The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1901-05-03
CHAPTER V.

At this stage of the reading Mrs.
Cowley. who had been listening in per-
feet agony of fear, suddenly found
strength to rebel.
Rose, shut that book instantly"
she exclaimed. "No, Mr.. Cowley, l
will not sit and hear such things! I've
got creeping down my back already,
and my arms are all goose flesh; and
I wouldn't hear the rest Of it if you
gave me five thousand pounds-there!'
Rose closed the book. Her father
did not object, and drew his chair clos
err to the fire, and glanced nervously
over his shoulder as he did so. Cath
arine looked very pale, though she
made no remark, and Rose was salts
fed. 1t was pleasure, If malicious
one, to think that not one of them all
would dare go up stairs in the dark
at that moment, any more than sne
would. And she felt quite sure that
If the lady in grey without eyes" came
to her bedside that night, Catharines
couch would by no means remain I'M
visited
There was a short silence, broken
by the sound of a rapid scuffling step
in the hall. They looked at each other
somewhat timidly, and Mrs. CoWley
gave little yelp Of terror when the
parlor door was flung violently open.
But noting worse than Mrs. Mccarthy
stood there; Mrs Mccarthy no longer
rudy and laughing, but pale and
frightened. as she had once vowed she
never could be.
Il 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
it all by ones self. Do come out, sir,
and listen"
Mr.. Cowley went. The rest seized
with 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 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 COMPOUNDED tricks. Have you
opened the door,"
II tried, SIR"
"WeM?"s
ut would not come Open"
"Why not?"
at 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 brighten 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. 1 wonder IL one
Of you would have pluck enough to
go for my pistol?"
"I'll 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 babe Mrs. Ma