible it would be to strangle that
swinish neck。
For an instant there was a breathless tableau。 The bearded man still
had his hands on Titania's shoulders。 She； very pale but with brilliant
eyes； gazed at Aubrey in unbelieving amazement。 Weintraub stood quite
motionless with both hands on the dining table； as though thinking。 He felt
the cold bruise of metal against the hollow of his cheek。 Slowly he opened
his right hand and his revolver fell on the linen cloth。 Then Roger burst
into the room。
Titania wrenched herself away from the chef。
〃I wouldn't give them the suitcase！〃 she cried。
Aubrey kept his pistol pinned against Weintraub's face。 With his left
hand he picked up the druggist's revolver。 Roger was about to seize the
chef； who was standing uncertainly on the other side of the table。
〃Here；〃 said Aubrey； 〃take this gun。 Cover this fellow and leave that
one to me。 I've got a score to settle with him。〃
The chef made a movement as though to jump through the window
behind him； but Aubrey flung himself upon him。 He hit the man square
on the nose and felt a delicious throb of satisfaction as the rubbery flesh
flattened beneath his knuckles。 He seized the man's hairy throat and sank
his fingers into it。 The other tried to snatch the bread knife on the table；
but was too late。 He fell to the floor； and Aubrey throttled him savagely。
〃You blasted Hun；〃 he grunted。 〃Go wrestling with girls； will you？〃
Titania ran from the room； through the pantry。
Roger was holding Weintraub's revolver in front of the German's face。
〃Look here；〃 he said； 〃what does this mean？〃
〃It's all a mistake；〃 said the druggist suavely； though his eyes slid
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THE HAUNTED BOOKSHOP
uneasily to and fro。 〃I just came in to get some books I left here earlier
in the afternoon。〃
〃With a revolver； eh？〃 said Roger。 〃Speak up； Hindenburg； what's
the big idea？〃
〃It's not my revolver；〃 said Weintraub。 〃It's Metzger's。〃
〃Where's this suitcase of yours？〃 said Roger。 〃We're going to have a
look at it。〃
〃It's all a stupid mistake；〃 said Weintraub。 〃I left a suitcase of old
books here for Metzger； because I expected to go out of town this
afternoon。 He called for it； and your young woman wouldn't give it to
him。 He came to me； and I came down here to tell her it was all right。〃
〃Is that Metzger？〃 said Roger； pointing to the bearded man who was
trying to break Aubrey's grip。 〃Gilbert； don't choke that man； we want
him to do some explaining。〃
Aubrey got up； picked his revolver from the floor where he had
dropped it； and prodded the chef to his feet。
〃Well； you swine；〃 he said； 〃how did you enjoy falling downstairs the
other evening？ As for you； Herr Weintraub； I'd like to know what kind of
prescriptions you make up in that cellar of yours。〃
Weintraub's face shone damply in the lamplight。 Perspiration was
thick on his forehead。
〃My dear Mifflin；〃 he said； 〃this is awfully stupid。 In my eagerness；
I'm afraid〃
Titan