Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1907-07-18
CHAPTER xv.-Continued,

faint away twice, and yet she never
said a word nor moved n MUSCLE
How delightfully."- intcrcsting." said
Miss Weston. II should never have
dreamed from her appearance that
She had 81 much fortitudc. What could
DR.. Machrdcl have done that was so
thrilling?"
"Oh, he didn't do much,' returned.
II just asked some questions about
tho things that had been going on, by,
he did IT In n way that was very e.
f%cctlvc. We wanted to learn who wrote
the mysterious note that | had recciv.
cd on the night of my arrival. We
found out that she did il, but It vas
only by chance and not through any.
thing that she told us. n she had
been a little more clever in delivering
the other I am afraid we would be
In the dark about II yet"
And 20 this Mrs. Bruce really wrote
them both. did she?' asked Mas Wc3.
ton, with continued interest. What a
horrible creature she must be-"
Il don't believe she ~ exactly horri.
BILE" ! said, cautiously, but she cor.
'''''' ~ w a'''Ilh II''', am Nv
ever wrote that one must have written
the first as we'll"
"Wonldn't 1t be interesting II some
more would cornc,' cried Miss Yves.
ton. enthusiastically. Il think 1t
would be the greatest fun in the
world"
you might change your mind ~ It
really happened" ! said with a smile.
"Thcse things arc well enough after
they are explained. but before that
time, they strike one rather seriously,
as ! know from experience"
well. I'd be- willing to try it Just
for once" said Miss Weston, conf.
IDENTIFY. I'm simply crazy to gee what
a real good mystery is like at first
hand"
AS ! CHANGED to move my plate a
folded paper was disclosed and /
hastily slipped It into my lap and
read 1t srrrcptitioIsly. II said:
"f0u have not kept Miss Carney and
her friends away. DO not be surprised
II the ghosts return"
your wish is granted, Miss Yves.
ton" ! exclaimed. holding it up in my
hand. Here is n of tho spook notes
this very minute. 1t IL under my
plate."
"Oh. do let me take IT," she cntrcat.
ed, ana ] passed 1t to her by way Of
Miss Carney, who read IT thonghtfully
before handing 1t to her friend.
The moment Miss Watson saw the
paper a most u~nacCOuntDhlo thing Oc.
cured. Her face blanchcd and she
swaycd In her scat for an instant as
" IN danger Of falling. but rcgnining
her sclf.control in another momcn she
exclaimed:
How silly | am! This ridiculous
note made me quite dizzy for Il minute.
Where did you say you found It, Mr..
Ware? Under your plate, here at the
table? Why. some one must be play.
Ing a Joke On us all"
mo doubt" I returned, Watching her
closely. But II may prove to be a very
serious joke. You see. n thing OF this
kind Ia moro startling than one would
expect. I've grown rather used 10 #
myself, but you seem to be quite up
set over It,"
"Oh, It's Just for the moment" said
Miss Weston, with "A forced laugh. g.!
didn't get much sleep last night and
MS thing came on mo so suddenly
n unexpectedly that II quite took my
breath away"
\ moment later she left tho table on
some trivial prctext. and Miss Carney
called the butler, who had icr, us TO
our coffee before this conversation he.
gan, and questioned him closely as IN
the affairs OF the morning. He said that
ne "A laid the plates himself not long
before "" came down to breakfast and
that while he had not been In the room
all the time he was positive that no
one could have entered without his
knowledge.
1T looks az II you must have s,Ip.
ped 1t under your plate yourself Mr..
Ware" said Miss Carney In n banter.
Ing tone that III b%ctokcncd her true
frame OF mind. There doesn't sccm
to be any other explanation. And do
you really think the ghosts Will come
back again? ! shall not let you so away
until they are permanently suppressed
You may be sure"
II know ] appear 10 he guilty" re. |
piled with a laugh, but | assure you 7
an not. You are merely having n tastc
OF the same mysterious phenomena
that ! myself saw here last summer. l
cannot say whether the ghosts will re.
turn or not. but ] scarcely think they |