The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-05-08

cused myself moment 10 attend Il
| II.
"Well, let IL be two dollars and a hal
week. as you say, for q month a
least, until l see how we get on"
said; so il was settled at that, and thu
upstairs back room was soon occupied
with my first boarders. They were
good lads enough. that Is to say, they
had no bad habits beyond eating Will
their knives and going TO sleep Occa
sionally without undressing and
think could have broken them OF
these faults In time; but bless you.
couldn't feed them and save myself, II
may be ! began wrong with them. that
my table was too well appointed" as
Mrs. Wilson said ',hen / gave up my
charge at the months end; but that
there was something wrong some
where, ! was ready TO admit.
For three weeks n framed placard,
bearing the omlnOus word, Boarding"
hung forth In my front parior window
without attracting any notice, and !
began to fear that IL would have TO be
the grocery. after all. when, strange
enough, / had three applicants in one
day.
The first was Becky Raymond, n
teacher In the village school, whose
father had died the week before, and
whose mother was giving up house
keeping and going TO live with her
married daughter In Chicago. Becky
was to have the back room to herself
and pay $4 a week. This arrangement
was agreeable to both Of us, for we had
been long acquainted. and / was glad
TO have such an excellent person In the
house with me.
The next was strange lady from
some place had never heard Of be-
but / didn't like her looks n bit. How
ever, / couldn't afford to be particular,
as she offered to pay her board two
weeks I'm advance If ] could let her
have a room to herself. So my two
upstairs rooms were taken at last.
Late at night gentleman called,
who had been recommended to me by
n - --, naming prominent resi-
dent. He expected to be In the neigh
borhood for some time, buying up
horses for the army, and would like n
room to himself, II possible.
at never rains but IL pours," I said
to Becky, when l went to consult her
about the rooms. Neither Of the new
comers would be likely to stay with me
long. so she was quite willing to share
my room for the present, and gave up
the one she was promised to the
strange gentleman.
The two strangers seemed to get ac-
quainted remarkably soon. Indeed,
one would have thought they had
known each other all their lives, and
In less than a week they drove out
together and took long walks in the
evening. l did not like their golngs
on at ALL for they were not like young
folks that one would make some al
and fifty. and she. well, she was the
kind whose age one can never tell. but
no chicken, judging from her ways.
began to think there was something
wrong between them. and would have
given anything to get rid of them after
the first week. / never knew what
they really did, rs they came and went
Mt all hours. and sometimes together:
but they paid their bill, and l could
make no charge against them for any
thing, except their mysterious connec-
tions.
One night after they had been six
weeks with me, l was awakened by n
strange noise. as of something bump.
ing and scraping against the outside
OF the house; and MS l listened with
beating heart Becky grasped my arm
and said:
whats that" in frightened voice.
At the same time Hetty sat up in
her crib and began TO whimper.
Hush" l said. rather sharply, for
wanted to listen that I might find
out where the noise really came from,
but she wouldn't hush until took her
in beside me. and then all was quiet
again; but there was no more sleep for
any of us that night.
In the morning the upstairs boarders
came down TO breakfast as usual: she
with her hair frizzled and her face
powdered. and he drawing his goatce
out to the incest possible taper between
his long, lean fingers.
We agreed that nothing should be
said about the strange noise until we
had examined the premises; but, on
examination, no clue could he found.
everything was in its usual place, and
no sign of burglars anywhere.
The next night We went TO bed early,
rs our long waking made us drowsy
Neither of us spoke about what was
uppermost in our minds, rs we were
undressing. for fear OF frightening Hct.
~, for she was very nervous. and fear.
full Of ghosts, so we were all soon
asleep.
Both Pecky and awoke about the
same time. with strange feeling of
suffocation. Day was Just breaking,
and Becky rose and staggered TO the
window. which she succeeded in open.
ing after a great effort The fresh air
seemed to revive her. and she came to
me. staring with lcr big eyes. and
said:
What is IL, and what Is this?" as
she drew a handkerchief from under
my chin.
II tell you we've been chloroformed!
There are murderers in the house. and
I'm off for The police"
! Jumped out of bee and ran 10 the
crlh. hut the child Mns slnnninr sound.