"The Howler in the Dark"

by Richard L. Tierney
originally published Crypt of Cthulhu No. 24, Lammas, 1984

Irving Hamilton, and American architect and antiquarian (surprise) and his Brit Clyde Mayfield are on foot in the highlands(I think), and come face-to-face with the ruins of Duncaster Abbey ("How delightfully gothic!" sez Irv).  It turns out the Abbey is occupied, by a couple of weird Americans no one likes very much.

At the local bookshop, Hamilton learns the history of the Abbey.  Built by Hugo de Taran in 12 century, with a nasty rep for playing host to pagan rites and human sacrifice. Eventually in the 17th century the church of Scotland descended and burned the witches.

People are going missing in the community, and the two American weirdos are prime suspects.  Irv and Clyde pay a visit to the two oddballs (named John Taggart and "Pitts" - no front name given).  The place is mostly in ruins, and the library contains the usual suspects (gimme an N!).  While visiting, they hear a weird howling, and Taggart `n' Pitts excuse themselves to deal with it.

The next day Hamilton reads of an outbreak of a strange disease called "screaming death" among American visitors to the UK.  

They decide to pay another visit to the Abbey.  They find Taggart/Pitt are out and decide to go exploring.  They find the local Constable in the dungeon in a bad state - a living head somehow kept alive ala Futurama.

This is actually a fun little tale and Tierney builds up some nice atmosphere, but its basically a rehash of Derleth/Lovecraft pastiches with a particularly silly ending which robs it of its punch.