The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-06-16

turned the handle of the pink-room door, having previously knocked. "Are you not coming down to din- ner, MT. Carper?" inquired, feeling, I confess, rather ashamed of myself.
 "Coming downI" thundered my wife's uncle indignantly from within. "Of course Pm coming down; but I can't get the door open!"
 "No?" I observed with careful &C., cent of surprise. "I trust this con- founded lock has not caught again. We intended having it repaired, but the locksmith has unfortunately not arrived" Which, as he had not been sent for, was not to be wondered at.
 "Shake the handle from the inside" I continued.
 He shook the handle, but, I need hardly say, without effect. shook it also. =
 "Perhaps you have locked it?" I suggested, allowing faint amount of anxiety to appear in my tone.
 "Locked it? Rubbish !" was the irate reply. "What should I lock it for? Pm not woman. Besides, there's no key"
 am exceedingly annoyed" I went on, in voice full of vexed solicitude, but fear we we can do nothing until the locksmith comes. It is most un- fortunate! He shall be sent for again at once, but of course it will take some little time, as we are SO far from the village"
 Whereupon followed fearful and ungovernable language from MT. Carper. He shook the door violently, stamped about the room, and event on" generally in most alarming way. pacified him as we'll as I could, or, rather tried to pacify him, but he contin.ed to storm and swear with out apparently listening to my lies they were nothing less-s nd at last I went down stairs again and took my place at the head of the table in a fu- rious passion. Our previous decep- tions had never gone as far as this, and 1 felt myselfa sneak from the tips of my fingers to the toes of my boots. This was a most preposterous and outrageous plan of Ella's, l reflected savagely. We could never carry it out. Why had I listened to her?
 As we devoured our soup we could hear too steps tramping about ex- citedly and irregularly overhead. Then there was a sudden silence. It was the lull before the storm.
 Scarcely had the fish been removed than series of loud bangs resounded on the panels up- stairs. Uncle Simon started nervously. Ella became crim- soned and murmured something about "rousing baby" took no notice, but went on grimly carving the fowl be- fore me.
 "Will you take a leg or wing, uncle?" said shortly.
 "A leg, boy [" indignantly. "What are you thinking of2 I'll take wing the liver wing-of coursew
 hastily apologized and said I was thinking of something else. (So was -I was thinking of Uncle Gregory
 Bang bang bang from above.
 "Good gracious! what is that?" ex- claimed Uncle Simon, in tone ex- pressive of alarm and amazement.
 "Wbat is what?" I asked coldly, without raising my eyes from my plate.
 "That most extraordinary noise, Charles! !" went on my uncle, in much agitation. ''Is it possible you do not hear it?"
 'I hear the wind rising" I replied calmy. "I fear we shall have storm" Happily, the wind had risen by this time, and was blowing pretty stifiiy.) "Pray help yourself to claret, uncle," I continued; "I think you will find it good"
 There was short silence after this, broken by the walls of the baby, who had reused up at last. Ella fled up- stairs, and engaged my uncle in po- lite and easy conversation.
 Suddenly, just as MT. Finicker was launched on lengthy tirade upon the agrarian outrages in Ireland, the banging began again with renewed fury.
 What on earth could the old fellow be doing. wondered wretchedly, as the unmistakable crash of broken glass or crockery Cor both) sounded over- head. There was no saying what he might do; for MT. Carper, when aroused, was nothing less than mad man, and he was evidently reused now.
 "Good heavens boy, what is that noise?" exclaimed my uncle, starting from his chair.
 "What noise, uncle?" said with a ghastly smile. "You are nervous to- night, fear"
 "Nervousl Listen to that, and that, and thatp he continued fiercely. "Have you lunatic or & wild beast concealed In your house, sir?" listened hypocritically for few moments.
 "I certainly do hear sounds" said then, in doubtful tones. By this time the noise was enough to waken the l