The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-03-05

from the fright which seized him
when / asked him tho question, that |
there Is something going wrong"
= Here Mrs. Jones hesitated, and
waited to be assisted from her diff
Guilty by some of the boarders pres
ent. 'n - oaaf sA 80
"SuppOse, said one, "that the next
time he shuts himself up in his room,
we all go In body and break open
the door,"
This brave proposition was imme-
diately put down as being too bellig-
erent In its general features.
Couldn't some one slide down the
roof of the house and peep in the
Window" asked another, doubt
fully;
looking round upon the company in
hopes to discover some one who
would undertake the task, but no one
moved, for the roof being slate one,
and very steep, was consequently too
hazardous to be trusted rs foot
hold.
az think" said one of the gentle
men at the head of the table, elf we
should get all together next Sunday
afternoon and cry fire. in the entries,
we might bring him out, and then
discover his employment"
Ali" exclaimed Mrs. Jones,
"that's good plan, but would be Ii
able to raise the neighbors; but l
think we'll close all the doors and
windows and try it-at any rate, 1t
can't do much HARM"
In fine, the last was considered by
the company to be the most excellent
plan for the detection of Mr.. StOller
in his dreadful plots, and the requis-
tic arrangements were made on the
spot.
Nothing was said to Mr.. StOller
during the week, and when Saturday
afternoon arrived at last, the greater
part of the boarders were in their
rooms waiting for his arrival. AT the
usual hour of four the suspected lOdg-
er entered the house, and proceeded,
as was his custom, Immediately to his
room. His door lad been locked
about half an hour when large par
ty of the. bOarders, headed by Mrs.
Jones, was stealthily formed in the
lower hall, and different detachments
were then filed off to separare por-
tiOns of the house, and two gentlemen,
more courageous than the rest, sta.
toned themselves close. to Mr.. StOl.
ler's room, ready to glide in and ex.
anime the apartment as soon as he
should open the door.
All these preliminaries being ar.
ranged, Mrs. Jones and her servant
Betty raised a heartrending shrek in
the Kitchen, and then dashed up tC
the entry. The party i'm the lower
hall slammed tho doors, and at the
top of their voices screamed "Fire!
The united efforts were completely
successful, for suddenly Mr.. Stroller's
door opened, and out rushed the gen
tleman himself. His coat was but
toned up about his neck and his
sleeves turned up, leaving the lower
portion of his arms bare; i'm hi
hands he held a white article drip
ping with water.
"What is the matter, Mrs. Jones p
cried he, looking with astonishmen
upon the crowd that had collected
about the door.
No cry of "fre" was now heard
and a dim light broke upon Mr.. StOl
| ler's mind-he saw the trick.
"Ah, gentlemen" said he, slowly
81 see how 1t is; will a. few of yOl
gentlemen have the kindness to stel
into the room with Mrs. Jones ant
all the mystery shall be explained p
They crowded in, the landlady tax
ing the lead, and his room was com
pletely filled.
Snow, gentlemen" said he slowly
"you have all taken so much interes
i'm my affairs that is but Just that you
should all be INDUCED with the knOwl
edge of the strange secret which ha
50 much harrassed your minds. YO,
see, gentlemen, that wash-basin, ant
in the chimney corner you will no
tice few burning embers, and il
my hands you will notice an articl,
concerning which 1 hope there can b.
no mistake and, gentlemen, by put
ting all these things together, yol
will easily discover that at an ap
pointed time every Saturday after
noon"
"That you do WHAT" cried severa
voices anxiOusly, rs Mr.. StrOlle
paused.
"JHash and dy'V my o,on shirt Jo
Sunday"
The room was cleared i'm an instan
and that night "the mysteriou
lodger" paid his board and left TIN
house forever.