Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-12-28

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her head In the door. She wore hat
and cloak.
"Where Is Ames, Nora7" asked Baker
In displeased tone.
"Please, sir, he's left, and Hannah
and Mary and I'm going this minute.
We're sorry, Mr.. Baker. but it's the
ghosts. We can't stand It no iongerr
She vanished, and In the distance an
outer door closed noisily.
Baker laughed. II paid them today.
They managed to calm their fears un-
I'll the month was up. Well, Jim,
guess we'll have to close up the house
and 60 back to town."
II hate to lose that quail shooting"
said Laidlaw, yawning.
A clock in the hall struck 6.
1--WE must Dress" said Baker, but
first I'm going around to lock up"
'Tll 60 with you" volunteered the
other, and he added In a low tone,
lis It safe to leave the place unpro-
tected?"
"I'll switch on all the lights and turn
Hero loose. 1t would be desperate
burglar who would tackle a bulldog
with his reputation"
"Or a clever one" added Laidlaw
dryly.
As they left the front hall to enter
the motorcar which Baker had brought
around to the dior Laidlaw switched
of the lights from the whole house.
what began Baker, when Laid
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 1t back to
the house by the shortest cut. You'll
see something"
"And the dinner sngagement% was
Bakers only objection.
"Can go hang"
Five minutes later they stole through
the grape arbor and reached the htch'
en- door.
"It's open," whispered Baker, though
l locked it myself before We left"
IL unlocked it so we could enter
quietly" confessed Laidlaw. Come
now to the library, and I think we can
lay Uncle Nicholas ghost. Have you
got gun?"
I'm the drawer Of my desk. Evident
ly you consider the ghost material
one," hazarded Baker.
"Just 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 thatT"
Laidlaw's hand gripped him into 81
lence.
Somewhere near by, seemingly in the
room, came the creak Of a board as If
under cautious tread.
Something moved behind the panel
ed walls. Even the skeptical host
knew that 1t 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 q creak as Of an opened
door and a 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 L.
brary.
"Now! breathed Laidlaw, and in
SANITY 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
ly put up their hands at arms length
above their heads.
They were shifty eyed, evil faced
fellows, with 1.-the, slender forms and
small hands and feet.
They cursed bitterly as Baker search.
ed them and deprived them Of their
weapons as we'll as two complete sets
Of burglars tools.
The black eyed man rolled his eyes
Hercely as Baker neatly tied his wrists
and ankles with curtain cords. When
the same thing had been done for his
companion Laidlaw lowered his guns
and moved to the telephone.
"I'n just call up the nearest police
station-that will be New Lorimer-
and tell them to come over and get
this precious pair. I guess it's the end
of these neighborhood robberies."
It 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 a
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 a narrow staircase winding
up they mounted the stairs until they
were directly behind Mr.. Nicholas
Danes portrait
A sliding panel revealed the canvas
Of the portrait, and an ingenious little
contrivance, Of which the clever Beebe
sullenly admitted himself the inventor.
enabled one to pull a string, where
upon the partially cut out eyeballs Of
the picture tapped inside and enabled
Mr.. Jim Beebe to roll his wild black
eyes at Ned Baker or any other intrud-
er In the library.