Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-10-28

w nat - began BAKER, Wueu AaIu~
laws grip on his arm stilled him.
go on out and say nothing" whis-
pered Laidlaw, and the mystifed host
meekly obeyed.
AS soon as they had left the gates OF
the estate Laidlaw spoke:
Put out your lights, run the ma
chine into the field yonder, in the shad-
ow Of the trees, then beat it back TO
the house by the shortest cut. You'll
see something"
"And the dinner engagement" was
Bakers only objection.
Can go hang"
Five minutes later they stole through
the grape arbor and reached the htch-
en- door.
Its open," whispered Baker, though
l locked it myself before we Ieft!'
81 unlocked it so we could enter
quietly" confessed Laidlaw. Come
now to the library. and think we can
lay Uncle Nicholas ghost. Have you
got a gum"
'In the drawer of my desk. Evident
ly you consider the ghost material
one" hazarded Baker.
"Just q guess on my part"
They tiptoed through the utter dark
ness of the house, Baker leading the
way, until they were within the velvet
blackness of the library.
Laidlaw locked the door and slipped
the key in his pocket. Baker had
found his revolver, and the two friends
CROPPED toward each other until they
met in front of the smoldering fire.
Laidlaw leaned over and smothered
the embers with ashes.
"Where is the light switch?'' he whis-
pered.
Fright here, almost under my hand"
Switch on the light when l tell you
and have your gun ready"
This is pure melodrama," groaned
Baker. ''Hark! What was thai"
Laidlaw's hand gripped him Into ST.
lence.
Somewhere near by, seemingly in the
room, came the creak Of a board as If
under a cautious tread.
Something moved behind the panel
ed walls Even the skeptical host
knew that it was not the sound OF
scurrying mice.
The sounds continued until they be-
came distinct footballs.
Ready warned Laidlaw, crouching
forward and facing the left end Of the
fireplace.
Bakers finger lowered over the but
ton.
There was a creak as of an opened
door and q gust Of cedar perfumed air.
And there was the indefnable feeling
that they were not alone in the room.
There was another presence In the IL
brary.
"Now!' breathed Laidlaw, and in
stantly the room was flooded with light
Bakers amazed eyes saw his friend
crouched forward, a revolver in each
hand. The blue noses of these weap-
| Ons were covering two men, who stared
In absurd dismay while they reluctant
| " put up their hands at arms length
above their heads.
They were shifty eyed, evil faced
! lGlUNSs WILL lILAE5 SlGLuSl lO1k1h anu
small hands and feet.
They cursed bitterly as Baker search,
ed them and deprived them Of their
weapons as well as two complete sets
of burglars tools.
The black eyed man rolled his eyes
f1ercely as Baker neatly tied his wrists
and ankles with curtain cords. When
/ the same thing had been done for bis
companion Laidlaw lowered his guns
and moved to the telephone.
''T'u just call up the nearest police
! station-that will be New LOrimer-
and tell them to come over and gel
! this precious pair. l guess it's the end
of these neighborhood robberies."
1t was almost dawn when they re-
| turned TO the house and faced each
other across the library table.
"And now for your uncle's ghost
laughed Laidlaw, opening the narrow
/ door in the chimney end. It was g
small cupboard. with bookshelf In
the back.
They searched and found the spring
mentioned by Beebe, the burglar, and
| when the bookcase had opened and
/ disclosed narrow staircase winding
UP they mounted the stairs until they
We're directly behind Mr.. Nicholas
! Danes portrait.
! A sliding panel revealed the canvas
/ Of the portrait, and an ingenious little
! continuance, of which the clever Beebe
sullenIy admitted himself the inventor,
/ enabled one to pull a string, where
/ upon the partially cut out eyebaIls of
! the picture tapped inside and enabled
Mr.. Jim Beebe TO roll mis- wild black
/ eyes at Ned Baker or any other tntrud-
er in the library.
/ 1t appeared that Beebe had an ac-
/ complete in the house in the person
/ Of Ames, Bakers butler. 1t was Ames
/ who had discovered the secret stair
way which led to an unsupported room
4 in the middle Of the attic. This room
had served as a hiding place for the
burglars, and its existence was not
even known to Baker himself.
/ In the course of time Ames was cap
tured and, with his confederates. is
serving term in the penitendary.
| Ned Baker has no trouble in keeping
servants, and Jim Laidlaw spends
much time under the hospitable roof.
The restored portrait Of Unclc Mich
olas has been returned TO its place over
the mantel, and now the gray eyes do
not change color. Nor viii they ever
again, for the secret stair has been
EHaI<s6 nm