Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-01-01

ten years when your Uncle Barton pur-
chased 1t just before his departure for
India nearly twenty years ago, and was
| even then popularity believed to be
haunted Ny brother was also told that
there Is an underground passage from
the cellar to the lake, although have
never been able TO find any trace of It. y
@Why, IN that case" suggested Jessie,
looking startled, ~may not the noise we
have heard be caused by human intrud-
ers? Did Uncle Barton ever live here?n
Certainly several months"
Then ne may have discovered the
underground passage referred to, and
wouldn't 1t be splendid If Uncle Barton
/ should take 1t into his head to come
| home suddenly and secretly, and get into
the house without our knowing anything
about it, and take good look at Us be-
fore showing himself?"
| ooh, yes; that would be very nice,
replied Mrs Moreland, with q smile and
sigh, shut your Uncle Barton is rather
too practical for that sort of perform
ance. It's far more likely that gang
making free with The Elms by means OF
the secret passage"
The suggestion of Mrs. Moreland gave
| Jessie positive shock.
SLet's be on, she proposed. laying
down her knife and fork abruptly. Il
shall never dare sleep here again!"
| HOh, there's no necessity Of being
| quite so nervous" assured Mrs. More
land. "Even If such persons were to In
trude upon Us, they would have every
motive for keeping as shady as possible.
Then, again, even if there is secret
| passage from the cellar to the lake, it is
by no means likely that there is a secret
passage between the cellar and the rest
OF the house" You can finish your
supper"
II have had all want, mamma, re-
turned Jessie Besides, the voyage
will not be long one, and we can take
| along with Us good basket of lunch"
swell, am not so hungry as to need
to Hnger here longer" declared Mrs.
Moreland, as she arose and set about
clearing of the table, "and the sooner
we are of the better"
The words were Immediately followed
by a brisk ring at the door.
The ladies started nervously, exchang-
ing questioning glances.
Yves the newcomer Vance? Was he
Radd Moreland? Or who could he be at
that hour, considering how rarely The
Films had received visitor, other than
the young physician and his uncle?
AS the couple stood undecided, almost
holding their breath, the ring was re-
peated.
Selling a lamp, Mrs. Moreland led the
way to the door, which she cautiously
drew ajar.
ooh, it is you. Mr.. sheen?" she ex-
claimed, with a polite bow at sight of
the visitor.
eyes, ma'am. Here's a letter for
| you" extending it. 'I was coming this
way, and thought I would take the
liberty Of handing it in, as you seemed
to be so anxious when you inquired this
morning.
''Many thanks, Mr.. Sheen.''
The thoughtful and good-natured Wis
itor was already turning away, the
young lady he was waiting upon residing
near by, and Mrs. Moreland had barely
time to return his goodnight before he
vanished
''Such an incident as this shows me
how much my nerves are weakening,
remarked Mrs. Moreland, as she closed
the door. 81 am all in tremblei''
$50 am I, mammal returned Jessie.
Sand just because a postoffice clerk
comes a few steps out of his way to give
us letter hepresumes we are anxiously
awaitingi''
(Which isn't, after all, the letter we
were so anxious about-your Uncle Bar
toms, observed Mrs. Moreland, glancing
at it. "It's from Mrs. Barnett"
It was with nervous hand that Mrs.
Moreland opened the letter, and with a
puzzled air that she entered on its peru
sal, but her face quickly frightened.
It was In every respect such letter as
a long-truated and faithful housekeeper
would write, reporting the state in which
she had found the cottage at Egg Island,
and what measures she and the chamber
maid had taken to prepare it for occu-
pancy. It contained a number Of
thoughtful suggestions. and concluded
| khn& Hn md
daughter would arrive as promptly as
possible.
ats relief to find that they are all
right" commented Mrs. Moreland, as
she folded the letter and thrust it into
her pocket. ait is also pleasant to reflect
that we have such comfortable retreat
at our disposal. Let's put everything to
rights here in the course Of the next
hour and take our departure. +"
"But ought we not to make some ar
rangement about the letter we expect
from Uncle Baritone" asked Jessie, as the
couple resumed the task of clearing the
table.
;. %Yes, we ought, " returned the mother,
"What pity that we did not speak to
Mr.. Sheen when he was here. But car
drop line from our new address to have
the letter forwarded. That will suffice.
Little more was said until everything
at The Films had been put in order fol
the proposed absence.
~What do we need to take with us2'
then asked Jessie.
Nothing more than our toilet and per
sonal effects" answered Mrs. Moreland
sand they will all go into that solid leather
portmanteau, which we can readily
carry to the boat between Us. Let's pacl
it noW!"
This task was quickly executed.
%Of course there is some risk in leav
ing so many valuables about, with NJ
one In the house, remarked Mrs. More
, land, "but I have requested the young
man from Potter s. Carpenters to keel
an eye on the place, and he expects to b
here often to show the premises, so tina
there is no occasion to fret about any
thing we leave behind US. The distance
is scarcely a hundred miles, and VI
. nrnnhf 70 n,-ri,ro 90 r.Irr hnnnr. Hn-rnor