The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-10-01

through inhaling some poisonous chem
ical odor. I am also i'm distress about
the mummy. Do come round"
[ went round. Mariana showed me
1.-THE mummy.
'Bertie calls it Menhat -Ra, and says
it was an ancient Egyptian priest. I
don't know what it was, but l 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 to
bed, because he was feeling so bad, we
didn't do anything about it,"
Herbert was very chatty when [ 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 1 have been
ill.,
''But about Mr.. Menhat- Ra,' I said.
"What is all this L hear? You can't
really suppose that he is haunted?"
Il don't know" said Herbert. at
certainly was very uncanny, and II L
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 | 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. l 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 I picked up
the poker.
Southgate appeared at the door.
| advanced towards the mummy case,
ner; Mariana and Southgate were close
behind Suddenly, to my horror, 1 saw
the wrappings OH the chest of the mum
my move up and down, just as if it
were breathing. Mariana uttered a
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 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. l called to Mariana.
Come here" [ said; 1--WE have all
been scared to death by nest of mice"
"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,"
he asked, all in one breath.
at was only MICE" l said. 'They
made nest in Mr.. Menhat-Ra's chest,
and whenever they moved it looked as if
lie We're breathing"
"What fright we've all had," said
Mariana, from Ter perch on the chair.
"Do you think all the mice have gone?
Because, if so, I'll get down."
L assured Her InaC all was WE'LL anu
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 and
refreshed himself too.
Il am just reading that book about a
voyage in a balloon, by Jules Verne"
said Herbert, eating biscuits thought
fully, "and it struck me we might try
To-"
Herbert" said Mariana, latter the
narrowing scenes we have just wit
messed, do let books rest little."-The
Marchioness of Townshend in Cassels
Saturday Journal.