The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-02-07

tne leltefS back very securely Jhe
day before, for, lying fiat on the
floor, again perceived that packet.
1 took it up hastily, and withdrawing
one letter, 1 restored the packet
through the wide crack and then
pushed the bureau back again.
then wondered, with the guilty con-
science of a novice in deceit, if Mr..
Beldon could by any possibility be
at home. But of course he was. My
day was his night. 1 went to the
door between the rooms and put my
eye to the keyhole. The keyhole
was dark. could see nothing. I
went out of the door, and round
through the hall, and tried the door
of my lower-back "What? What?
Coming" 1 heard. He was rather
slow in coming, and waited. Final
ly he opened his door. l glanced
at the keyhole as / stood there. He
looked curiously at me as 1 did so.
He seemed to be trying to repress
a smile.
A piece of dark cloth was pinned
so that it hung over the key.
$50 you think am very secretive?"
said he. Il have no fancy for having
that girl in there peeking at me-"
81 am surprised to see you at
home,' said 1, in sort of embar-
rassment.
Surprised? Why? Didn't 1 say I
should be at home during the day?"
"Yes," said I, so you did. 1 de-
clare I get SO confused with you
and the lower-front-Miss Dacres,
1 mean-and my invalid aunt, and
Baldy and Glorianna, not to speak of
the Hall, that THAT l don't know
which is the day-bird and which the
night-bird."
''Ah, the Hall! That's just exactly
something l want to speak to you
about. | hear that they have been
putting the newspapers on the case,
and they're sort of detectives, you
know. / told old Haight that 1 was
not willing to do any such work, es-
pecially as you had asked me not to,
though I didn't tell him anything
about you, of course. I am in NOR
tai dread that he will find out that
l am located out here close to the
Hall. Then he will think it the
easiest thing in the world for me to
write the article he wants. OF
course, 1 could do it, but then ]
should not be keeping my compact
with you. I don't want him to know
anything about it, SO, if some re
porter comes out here, please don't
mention me or my connection with
the Star Union"
Certainly not" said I; 81 appre-
ciate your kindness very much.''
"You are awfully good" said Mr.
Beldon. You can see what trouble
you'd get me into with the editors
They'd probably dismiss me from
the paper. They think we must do
whatever job they put us on, regard.
less of our feelings. l wouldn't have
minded ordinarily, but as / almost
promised you, and as l like your
house SO much
"Then it is better than you thought
it was going to be?"
ooh, yes-much better! The lady
in the front room hasn't disturbed
me at all as yet. She did move her
furniture about good deal yester-
day"
THAT was 10 said I, 'sand again
this morning. l am extremely sorry
but the rooms must be swept some
times, you know"
ITO change the subject" said Mr.
Reldon, who's that old lady that
came into my room last night?"
Into your room Why, were you
at home? Oh, yes! / remember you
said you should take nights rest
Why, I'm sure l can't tell you. You
must have been dreaming. 1t must
have been Glorianna, if anyone, but
She"
"Oh, no, l know her; she's the man
of Baldy's house, isn't she? Oh, no
not Glorianna at all. 1t was a large
heavy old lady
There is absolutely no one," sale
/. My aunt is indeed large anG
heavy, but, unfortunately, she cannot
move. She is an invalid, and cannot
get up without help, and then not
without great pain"
"Then," said Mr.. Beldon, "you,
house is haunted"