The oil was almost gone.
Plainly if exploring of those upper rooms was to be done it must be done at once.

With one more glance at the occupant of the sofa Mrs.Barnes, lantern in hand, tiptoed from the room, through the barren front hall and up the stairs.

The stairs creaked abominably.

Each creak echoed like the crack of doom.
At the top of the stairs was another hall, long and narrow, extending apparently the whole length of the house.

At intervals along this hall were doors.