Ways of Escape

John Davys Beresford (1873-1947) was an English writer, now remembered for his early science fiction and short stories in the horror and ghost story genres.

‘Ways of Escape’ is a mystery story. The strange Mrs. Trevarrian lives in a lonely cottage on the moors with her elderly housemaid. The villagers are beginning to suspect that there is something rather odd about the lady.

In particular, she has a studio photograph of a maidservant on her mantelpiece and tells all visitors that she hopes to get this maid to return to her house again in the future. One foggy afternoon, a most strange event occurs which throws Mrs. Tervarrian’s household - and indeed the entire village - into uproar.