I do not know much about that party. I do know it was extremely noisy, and that late in the evening the menservants were sent back to the house and the windows closed. But if there was nude bathing there, as was rumored later, I did not know anything about it. In fact, it was several days before I knew much about anything.

For that was the night I fell down the elevator shaft.

It was an idiotic performance, from start to finish, although I still grow cold when I think of it. The facts themselves are simple.

Bessie’s party was still going on at two o’clock that morning, and it made Roger restless. I was reading in bed when he came whining and scratching at my door. I remembered then that I had not let him out, so I got up, put on a dressing gown and slippers, and went down to the west hall door. The hall itself was dark, but I knew my way perfectly. I let Roger out and stood waiting for him. He was gone for some time, but when I whistled he came back obediently enough. I closed the door and put up the chain. Then I saw that the elevator door was open. The elevator had been under repair again for a day or two, and out of sheer curiosity I stepped in to see if it worked.

Only, of course, the car was not there. I remember falling, the awful feeling of that drop. But I remember something even worse. I did not hit the floor. I fell directly on somebody below, somebody who was either standing or crouching there. I heard a grunt, then the two of us collapsed together and I promptly fainted.

I must have come around rather quickly. I was alone by that time and the door into the basement was open. Also there was cold air from somewhere which helped to revive me. But my ankle was red-hot torture. I reached out for something to help me to my feet, and I distinctly felt a ladder. I did get up partially at least, holding to a rung, but the pain was ghastly. I must have fainted again, for when I came to Roger was whining above at the open door, and the ladder was gone.

That was when I realized what had happened. Someone who had no business to be there had been at the bottom of the shaft when I fell. He might still be there, lurking in the darkness, and ready to attack me if I made a move. The same man who had hurt Evans. The same man who had gotten into the house before. It was horrible.

I did not move. I simply lay there and waited. And nothing happened. Nothing whatever.

When Bessie came in that night I do not know; probably while I was unconscious. When the intruder slipped out I shall never know. It was half past seven in the morning when Stevens, helping to open the house for the day, heard my voice at the bottom of the shaft and brought help. I can still see his astounded face as he peered down the shaft.