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"Thank you," Mabel said She looked at her savior for the first ti--not much older than she was

He shepherded her away "You’re the Roses’ daughter, aren’t you?"

Even here she couldn’t escape it "My na him to contradict her

"Mabel Mabel Rose I won’t forget it" He gave her hand a firm shake "Well, Mabel Rose Get home safely"

An explosion came from somewhere nearby "Go now," her mysterious savior said and ran swiftly down the alley, vaulting up the fire escape and disappearing over the rooftops

Back at the Bennington, Mabel took the elevator to the sixth floor Two of the hallway lae in constant shadohich always gave Mabel a bit of the heebie-jeebies Mabel heard whispering at the far end of the darkened corridor and froze What if the police had followed her after all?

Against her better judgment, she crept forward Miss Addie stood at the narro in her nightgown Her long gray hair hung in tangles She cradled a bag of salt, which she was pouring out onto the sill in a fat line Salt seeped fro and pooled on the carpet below

"Miss Addie? What are you doing?"

"I have to keep the up

"Keep who out?"

"There are awful events unfolding So unholy is at hand"

"Do you un I can feel it In my dreams, I have seen the man in the tall hat with his coat of crows A terrible choice is at hand" Miss Addie’s hand fluttered about her face like a wounded bird She see from ether "Where is my door? I can’t find it"