Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-08-28

rescue said; and | hurried down the
stairs, but ! met Herbert coming up.
Isn't it annoying" he said. Every
thing was going so we'll with the pre-
serving of the canary. and | left it only
a minute ON the table while | went to
the cupboard to get some more nutmeg.
and the cat got at it. ! am very sorry.
really, because, apart from my work
being destroyed, Mariana was very fond
OF that cat, and / can't be certain that
some of the chemicals / bought at the
chemist will agree with it,"
We went back to the drawing room
and | left them to have it out.
Next morning ! had letter from Ma
riana. 1.-THE cat is dead" it ran. "and
Herbert is in bed The doctor saws it is
through inhaling some poisonous chem
zeal odor. / am also in distress about
the mummy. Do come round"
l went round. Mariana showed me
the mummy.
BERTHE calls it Menhat Ra, and saws
it was an ancient Egyptian priest. ]
don't know what it was, but | am sure
it is haunted. Last night, as Herbert
and were sitting here, we heard such
funny noises from that corner, but what
with the iuster Of getting Herbert ia
bed, because he was feeling so bad, we
didn't do anything about it."
Herbert was very chatty when l got
up.
Fancy being taken like this he
said. Isn't it annoying Mariana has
been really good about the cat, and has
nursed me so nicely since | have been
ILL.,"
But about Mr.. Menhat -Ra." l said
what is all this / hear? You can't
really suppose that he is haunted ?"
Il don't know" said Herbert at
certainly was very uncanny, and if /
hadn't been feeling so frightfuilv i'll, |
should have sent for you to come round
and hear for yourself. However, you
have come today. and, if you can, we
want You to spend the day and see what
happens"
So l spent the whole day with them
and Mariana and | sat in the drawing
room after dinner. Mariana was knit
ting a green tie industriously.
Suddenly, in the middle of our chat
from the direction of the mummy case
we heard a slight noise, Mariana's face
went like paper, and she clutched the
arms of her chair. | went over and lis.
tened, but there was no further sound
so | sat down again.
isn't it awful?'' said Mariana
We sat still and listened The house
was perfectly still, and the lamp burnt
rather low / confess to a feeling OF
nervousness myself. Suddenly we heard
it again, only louder, and ] picked up
the poker.
Southgate appeared at the door.
/ advanced towards the mummy case
which was standing upright in the cor
ner; Mariana and Southgate were close
behind. Suddenly, to my horror, / saw
the wrappings on the chest of the mum.
my move up and down, Just as if il
We're breathing Mariana uttered 4
shrek and flew to the other end of the
room Southgate caught up the shovel
and we went right up to the case. All
at once there was a loud crash. South
gate had struck the case, and it had
fallen to the ground
We stopped to look at it, and as we
did so two or three little black things
leaped out and disappeared They were
mice. | called to Mariana
Come here / said; +we have all
been scared to death by nest of mice. Z
"Mice!" said Mariana, springing on to
a chair. Il had almost rather have the
evil spirit"
Herbert appeared on the threshold in
a dressing gown, with a revolver in his
| hand.
Have YOU killed twas it an evil
| spirit-or a burglar-or what was it? p
he asked, all in one breath.
1T was only mice" | said "They
made nest in Mr. Menhat-Ra's chest
and whenever they moved it looked as il
he were breathing
What a fright we've all had" sale
Mariana, from her perch on the chair
do you think all the mice have gone
| Because, if so, I'll get down"
/ assured her that all was well, ant
she got down.
Southgate, with great thoughtfulness
appeared, bringing with him brandy
and soda and biscuits; and Herbert
whose dressing gown, like his slippers
was nearly as startling as the events Of
the evening, remained downstairs anC
refreshed himself too
Il am Just reading that book about {
voyage in a balloon, by jules Verne
said Herbert, eating biscuits thought
fully. and it struck me we might try
| to 49,
Herbert. said Mariana. "after tn,
narrowing scenes we have just wit
messed, do let hooks rest little. "--Th,
!, Marehioness of Townshend in Cassef:
Saturday Journal.