Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-03

L.
wiping speck Of dust from a candle
stick and moving the vase of fresh
flowers out of the sunlight
All at once she sank into a big rush
bOttomed chair and became confden-
tial MY dear, there is something odd
er by the window there. l hope you
won't mind sleeping here"
l was puzzled by her manner. You
mean ii is haunted%' | questioned
IauGhingly.
NO, hardly that. Let me tell you
about it. Every article of furniture in
this room was purchased from a differ
ent family, and each time it has been
under stress of some sort. The bed
came from the Crosbys 1t belonged
TO Grandmother Crosby. but the fami
ly became hard up and parted with it.
l needed the extra furniture to put in
this room. so bought it. The high
boy came from the Glenn family
Ralph Glenn went away. the family
broke up, and | bought this highboy.
The table came from the Orvises and
the dressing table from the ChaseS and
this chair from the Winnicks Some
thing queer happened in each OF those
two families, but am not at liberty to
say what it was. thought would tell
you the history of the furniture, so
that you might be prepared TO see all
sorts OF spirits at the mystic hour Of
70 She looked at me from her
bright, keen eyes. as if testing the
quality OF my courage
II always read until midnight. Miss
DOrinda," l explained frankly. land If
spirits want TO walk in lamplight they
won't disturb ne a particle"
Miss Dorinda smiled cheerfully. 81
am glad" she said simply, that you
are so sensible. Mrs. Stone occupied
the room one night and declared she
/ didn't sleep a wink for the whisper
ing. ! told her ii was the coffee she
drank before she went to bed ! will
send up a tray Of supper. Miss Cam
erOn. Getting here so late in the
evening, you will want good rest"
The supper came up and was eaten
before n small fire sputtering on the
wide hearth. for a gentle rain was
large mahogany chamber. i prepared
leisurely for bed. turning back the
snowy. lavender scented sheets with a
delightful sense of anticipation in the
dreamless slumber | should enjoy.
Contrary TO my usual habit. ! did not
lie awake and read. On the contrary.
! extinguished the lamp. flung a win
dow wide to the soft wet air and went
to sleep, watching the pickering fire
light against the polished mahogany
furniture
| had not noticed the striking clock
IN the room. but ii was there on the
mantelshelf Ten and II had chimed
from its depths. but had slept undis-
turbed. Suddenly I sat up in bed
awake. alert, with the last strokes OF
IL sounding in my ears. The fire was
burning brightly. and | could see that
the hour was midnight A little shiver
Of dread went over me. I could not
help listening intently for those whis-
peTing voices which had disturbed Mrs
Stone the night she occupied the ma
hOyany room.
Ehere was not a sound except the
w AAt4E VI tllt flbl 4 anu the Stut4t IAN
Of rain on the tin roof Of the porch
without. Once the fire Kissed as {
raindrop fell down the wide throat Of
the chimney, and il was so like a whis
per that / jumped a little.
As / lay down once more on my pil
/ low | became conscious Of a peculia
sensation. II was true that heard NJ
voices. that no wraithIike forms cross
ed my vision. yet seemed TO b'
among animate things. / was receiv
ing Information from some unknown
source.
| stared at the highboy, counted th
glass knobs OF the drawers. assure'
myself that there was nothing but tn
reelection of the freight on the polish
cd front. when all Of a sudden | saw
out Of the polished surface TIER