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                         THE UNLUCKY THEATRE - 2                             
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   It was arranged that Fernaghan should go to the stage-door at eleven      
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o'clock on a Monday night in June, and that he would be admitted when he rang
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three times. Fernaghan was looking forward eagerly to the night, and at last 
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it arrived. He went to The Mohawk at the correct hour, rang the stage-door   
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bell three times, and was let in by the night-watchman, John Ward. On this   
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particular occasion Ward was given a free night, and Fernaghan took his      
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place. Ward showed him round the building, explained to him what to do if    
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there was a fire, and left him alone in the theatre. The place seemed uncom- 
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fortable lonely, and after Ward had gone, there was an uneasy stillness,     
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which was broken only by occasional sharp noises such as one hears in old,   
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empty buildings at night. Fernaghan had never imagined that a theatre could  
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be so quiet.                                                                 
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   He wandered up and down staircases and along the passages on various      
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floors, looked into the boxes and then went round behind the stage. The dust 
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lay thick on the boards, and  there were signs of long neglect everywhere.   
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   Fernaghan was looking at the remains of a large black insect, and hoping  
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 that there were no more live ones still around, when he heard a movement    
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in the nearest dressing room. He cautiously opened the door of it and        
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looked in...                                                                 
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