The Madison journal., 1920-03-20

000Nc1cOoSSSSSGSg,S
! from my desk, We can permit our
nephew to depart"
My great-aunt left the room 10 do
his mission. The minute she was
safely out Of hearing old Rufus whole
MANNER underwent startling change.
into his deep-Set gray eyes came Il
look of terror. His face became aShen.
and the withereI hand with which he
clutched my arm was trembling vio-
lently.
Listen. boy" he hisSed. leaning for
ward that he might speak into my ear
ana looking about appreheuSiyely aS If
he feared 10 be overheard. Listen
there's something wrong here"
Ny first thought was that he had
been suddenly stricken with seniIa
dementia, but recalling his perfectly
rational conduct throughout the rest
OF the evening. | dismissed the theory
as absolutely untenable. His fear.
whatever caused it, certainly seemed
very real.
Something wrong?" | repeated.
wonderingly. "What do you mean?
What is it,"
He clutched my arm in a still tight
er grasp, and his voice. suppressed to
Il terrified whisper, became more in
siStent.
Il don't know" he breathed. Il wish
| did He glanced tImorouSly. about
and went on. There's something
wrong. | sense it. l feel it. can
not find out what it is. All kinds of
queer things happen. | am always
hearing voices-whiSperS, whispers.
whispers. That is why we are going
away. My wife thinks it is on ac-
count of my health. | don't want her
to know. Please, please. Spalding.
find out what il is before we return.
| have no son. There is no one else
but you to do it Solve the mystery
for me. Find out about the whispers.
Promise me you will. SSh-not a
word To her! Not n word"
He withdrew his hold on my arm
and laid his finger on his lips rs he
heard his wife returning. With Wis
ible effort he Strengthened up. and
when she entered the room he appar-
emily had entirely recovered his self
possession and was his natural self
again. dignified, world-weary old
man.
Il can't find your keys. Rufus" said
my great-aunt, you had better get
them yourself"
The minute he left the room she
fastened 10 my side and she. too. be-
gan to whisper mysterious warnings.
exhibiting terror hardly less than
her aged husbands.
This is house of mystery" she
announced. I'm always hearing
strange sounds here. He doesn't
know"-with a nod in the direction Old
Rufus had gone, land | do not want
him to. That is the reason | am tax
ing him away. Solve the mystery of
it before we return. I'll pay you. I'll
make it well worth your while"
Her husbands shuffiing in the pass
age warned her of his return, and she
quickly dropped my arm. As he en-
tered she was telling me in quite nor
NAL tones to be sure to remember her
to my mother the next time 1 wrote.
Old Rufus handed me the keys, ex-
planning which was which.
And remember" said my great
uncle, as he escorted me to the door.
you are not to come until Sunday
at ten, after we have gone.
And remember the combination of the
safe-Rememberw
The insistent way in which he re-
peated the word conveyed to me force
fully that what he most wanted me
to remember was the strange warning
he had given me, and as / clasped his
hand in parting 1 tried by the firm
ness Of my grip to let him know that
[ understood.
Remember" repeated my aunt, too.
as she stood there in the door little
behind him, at the same time giving
me significant look.
Yet, puzzling as had been the con-
luct of both of them, my memories
hat night were not of their warning
nor of the combination of the safe
nor of the hour at which / was to
arrive. They were of the most beau
iful eyes l ever had seen and of the
terror written in them.