SOURCE: "The Horror of Horton House" (Ghost Gleams, 1921) by W. J. Wintle

DESCRIPTION: "He thought himself in the dining-room alone, sitting opposite the entrance to the passage in the wall, which john had shown to him during the day. as he sat there, the panel slid back and he was at once aware of a strong smell of burning. Then he saw a hand appear out of the darkness--and it was on fire! The fingers were long and claw-like; and little blue flames were playing over them. The hand grasped the side of the panel, and he saw that the wood was slightly scorched. It was then that he noticed that the hand seemed to have a finger more than the usual number." ("The Horror of Horton House" by W. J. Wintle)

NOTES: In Horton House, over the mantel there is a quotation that reads: "Let Horton live; let Horton die: Pray God the horror come not nigh." In the Os of the inscription 'horror' the narrator sees two fiery red eyes with evil, green pupils. Horton House possesses a secret passageway that opens in the dining room but goes no where. In this secret passage dwells a fiery horror that haunts and eventually kills the heir of the house.

HISTORY: Wintle wrote in the tradition of M. R. James but he fails to create even a shadow of the master in this tale. The set up is good but it doesn't really go anywhere. No hint of the cosmic evil of the monster is given either.