Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1912-01-04

she saw a light. "Aha!" said the COW,
"home at last"
The light shone from the cottage &C.
cupied by Miss Atkinson, q 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
dlsgustedly that she made 1t spades
Miss Atkinson, who was facing the
porch, gave q bloodcurdling shrek
and her cards few all over the room
"A mani" she Kissed. There was
q 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 q quay
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 1t all the worse.
The guests put Miss Atkinson tc
bed with the hot water bag and the
smelling salts and locked every win
dow in the cottage. Then, shiverinl
with fright, the three held hands anC
bolted for the hotel.
II was a little later that the Bundy
cottage wVs upset. Mrs. Bundy hat
put the children to bed and was Gro
cheting while her guest, Mrs. Hutton
was reading aloud a 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 1t, too. "Th-th
there must be t.t-two Of 'em!" STAN
mered Mrs. Hutton. Il can hear fou
f.f.feet Just as plain!"
There certainly were several diner
emit footsteps outside the cottage
slow, careful footsteps. There wa
also deep breathing. Then something
blurred against the low diamond
paned window over the corner win
dow seat. Thereupon Mrs. Bund'
gave a cheep like strangled chicken
and nearly went over backward In he
rocker.
Holding the family revolver at arm
length and with her head turned tn
other way, Mrs. Bundy sat down agai
and they listened. There was notf
ing to be heard. They passed the res
of the night on guard.
Farther down the lake shore, o
the rustic seat facing the moon, Laur
Spilger and her young man sat tall
ing. Their absorption in each othe
was so great that they heard nothan
until something strange was thrus
over Laura's left shoulder. Youn
Burmaster made wild but futile gra
; at Laura as she leaped in the air.
Landing on the extreme edge OF tn
slippery terrace, she tumbled dow
into the tapping waters with a gu
Cling splash.
Then as young Burmaster, to-
sensed the presence Of somethin
weird and inexplicable he felt h
scalp twitch in freezing horror, an
leaped after Laura. Hand in hand the
arose, dripping, and stood affrighte
in the two feet Of water at the shore
edge.
From the Spilger's cottage can
questioning rumblings/ Lauras 4
ther was demanding to know the re
son for all that uproar. Getting 4
answer, because the two In the/lal
were still paralyzed vocally, he can
= forth to investigate.
what do you want?" he roared
something creeping by. 'I'll teach "
to prowl around my house, consaI
: you!" Presently there was the spit
. full pop Of the little Spilger boys al
, gun.
Nothing happened. The Spilgel
, and young Burmaster sat u2(very la
, discussing the mystery. 1t was di
couraging to the Spilgers to find tn
their peaceful summer home was &c
ting Just like every other place, al
one had to lock and bar doors al
! windows and take in the washing
night.
The Doggetts were reused fro
slumber by some one fumbling at Il
kitchen window. At the Plunkett
| -. -. ,,,na Hlufinafiv heard nj n