The Lamar register., 1901-05-15
CHAPTER V.

| Cowley, who had been listening in per-
feet agony OF fear. suddenly found
strength to rebel.
Rose. shut that book instantly"
| she exclaimed mo, Mr.. Cowley, |
will not sit and hear such things! I've
got a creeping down my back already.
| and my arms are all goose flesh: and
/ wouldn't hear the rest of 1t II you
gave me five thousand pounds-there!"
Rose closed the book. Her father
did not object. and drew his chair clos
er to the fire. and glanced nervously
over his shoulder as he did so. Cath
arine looked very pales though she
made no remark. and Rose was salts
fed. 1t was a pleasure. II a malicious
one. to think that not one of them all
would dare go up stairs in the dark
at that moment, any more than she
would. And she felt quite sure that
II the lady in grey without eyes" came
| to her bedside that night. Catharine's 8
couch would by no means remain un-
visited.
There was a short silence. broken
by the sound of a rapid scufiing step
in the hall. They looked at each other
somewhat timidly, and Mrs. Cowley
gave a little yelp of terror when the
parlor door was flung violently open.
But noting worse than Mrs. Mccarthy
stood there; Mrs. Mccarthy no longer
ruddy and laughing. but pale and
frightened. as she had once vowed she
never could be.
81 wish you would step this way,
SIR" she said. addressing Mr.. Cowley,
eagerly. Something queer has hap
pened out there" =?
"Oh gracious. the ghost. the ghost"
screamed Mrs. Cowley.
NO. ma'am, at least, nothing that
you can see. But it isn't exactly I'M
proving to the spirits to sit and hear
1t all by ones self. Do come out, sir
and listen.'
Mr.. Cowley went. The rest. seized
with a sudden panic. ran after him.
Mrs. Mccarthy led the way to the
kitchen. where she had been sitting
reading Love and Revenge. or The
Bandits Vengeance and the Maidens
Choice" by the light of two tallow
candles and a blazing fire large enough
to roast an OK. Mr.. Cowley looked
round curiously. so did the girls, cling
ing very close to their mother all the
while.
"Hark!" said Mrs. Mccarthy, hold
ing up her finger; there 1t is again!"
They listened with bated breath.
From behind closed door on the
right hand side Of the kitchen came a
strange, continuous sound.
THE rocking OF a cradle, by Jove!"
said Mr.. Cowley. And Mrs. Mccarthy
nodded assent.
Some confounded tricks. Have you
opened the door?"
81 tried, sir.'
"well?"
ut would not come open"
why not?"
ut is nailed up. sir"
Didn't tell you so?" exclaimed Mr..
Cowley, gaining fresh courage from
this circumstance. Some rascal has
got in there to frighten US out of the
place. so he can carry on his usual
games with impunity. Give me the
hammer. Mrs. Mccarthy, and I'll break
the door open. I'll cradle the fellow
with vengeance. I wonder If one
of you would have pluck enough to
go for my pistol?"
"Ill CO." said Rose. growing very
brave in the belief that a trick was
being played upon them. She was not
afraid of anything human. even though
1t came in the shape of a masked bur-
glar at midnight, and she ran and
brought the pistol, without giving
thought as to anything that might still
be lurking on the stairs.
When she got back her father had
finished his task, and was just about
to open the door. Still the cradle
rocked increasingly. He bade Mrs. Ma