The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-03-01
CHAPTER V.-CONTrNUED.


The sound of the voice was intermit-
tent. There would be a few words,
then pause, and so on. I could make
no sense of the few disjointed sentences.
It lasted but few minutes. Indeed, so
brief was the conversation, if that is
what it was, there was no time to make
an investigation.
After long period of anxious listen
ing I settled down again for sleep. And
when at last slumber came, it was
troubled. Vague, shadowy dreams fit
ted across my consciousness, and
through them all was sort of premo-
milton of future events, which seemed
to have bearing upon the robbery.
The next morning was awakened by
the sun shining in my face. Hardly
had I got my eyes open and my senses
aroused to my new surroundings, when
a loud and long-continued humping
on the front door caused me to spring
out of bed. Hastily DOMINIC few gar
ments, 1 went to the door and opened
it.
Mrs. Snyder was standing there, and
an unmistakable look of relief came
over her face when she saw me.
Zach my! you schleep so sount I vas
afrait somesing de matter!" she said.
''Breakfas' vas retty long dime alretty."
"An right. I'll be right over and eat
st." 1 replied.
While was dressing the recollection
Of the strange voice of the last night
came to me. Now, in the broad glare of
the forenoon, when all mystery takes
flight and the haIlucinations of the
darkness become trivial, wondered if
my Imagination had played me trick.
It seemed as though had heard the
voice in dream, SO unreal did the cir
cumstance appear now.
1 was standing by the huge chimney.
when again, breaking in upon my
thoughts, came the sound of that mys-
terious small voice.
AS on the night before, there were no
completed sentences; only a word be-
tween pauses of various duration. The
sounds were palmer, however; not loud
er. but more distinct.
Here was mystery indeed, one which
did not choose only the shades of night
daytime, as though possessed of such
subtle and unaccountable qualities that
it might defy research.
After the voice had ceased, and. / con-
tinued my toilet, the sound of talking,
coming from the walk outside, reached
me-
I glanced out of the window, and saw
Sarah and Mrs. Snyder again in most
earnest conversation.
Somewhat surprised to see my old
nurse so early in the day, 1 called to
her:
Hello, Sarah! What's the trouble?
What brought you here at this time?''
Zach, Mel, bud am glad to see you'll
she exclaimed. 81 couldn't schleep all
night"
''Now, that was too bad" 1 said
what kept you awaken"
81 vas thinkin' of you all alone in dis
olt house, and so much strangeness
aboud it," the good soul replied, with
her honest old face upturned to me.
"That was very foolish. Nothing is
going to happen to me-" I said, lightly
although was not so sure of it now.
When I went outside the two women
were still talking, and there was an
awe-stricken expression on each face.
What are you two superstitious old
girls doing now?" l asked. Matching
up more mysterious tales?"
Mrs. Snyder gravely shook her head
as though seriously condemning levity
on supernatural subjects. Sarah rest
ed her hand on my arm. and gazed VI
into my face. There was deep concern
in every line of her countenance.
''Nel, you come wiz me-" she said
leading the way 1 followed around
the corner of the house, and she stopped
before a window, the shutters of which
were closed.
''Look!" she exclaimed, pointing to
ward the shutters Mrs. Snyder say:
dat vas not dere yesterday"
Like those of most Pennsylvania
farmhouses, the downstairs windows
we're provided with solid board shut
tiers.
In the center of this particular pail
vas small round hole, from the edge:
of which few chips running with the
grain of the wood were broken.
"Well, what of it?" 1 asked, hoping
that I could avoid giving an explana
ton, for I was trife ashamed of my
self for firing at my own reflection.
"Somepody shot through de shutter
and try to kill you, maybe. It's bullet
hole. amt it? Oh, Mel, didn't you heal
it? Mrs. Snyder heard it from hel
house, and she look out her window ant
saw man runnin' away down de road