The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1898-06-30
CHAPTER v.-CoNrrNurp.

brief was the conversation, IL that is
what it was. there was no time to make
an investigation.
After long period of anxious listen
ing l 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 a 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 l got my eyes open and my senses
aroused to my new surroundings, when
n loud and long-continued humping
on the front door caused me to spring
out of bed. Hastily donning few gar
ments, l went to the door and opened
it.
Mrs. Snyder was standing there, and
an unmistakabe looL of relief came
over her face when ne saw me.
Zach my! you schleep SO sount vas
afrait somesing de natter" she said.
''Breakfas' vas retty long dime alretty."
"All right. I'll be right over and eat
it," 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 hallucinations of the
darkness become trivial, wonder II II
my imagination had played me a trick
1t seemed as though / had heard the
voice in dream, so unreal did the cir
oumstance appear now.
L 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 befor 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 a mystery indeed, one which
did not choose only the shades of night
for its manifestations. but came in the
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.
1 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, called to
her:
Hello, Sarah! What's the trouble?
What brought you here at this time?"
"Ach, Mel, bud am glad to see yon"
she exclaimed. 81 couldn't scbleep all
night"
Now, that was too bad" 1 said.
''What kept you awaken"
81 vas thinl1in' 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-" / said, lightly,
although was not so sure of it now.
When 1 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?" asked. 'IIatching
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 up
into my face. There was deep concern
in every line of her countenance.
"Nel, you come wiz me-" she said,
leading the way. i 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 says
dat vas not dere yesterday"
Like those of most Pennsylvania
farmhouses, the downstairs windows
were provided with solid board shut
ters.
In the center of this particular pair
was a small round hole, from the edges
of which a few chips running with the
grain of the wood were broken.
'Well, what of it," asked, hoping
that could avoid giving an explana-
ton, for / was trife ashamed of my.
self for firing al my own reflection.
''Somepody shot through de shutter
and try to kill you, maybe. It's a bullet
hole, aint it? Oh, Mel, didn't you hear
it? Mrs. Snyder heard it from her
house, and she look out her window and
saw man runnin' away down de road.
You can't stay here, Mel. You go home
wiz me-"
/ could not forbear smile at Sa-
rah fears, but, remembering they
were the consequence of the deep af- |
fection she felt for me, checked the |
frivolous reply which my tongue was
about to utter.
"Why, bless your dear old loving |
heart, Sarah" / said, taking hold of |
her arm, ''come, I'll explain that, and |
when you know about it you'll laugh |
at me-"
The women went along into my room. |
"You see that window? You remem-
ber the shutters were always kept |
closed. Well, had forgotten all about
it last night, and after was undressed
i saw my figure, clad in my white night
robe, reflected from the glass. You
women must have made me somewhat
nervous by your talk while making up
my bed. Anyhow, was trifie fright
ened at my own shadow, aud fired bull
let ut it. So, you see, no one tried to
kill me at all. 1t was only my own fool
ishness, of which / am heartily |
ashamed. Now let me get some break
fast, and then we1l go all over the house