The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1915-07-16

open and examined the contents.
Inside was another envelope.
opened that. It contained merely a
blank piece Of paper!
With characteristic skill at cover
ing his tracks Bennett had also COW
cred his money.
HUH" snorted to myself. "con-
found him."
/ threw the paper into wire bas-
ket on the desk and went on sorting
the other stuff
Kennedy had by this time finished
unpacking the box and was examining
bottle which he had taken from it.
Come here, Walter" he called at
length. Ever see anything like
that?"
II can't say" I confessed, getting
up to go to him. what is it,"
Bring a piece of paper" he added.
went back to the desk where had
been working and looked about hasti-
ly. My eye fell on the blank sheet of
paper which had taken from Ben
nett's envelope, and picked it up
from the basket.
Here's one," said, handing 1t to
him. What are you doing?"
Kennedy did not answer directly,
but began to treat the paper with the
liquid from the bottle. Then he light.
ed Bunsen burner and thrust the
paper into the fame. The paper did
not burn!
"A new system of fireproof1ng,"
laughed Craig, enjoying my astonish-
ment.
He continued to hold the paper in
the flame. Still it did not burn.
'See," he went on. withdrawing it
and starting to explain the proper
ties Of the new fireproofer.
He had scarcely begun when he
stopped in surprise. He had happened
to glance at the paper again, bent
over to examine it more intently and
was now looking at it in surprise.
looked also. There, clearly dis
cernible on the paper, was a small
part Of what looked like an architects
drawing of fireplace.
Craig looked up at me, nonplused.
Where did you say you got that?" he
asked.
ut was a blank piece of paper
among BENEFITS effects" returned,
as mystified as he.
Kennedy said nothing, but thrust
the paper back again into the flame.
Slowly the heat of the burner seemed
to bring out the complete drawing of
the fireplace.
We looked at it, even more mysti-
fed. What is it, do you suppose?" /
queried.
Il think" he replied slowly, that It
was drawn with sympathetic ink. The
heat of the burner brought it out into
sight
What about it?
Elaine had gone to bed that night
at Aunt Tabby's in the room which
her old nurse had fixed up especially
for her.
Downstairs, in the living room,
Rusty also was asleep, his nose be-
tween his paws.
The living room was in keeping
with everything at Aunt Tabby's,
plain, neat, homelike. On one side
was large fireplace that gave to it
an air of hospitality.
Suddenly Rusty woke up, his ears
pointed at this fireplace. He stood a
moment listening, then, with bark
of alarm he sped swiftly from the
living room up the stairs at bound
until he came to Elaine's room.
Elaine felt his cold nose at her
hand and stirred, then awoke.
What is it, Rusty?" she asked,
mindful Of the former days when
Rusty gave warning of the Clutching
Hand and his emissaries.
Rusty wagged his tail. Something
was wrong.
Elaine followed him down to the liv-
ing room. She went over and lighted
the electric lamp on the table, then
turned to Rusty.
well, Rusty?" she repeated, almost
as III he was human.
She had no need to repeat the ques-
ton. Rusty was looking straight at
the fireplace.
Elaine listened. Sure enough, she
heard strange noises. Was that Aunt
Tabby's Haunt" Whatever 1t was,
it sounded as if it came up from the
very depths of the earth.
She continued to listen in wonder,
then ran to Aunt Tabby's bedroom
door, on the first floor, and knocked.
Aunt Tabby woke up and shook
Joshua.
aunt Tabby! Aunt Tabby!" called
Elaine.
''Yes, my DEAR" answered the old
nurse, now fully awake and straight
ening her cap. "Joshua!"
Together the old couple came out
into the living room, still in their
nightclothes, Joshua yawning sleep
lily.
Around and around the room they
walked, still trying to locate the
strange sounds.