The Uncanny Stories MEGAPACK ™: 16 Classic Chillers Read online

  Table of Contents

  COPYRIGHT INFO

  A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER

  The MEGAPACK™ Ebook Series

  THE UNKNOWN QUANTITY, by E. R. Punshon

  THE ARMLESS MAN, by W. G. Litt

  THE TOMTOM CLUE, by Scudamore Jarvis & Cecil Morgan

  THE CASE OF SIR ALISTER MOERAN, by Margaret Strickland

  THE KISS, by M. E. Royce

  THE GOTH, by Roy Vickers

  THE LAST ASCENT, by E. R. Punshon

  THE TERROR BY NIGHT, by Lewis Lister

  THE TRAGEDY AT THE LOUP NOIR, by Gladys Stern

  THE MAILED FOOT, by Hermina Black & Edith Blair-Staples

  THE PIPERS OF MALLORY, by Theo. Douglas

  VISITING ROUNDS, by Michael Kent

  THE JUNGLE, by Paul Eardley

  THE HAUNTED CHESSMEN, by E. R. Punshon

  THE EIGHTH LAMP, by Roy Vickers

  BILL DIXON STANDS, by J. Chapman Andrews

  COPYRIGHT INFO

  The Uncanny Stories MEGAPACK™ is copyright © 2015 by Wildside Press, LLC. All rights reserved. It contains the complete contents of two classic horror collections, Uncanny Stories (1916)and More Uncanny Stories (1918).

  Cover art © 2015 by Milkovasa / Fotolia. All rights reserved.

  * * * *

  The MEGAPACK™ ebook series name is a trademark of Wildside Press, LLC. All rights reserved.

  A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER

  Readers of our Macabre and Ghost Stories MEGAPACK™ ebook series will surely enjoy this volume, which assembles the complete contents of two early British horror anthologies, Uncanny Stories (1916) and More Uncanny Stories (1918) both of which were assembled from tales originally published in Pearson’s Novel Magazine. Most of the contributors are little known today, but a couple—including Roy Vickers—went on to have distinguished careers in the mystery field.

  Enjoy!

  —John Betancourt

  Publisher, Wildside Press LLC

  www.wildsidepress.com

  ABOUT THE SERIES

  Over the last few years, our MEGAPACK™ ebook series has grown to be our most popular endeavor. (Maybe it helps that we sometimes offer them as premiums to our mailing list!) One question we keep getting asked is, “Who’s the editor?”

  The MEGAPACK™ ebook series (except where specifically credited) are a group effort. Everyone at Wildside works on them. This includes John Betancourt (me), Carla Coupe, Steve Coupe, Shawn Garrett, Helen McGee, Bonner Menking, Colin Azariah-Kribbs, A.E. Warren, and many of Wildside’s authors…who often suggest stories to include (and not just their own!)

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  THE UNKNOWN QUANTITY, by E. R. Punshon

  Professor William James Maynard was in a singularly happy and contented mood as he strolled down the High Street after a long and satisfactory interview with the solicitor to his late cousin, whose sole heir he was.

  It was exactly a month by the calendar since he had murdered this cousin, and everything had gone most satisfactorily since. The fortune was proving quite as large as he had expected, and not even an inquest had been held upon the dead man. The coroner had decided that it was not necessary, and the Professor had agreed with him.

  At the funeral the Professor had been the principal mourner, and the local paper had commented sympathetically on his evident emotion. This had been quite genuine, for the Professor had been fond of his relative, who had always been very good to him. But still, when an old man remains obstinately healthy, when his doctor can say with confidence that he is good for another twenty years at least, and when he stands between you and a large fortune which you need, and of which you can make much better use in the cause of science and the pursuit of knowledge, what alternative is there? It becomes necessary to take steps. Therefore, the Professor had taken steps.