The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1911-10-30

turned for fatal instant is one Of the
mysteries of bovine PSYCHOLOGY which
nobody can figure out.
In something like a panic she lum-
bered along through the trees until
she saw light. "Aha!" said the COW,
home at last"
The light shone from the cottage oc-
cupied by Miss Atkinson, maiden OF
a considerable number of years, who
was entertaining at the moment three
other staid and elderly women at
bridge
Just as one of the three had said
disgustedly that she made 1t spades
Miss Atkinson, who was facing the
porch, gave a bloodcurdling shrek
and her cards few all over the room
"A mani" she Kissed. There was
man peering in through the porch
screen door! He disappeared when |
jumped"
One of the bravest of the four ven
tured out to the porch and In a quav-
ering voice demanded to know who
was there, while the others supported
her with the carving knife and the
broom.
Nothing answered from the silence,
which made it all the worse.
The guests put Miss Atkinson to
b. with the hot water bag and the
smelling salts and locked every win
dow in the cottage. Then, shivering
with fright. the three held hands and
bolted for the hotel.
1t was little later that the Bundy
cottage was upset. Mrs. Bundy had
put the children to bed and was GRO
cheting while her guest. Mrs Hutton.
was reading aloud particularly grew
some detective story. Suddenly Mrs.
Bundy made a startled clutch at Mrs.
Huton's wrist and said: 'Lis-s.ten!"
Mrs. Hutton heard It, too. "Th-th-
there must be t-t-two of 'em!" STAN
mered Mrs. Hutton. Il can hear four
f-f-feet just as plant"
There certainly were several differ.
ent footsteps outside the cottage
slow, careful footsteps. There was
also deep breathing. Then something
blurred against the low diamond
PANIED window over the corner win.
dow seat. Thereupon Mrs. Bundy
gave a cheep like strangled chicken
and nearly went over backward IN her
rocker.
Holding the family revolver at arms
length and with her head turned the
other way, Mrs. Bundy sat down again
and they listened. There was moth
ing to be heard. They passed the rest
of the night on guard.
Farther down the lake shore, on
the rustic seat facing the moon, Laura
Spilger and her young man sat talk.
ing. Their absorption In each other
was so great that they heard nothing
until something strange was thrust
over Lauras left shoulder. Young
Burmaster made wild but futile grab
at Laura as she leaped In the air.
Landing on the extreme edge of the
slippery terrace. she tumbled down
into the tapping waters with a CUR
Cling splash.
Then as young Burmaster, too,
sensed the presence of something
weird and inexplicable he felt his
scalp twitch. in freezing horror, and
leaped after Laura. Hand in hand they
arose. dripping. and stood affrighted
in the two feet of water at the shores
edge.
From the Spilger's cottage came
questioning rumblings Laura's ia.
Their was demanding TO know the rea-
son for all that uproar. Getting no
answer. because the two in the lake
were still paralyzed vocally, he came
forth to investigate.
What do you want?" he roared at
something creeping by. '1'll teach you
to prowl around my house. consaru
you!" Presently there was the spite
full pop of the little SpIlger boys air
gun.
Nothing happened The Spilgers
and young Burmaster sat up very late
discussing the mystery. 1t was dis.
couraging to the Spilgers to find that
their peaceful summer home was get.
ting Just like every other place and
one had to lock and bar doors and
windows and take In the washing al
night.
The Doggetts were reused from
slumber by some one fumbling at the
kitchen window. At the Plunketts'
some one was distinctly heard at the
chicken house. Mrs. Pilldns said she
heard footsteps on the Pilkins' front
porch that night and the Pixies report.
ed that their mignonette bed had been
trampled.