Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-08-30
NUMBER 35.

terested Norah. who availed herself
Of the keyhole as the only salve to
her wounded self respect.
my dear girl. how do you think I'm
going to handle this thing alone7 It
weighs a ton. Why wasn't 1t put IN
the guest room"
1.-THE instant I saw It In the wagon
I knew It would never ft into that
room. so I told them to put it in here.
We can remove It to the cellar after
ward-or store It."
ut fits in here" remarked Win.
chester.
LET us rip of the covering-I be-
lieve ! know just where to place my
finger on the spring! This is the head
board. Of course. and here are the gar
goylesw cried Flora excitedly.
Winchester took out his knife and
leisurely opened the blade. He lifted
one corner Of the bedstead. groaned
and dropped it heavily.
There was straining and swapping
Of cords as he applied his knife to the
wrappings.
"Oh. Oh. ] am just as nervous as
[ can be- cried Flora. regardless OF
her husbands groan as he dragged
aside the covering and disclosed the
rounded. polished top outlined by q
semicircle of hidiously carved faces.
"Jove. what beaut" CALCULATED
Winchester, yet with note Of respect
in his tone. what q nightmare!
Fancy wishing guest pleasant
dreams and then introducing him to
that couch Whew! Now. which face,
Flora. love?"
Mrs. Winchester triumphantly pro-
duced the paper from her laces and
read solemnly: 1.-The thirteenth gar
goyle from either end"
"The one in the middle, Of course"
announced Winchester.
"Press the right eye" quoted Mrs.
Winchester breathlessly. II shall
have them set in glorious pendant,
HarryT
They hung expectantly over the
bed.
Now pressw she whispered sibi.
lantly.
Winchester pressed.
Nothing doing" he announced fat
ly.
"Press harder" urged his wife. "The
secret spring has probably rusted.
They do rust sometimes. don't they"
81 never heard Of one doing so. They
always yield easily. and the door rolls
noiselessly aside and leaves an aper-
ture," said Winchester grimly.
1--WE must get 1t open! cried his
wife tearfully. TRY some Of the 9th
er eyes. Harry"
"But why try the others. my dear7
It says the middle one"
There is-there must be spring"
retorted Mrs. Winchester. why
should Nancy have put 1t In her diary
II there was not?"
II give it up when you ask me to ex-
plain the vagaries Of the female
mind"- began Winchester as he VI
ciously jabbed the eyes Of all the gar
goyles in turn without result.
Flora burst into tears.
Don't cry. my darling" comforted
her husband tenderly. "I'll find out
the truth If have to chop the con-
founded thing into kindlings!
81 wish / understood the meaning
of it anyway" said Winchester pres
emily when his wife had reached a de-
gree of tranquility where she could
nibble bonbon appreciatively.
Again the tears flowed. IL might
lust as we'll have had another thou
sand dollars" walled Flora.
Winchester's elbow knocked small
package from the table to the floor.
What IS this" he asked. picking 1t
up.
IAN express parcel that came this
afternoon. | haven't had time to look
NJ It."
He ripped of the covers and looked
stupldly at small leather volume IN
his hand.
THE Diary Of Nancy Gray" he ex-
claimed. A letter fell from the book.
and he opened 1t eagerly.
Read it, commanded Flora impa-
tiently. And he read as follows:
MY dear Mrs. w!nchester-Your uncle.
the late Mr. William Gray. has placed
this little volume In my hands with In
structions 10 turn It over to you afte.
his Death. OF course you are aware that
your uncle wrote this fantastical little
tale for his own amusement many years
ago. but It was never published. You
are probably In a position to recognize
that your uncle's clever wit enabled MIN
to take great liberties with your family
history. AS the present owner OF the
Gargoyle bcdstead. this little book VIII
prove to be Of especial interest to you:
conEra tulating you on the possession OF
such q valuable antique. and with kino
regards, / am. very sincerely yours.
JEREMIAH CHESLEY."
The long silence was broken at last
by a suppressed chuckle from Mr..
Winchester.
His wife buried her face In the sofa
pillows. Brute" she sobbed bitterly.
And Winchester is still wondering
whom she meant.