, 1897-12-22
body had been buried there. The barns

bouy mad been buried there. The barns
had never been rebuilt after the fire.
Cummings hired a dozen men and had
the debris removed, but still the search
was unsuccessful. He had previously
gone over the house. which was little
better than u ruin, but now he entered
upon a closer investigation. The win
dows had been broken, doors carried
away, and the leaky roof had let in the
storms until the floors were rotten.
Now and then half a dozen boys enter
ed the house and clambered about, but
as a rule it was avoided as an uncanny
place. Up to this time no one had hint
ed at a ghost or strange things, but that
was to come
Mr.. Cummings, a constable and my
self entered the old inn one evening
after supper to make a thorough search.
What the brother expected to find he
did not say, but he made up his mind
that his sister never left Birnley alive.
My persistency in declaring that she
Iii not go away with her husband and
the fact that the husband left at such an
unusual hour probably gave Cummings
the idea that she had been made away
with during the night.
On entering we mounted to the second
story and entered the room the couple
had occupied hat night. We were
standing still and gazing about when
there suddenly came a sound as of a wo-
man sohbing. ! bolted at once, but the
constable followed at my heels, and
when Cummings joined Us below he
was pale and trembling. 1t was a queer
sound we had heard. and after discuss
ing it for IA spell the constable went fol
q Mr.. Hastings, who was "a Justice of
the peace. Hastings arrived to ridicule
our fears. and together the four of us
went up to the room. 1t was not yet
dark outdoors, but very gloomy up there.
The justice walked about, knocking and
rapping with his cane, and perhaps ten
minutes had passed when we heard a
noise as of slippered feet crossing the
floor, followed by gurcling and sobbing.
The sounds were so real and at the same
time so uncanny that the our Of us
made for the stairs at once. When we
had got safely down, Cummings said
the noises had been produced by the
wind and wanted to go back. but nc
one would 60 with him. 1t was agreed
to keep the affair Il secret and inspect
the house next morning, and after break
fast our number was increased to six.
b two Others were merchants of the
town, and they had Il hearty laugh at
the way we had been driven ont.
AT half past S o'clock in the morning
we gathered in that room. Most of the
plaster wa off, the floor was sinking
and cobwebs hung from the
Queerly enough, access was had to the
garrett above through this, the best room
in the house. There was the scuttle in
the ceiling, with the trapdoor shut
down, and wondered that l had never
taken notice of it before. Cummings
had just remarked hat he would like tc
take a look up there in the garnet when
there came n wailing. gureling, sobbine
sound which lasted for at4east Is sec.
onds. Every one of us had the same idea
about il. 1t sounded as if a hand had
clutched a woman's threat and choked
the life out of her.
There was a move for the stairs. and
every ones "A was as pale as death,
but Cummings made "A gesture which
checked the retreat, and there vas a
long minute of silence. Then there was
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