Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-11-03

reached the short fligd- of crooked stairs
leading directly to the servants quarters.
The housekeeper's room was the first
door on the left. With a feeling of the
most intense relief the girl was raising
her hand TO knock. when to her astonish-
ment she discovered that the door was
ajar.
Surely the housekecper must have come
to bed? The whole house was in dark.
ness; there was not a creature stirring.
Twice Phyllis called to the housekeeper
by name; twice she took hold of the
handle, shaking it impatiently only with
the same result-no answer. Thoroughly
puzzled, she turned TO the opposite bed
room, the one occupied by the two other
women. Here again, however, her hopes
were dashed to the ground; the door
stood wide open.
AT this juneture the uncanny nature
OF the whole affair seemed to strike her
with sudden force. What could it mean?
Never had Phyllis felt so frightened be-
fore, as she stood with trembling limbs
calling agitatedly for each servant in
turn. But no answer came from the
dark stiffness about her, and, with a
groan OF despair, she turned on her heel
and tled-past those horribly silent
rooms, down the fight of crooked stairs,
endless as they appeared now, and back
INTO the corridor-just as the clock in
the turret was striking the hour of mid
night
Twelve o'clock! Great heavens. and
TINS was the anniversary of Sir Geoffrey's
murder!
Instantly all Phyllis anxiety respect
ing the picture gallery and the fate of
Sir Ughtred's ancestors was forgotten;
at that moment she was oblivious to
everything but her longing to find her
self safely back in her own room. Yet,
instead of hurrying quickly on her way,
she took one or two faltering steps for
ward, and then, stopping short as though
paralyzed with terror, stood staring wild
ly before her through the diamond
panes of the oriel window.
There was some one on the terracei
Grasping at the heavy curtain. and
leaning breathlessly forward, she could
distinctly discern the outline of two
dusky forms, moving stealthily along on
the path below. For a moment her
senses threatened to fail her, as visions
of burglars with masked faces and gilt
tering weapons rose up wildly before her
mind Then by an effort she recovered
herself and, leaning against the wall star
ing into the darkness, strove to catch an
other glimpse of those uncanny midnight
visitors.
Yes, there they were. She could easily
distinguish them now, as the moon, sud
denly appearing from a mass of clouds,
poured down her cold, pure rays upon the
sleeping world What were they doing !?
Phyllis stood watching their movements
with kind of fascinated awe
They had paused before the door of the
gunroom, from which a small group of
equally mysterious figures seemed to be
slowly emerging. and were apparently
just in the act of raising to their shout
ders burden of considerable weight.
Involuntarily Phyllis passed her hand
across her eyes. Was she dreaming?
Was it all a hideous nightmare, from
which sooner or later she would wake to
find herself safely back in her own room2
If not, what could it be2 Who were these
people? Had they already succeeded in
effecting an entrance into the house, and
were they actually on the point of max
lug On With tue NHole OI the precious
family plate?
Meanwhile every instant was bringing
this strange cavalcade nearer and nearer.
How dark, how gruesome the whole thing
looked, as with stealthy, noiseless foot
steps the silent figures came creeping
along in the shadow of the old stone
walls with their burden still resting
heavily upon their shoulders
Prompted by some strange impulse,
Phyllis gently opened the easement and
leaned out. At the same moment the
small group moved slowly out from the
shadow and passed into the full radiance
of the moonbeams, which lay in broad,
glittering band across the terrace, cast
ing horribly CHASTITY light upon their
faces and forms.
Then with a start Phyllis drew back.
First and foremost amongst the group
she recognized Mrs, Mathews. Mrs.
Mathews and James Then as her
glance fell upon the object which they
were bearing away, the very blood
seemed to freeze in her veins. 1t was
coffin!
The discovery was too much for Phyl-
lis nerves. With a wild unearthly cry,
which echoed loudly through the silent
corridor. the girl closed the easement and
fell to the ground.
CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK.
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