The portieres were a very clever ruse of Mrs.
Balmer. Behind them were screwed hooks and these hooks functioned as a
clothes-closet.
Mrs. Balmer noticed that Mr. Crawford, as she talked, kept staring at the
portieres and watching them and that he seemed very nervous. The next
morning, when she was straightening up the room, Mrs. Balmer looked behind
the portieres. An old straw hat, an old coat, a few worn shirts hung from
the hooks. There was nothing else but the folding-door and this was not
only locked but nailed up.
When two months had passed Mrs. Balmer had made a discovery. It had to do
with the four kerosene lamps and the extra large electric bulb and the
portieres. But it was an irritating discovery, since it made everything
more mysterious than ever in the landlady's mind.
She had caught many glimpses of this man in the back room when he wasn't
looking. Of evenings he sat with his door opened and his eyes fastened on
the portieres. He would sit like that for hours and his leathery face
would become gray. His little eyes would widen and his body would hunch up
as if he were stiffening. But nothing happened.
Finally, however, Mrs. Balmer began to talk. She didn't like this man
Crawford.
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