The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1916-01-19

III unlocked it so we could enter
nuietly,' confessed Laidlaw. Come
now to the library, and think we can
Law Uncle Nicholas ghost. Have you
got gum
I'm tive drawer of my desk. Evident
p YOU consider the ghost a 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 zach other until they
met ia front of the smoldering fire.
Laidlaw leaned over and smothered
the embers with ashes.
where is the light switch?'' he whis-
pered.
Right here, almost INDEX wy hand"
Switch on :l.e f:..l. .:., . Isl: goa
A.d hara.Jour e,ffl ready"
This is pure melodrama," groaned
Baker. 'Hark! What was that?"
Laidlaw's hand gripped him into 81
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 skeptica A,st
knew that it was net the sound of
scurrvinS Eiice.
Ine sounds continued until they be-
came distinct footballs.
Ready warned Laidlaw, crouching
forward and facing the left end Of the
fireplace.
Bakers finger lowered ovs- tire re-.
ton.
There was a creak as of an opened
door and a gust of cedar perfuned air.
And there was the indefinable feeling
that they were not alone in the room.
There was another presence in the IL
brary.
'Now! breathed Laidlaw, and i'll
stantly the room was flooded with light
Bakers amazed eyes saw his friend
crouched forward, d revolver i'll eac:'
hand. The blue noses of :bese weap-
ons were covering two men, who stared
il absurd dismay while they reluctant
iy put up their hands at arms length
above their heads.
They were shifty eyed, evil faced
fellows, with 1.-the, slender forms ana.
small hands and feet.
They cursed bitterly as Baker search
ed them and deprived them of their
frIya loft cote
Of burglars tools.
The black eyed man rolled his eyes
fiercely 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.
'IIl just call up the nearest police
station-that will be New Lorimer-
and tell them to come over and get
this precious pair. guess it's the end
If 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 uncie.s ghost,
laughed Laidiaw, 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 narrow staircase winding
up they mounted the stairs until they
were directly behind Mr.. Nicholas
Danes portrait.
A sliding pane, revealed tire 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
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.
1t appeared that Beebe had an ac-
complete Ill 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
in the middle of the attic. This room
had served as hiding place for the
burglars, and it's 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 penitentiary.
Ned Baker has no trouble in keeping
servants, and Jim Laidlaw spends
much time under the hospitable roof.
The restored portrait of Uncle Mich
slas has been returned to it's place over
he mantel, and now the gray eyes do
not change color. Nor will they ever
again, for the secret stair has been
sealed up.