Putnam patriot., 1912-09-27


 You did hear. So did I. What do you suppose"
 "S-s-s-h-hl It sounded from the front room somewhere. And vet there can't be anybody in there. because- My soull there tis again. I'm goin' to find out"
 She grasped the stubby broom by the handle and moved determinedly to- ward the front hall. Grace seized her by the arm.
 Don't you do it, suntie'" she whis- pered frantically. Don't you do 1t It may be a tramp"
 sI don't care. Whoever or what ever 1t Is. 1t has no business in this house, and I'll make that plain in a hurry. Just like as not it's a cat got fin when Elkanah was here this fore noon. Don't be scared, Grace. Come right along"
 The girl came along. but not with enthusiasm. They tiptoed through the dark. narrow hall and peened into the parlor. This apartment was dim and still and gloomy. as all proper parlors should be. but there was no sign of life.
 Mrs. Coffin WIS glancing back down the hall with a strange expression on her face Her grip upon the broom handle frightened.
 What is it?" pleaded the girl in an agonized whisper.
 Grace" was the low reply. I've just remembered somethin'. That study door isn't stuck from the damp. beeause-well, because I remember now that 1t was open this mornin'."
 Before her companion could fully grasp the import of this paralyzing fact, Keziah strode down the hall and seized the knob of the study door.
 Whoever you are in there." she commanded sternly, "open this door and come out this minute Do you hear? I'm orderin' you to come out"
 There was an instant of silence; then voice from within made answer. a mans voice, and its tone indicated embarrassment.
 Madam" 1t said, Fl am-I will be out in another minute. If you will just be patient"
 Come out then!" snapped Kezlah. Come out! Patiencel Of all the cheek! Why don't you come out now ?"
 Well. to be frank. since you insist" snapped the voice, I'm not fully dressed"
 This was a staggerer. For once Ke- ziah did not have a reply ready. She looked at Grace and the latter at her. Then, without words, they retreated to the sitting room.
 q hope you won't be alarmed" con- tinued the voice. broken by panting pauses, as If the speaker was strug. gling into a garment "I know this must seem strange. You see, l came on the coach as far as Bayport and then we lost a wheel in a rut. There was a--oh, dear! where is that--this is supremely idiotic!-I was saying there happened to be a man coming this way with buggy and he offered to help me along. He was on his way to Wellmouth. So l left my trunk to come later and took my valise. It rained on the way and I was wet through. stopped at Captain Daniels house and the girl said he had gone with his daughter to the next town. but that they were to stop here at the parsonage on their way. So-there! that's right. at last!-so I came. hop ing to find them. The door was open and I came in. The captain and his daughter were not here, but, as l was pretty wet, l thoughht l would seize the opportunity to change my clothes. had some dry-er-things in my va lise and I-well. then you came. you see, and-I assure you I-well, it was the most embarrassing-Im coming now"
 The door opened. The two in the sitting room huddled close together, Keziah holding the broom like bat tle-ax, ready for whatsoever might de- velop. From the dimness of the tight ly shuttered study stepped the owner of the voice, stranger, young man, his hair rumpled, his tie disarranged, and the buttons of his waistcoat filling the wrong buttonholes. Despite this evidence of the nasty toilet in semi- darkness, he was not unprepossessing. Incidentally, he was blushing furiously.
 "I didn't speak" he said, because you took me by surprise and l wasn't. as I -er-presentable. Be- sides. I was afraid of frightening you. I assure you I hurried as fast as l could, quietly, and when you began to talk"-his expression changed and there was a twitch at the corner of his mouth-"1 tried to hurry still fast CT, hoping you might not hear me and l could make my appearance-or my escape-sooner. As for entering the house-well, considered 1t, In way. my house; at least. I knew l should live in 1t for a time, and"
 TIT.