Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-12-30

the events of the evening, she realized
the cause of the peculiar sensation. But
the shock to her nerves remained. The
assertion that her scare was all i'm.
aginary. though repeated over and
over TO herself, failed to quiet them.
There 1t was somebody trying ia
get into the house! The front door
bell rang loudly. Then some one be-
gan pounding on the door. Myrtle
could hear IT quite plainly. She sat
upright and listened. Never before
had she been awake at night ana not
heard her father snoring. She missed
that reassuring srore very much.
Could anything have happened to him
Or perhaps the house was on fire! Yes;
II must be fire. She was sure that she
smelled smoke.
Giving May n tremendous shake,
Myrtle slipped out of bed, threw on a
dressing gown and hurried down to tho
front door, where the pounding still
kept up. In moment she had the door
open: but, instead Of "A stnlwart fire.
man, in stepped her brother Edward
and his wife.
why, It's Myrtlew cried Edward
"The train was late, and we thought
you were never going to let us in,
We're nearly frozen and hungry as
bears. And how is mother and every.
body? Why. what's the matter? Why
don't you speak?
For obvious reasons Myrtle remained
silent. A moment later n second silent
figure crept down the hallway and
stood by Myrtle, and then came Mr.
Hatch himself, hastily pulling on a
few clothes MS he came.
"Oh. here's father! He will explain y
cried the amazed Edward as the third
figure came cropping silently down the
twilight of the long hall. Good heav'
the middle Of the hall stood the pater
nal Hatch, utterlng not one word OF
welcome to his beloved son.
A moment later Mrs. Hatch came
! down, visibly aGltatcd and mutely
waving her arms. Behind her came the
two young men, one armed with q
/ baseball bnt and the other with Il
poker. But not one word did they
speak Isinglnss plaster has some very
adhesive properties. and when ones
mouth has been glued shut for three
long hours one cnnnDt be expected to
carry ON au extended conversation. FoI
several inmates the strange grouE
| gaIed at one another.
I. Edward, they're all crazy! Lets &c
home, anywhere, but do not stay IL
this housc! cried Mrs, Hatch Junior
with strong signs Of hysterla
speak, somebody, can't you? Foi
heavens sake, wish us a happy New
Yearv' cried Edward, taking his fright
euod wife in his arms.
But not word did any one speak
The silent group shutiled sheepishly
about. making weird aud inexpllcablt
signs, which more and more convinced
Edward that all the family OF Hatcl
had suddenly departed with their sew
eral and individual senses.
Mother! Fnther Has II come I,
this? WIN you turn your own soi
away from your door at midnight with
out one word Of welcome? What have
"'ne nav nus "'Ppe"'u' I'm III
'"c ,c,' 'p."n' a.,
to be a distinct but incrtlculnte mega
na. A" 'pae,o" npr '",p VIII he'
n",," m"na' @ "nu oroNe w @ 'n,o sops, ines
nave 'urheu you away EDWARD, be
,"uee. '.,''uee .', ''us .n'nh ! n"Ve ois
'oa'.'" Wv '''''u VI ua'V"' Soine o'i'
.'"a NV 'uunI "uou'-.ne 'he-app''
p'v'' & i,,' mem huWnrn' u was ho'
n's ,"u''' Nv, NY '"ui'' 'i-'didh
l.v" ,"' Vnn ~ ou' ! c'h , ~
VI. """ "s"'n poor EVA proke iht'
'o's'
Az 'his point Myrtio slipped away