August Heat
It is 20 August, nine at the morning, when Mr. James Clarence Withencroft decides to write down his routine events, but ends up making a sketch of a criminal, over-weighted man.
The artist feels accomplished in the end and unconsciously puts it into his pocket and goes out for a walk and coincidently reaches “CHS. Atkinson Manson”, he enters it and to his surprise, he finds the man he just sketched some hours ago. There is a mystery in meeting between the two as they come across unexplained things like the inscription with Mr. Withencroft’s name, date of birth and death. Both the men are in awe and blames Augusts’ baking heat for such incident. Mr. Atkinson stops the artist by the end so that the horrible day could pass away without any mishap.
It is worthwhile to notice that heat is responsible for sad events happening all around Mr. Withencroft. It is because when he stays at Mr. Atkinson’s house, a sharp, shrill sound is heard from the backyard. He rushes towards it totally forgetting about the danger that was looming on him that day. What he sees afterwards is more shocking, Mr. Atkinson pointing gun towards a shabby looking man like a real criminal. He is holding the marble inscription in one of his hands and wearing a devilish smile on his face. Mr. Withencroft loses his mind due to the shock, and he begins shivering. It is time to run, but he could not as there is some mysterious force pulling him towards the marble heap. He is slow in movement, trying to breath but of no avail. Darkness is prevailing all over, and the last thing he hears is the Saint Margret’s clock striking 12 am of the 21st of August!
