Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-10-21

laws grip on his arm stlled him.
go on out and say nothing" whis-
pered LaidIaw, 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 kitch-
en- door.
Its open," whispered Baker, though
1 hooked it myself before we leftv'
81 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 a gum"
In the drawer Of my desk. Evident
" you consider the ghost material
one" hazarded Baker.
"Just a 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 mis- pocket Baker had
found his revolver, and the two friends
CROPPED toward each other until they
met in front of the smoldering 1re.
Laidlaw leaned over and smothered
| the embers with ashes.
Where is the light switch?'' he whis
pered.
"Right here, almost under my hand"
Switch on the light when 1 tell you
and have your gun ready"
/ This is pure melOdrama," groaned
i Baker. "Hark! What was that?"
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 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 IL
brary.
"Nowp' breathed Laidlaw, and in
stantIy 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 well as two complete sets
OF burglars tools.
The black eyed man rolled his eyes
fercely 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.
''Pu just call up the nearest police
station-that will be New Lorimer-
and tell them to come over and get
this precious pair. 1 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. 1t was a
small cupboard, with a bookshelf in
the back
They searched and found the spring
mentioned by Beebe, the burglar, and
when the bookcase had opened and
disclosed d 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 string, where
! fh0 narfi9 lly- oIlt nVphQllS nf
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.
1t appeared that Beebe had an &C
complete in the house in the person
of Ames, Bakers butler. It was Ames
who had discovered the secret stair
way which led to an unsupported room
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 a term in the penitentiary.
Ned Baker has no trouble In keeping
servants, and Jim Laidlaw spends
much time under the hospitable roof.
The restored portrait of Unclc NiCh-
Olas has been returned to its place over
the mantel, and now the gray eyes do
not change color. Nor will they ever
again. for the secret stair has been
sealed up.