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 of sickening, vitiated musty air greeted the men, causing Elvin to turn and gasp, and the others to breathe in spasms.

"Wait a minute. Don't go in yet," the clerk cautioned. "Let the air clear first," he warned. Elvin and Marley halted as advised. "There ought to be a ventilator here somewhere," the clerk continued. "If we can find that and open it the air will soon be cleared so one can enter safely." After hunting for a moment or two, "Ah," he exclaimed. "Here it is."

The ventilator proved to be a window just above the ground in the foundation. It had been neglected for so long, sand and dirt from rains of many years, had almost hidden it. The clerk unlatched it and pushed it open. "Now, that's better," he exclaimed. "You gentlemen can now remain and work as long as you want," he said, as he departed. "You will find the older records here," indicating the left hand corner of the room. Fromroom. "From [sic] here they go forward to the later years. All recent records, however, are up stairs. I presume you don't want those, do you?"

"No, here's what we want," Elvin explained.

"Stay as long as you wish," the clerk invited. "When you leave close the doors. Everything will be all right."

"Thank you, I don't know how long we'll be," Elvin replied.

Left to themselves the two men began their search. "What a dismal sickening place," Elvin commented. Their oil lamps gave off a flickering light that made the place appear some long forgotten catacomb. Raising the lamps