New Britain herald., 1922-07-20
GO ON WITH THE STORY

Genera history of the family .,, the way the neighbors regard them Scottie grunted. I've come especiall, 10 warn you of rumor of some strange actions Of Hobart Drake's ir Wall Street today, He's home. the nishto"
 Yes and calm and more self-con.
 Atned' Miles exclaimed in surprise
 That's because his mind is made up returned Scotte. 'J'ness the rumor is unfounded-our friend Ho. bart is planning to retire or make hi; getaway He has started to wind UT hls business affairs. Overheard any. thing"
 Nothing"
 Briefly Miles told his colleague of the events which had occurred since his installation as the pseudo house servant
 Andrew is the only one who seems to be unaffected, but there is a forced and unnatural note in his boisterous cheerfulness. I don't know whether we're dealing with bunch of lunatics or but that they are the victims of some obscure form of villany that is unprecedented in the annals of the department. and I am on the point of developing nerves over the problem myself. I'll be glad when you tackle your job here.
 Miles watched until the bulky form had vanished Then he entered the kitchen door and fastened it behind him.
 boa etc tNI staircase when fickering glow from the front of the house made him pause with every sense alert
 Noiselessly he crept toward it and saw that it emanated from the draw ing room. AS he advanced the sput- ter of flames and hissing thud of a falling log came to his ears and then the dull clank of metal
 Carefully he drew aside fold of the heavy curtains which draped the doorway and peered in. There was no light save that from the tiny blaze burning itself out in the fireplace but . against it's glow he saw outlined huddled, shapeless figure in loose while he gazed a narrow tongue of flame leaped up, gistening on a heavy coil of slvery hair which hung to the floor. It was Miss Jerusha Drake.
 Holding his breath and moving silently inch by inch Miles slipped through the curtains and into the shadow behind a tall cabinet. from around the farther side of which he i: could gain more direct view of the crouching form. It was swaying back and forth and now a low, indis- tinguishabe mutter not unlike some weird incantation issued from her lips,
 The flame died and Miss Jerusha drew a deep breath.
 Gone The mutter resolved it. self into dull. monotonously intoned speech at last Ashes, every one. If only the first had never been con- ceived this horror would not have de- scended upon us. They are destroyed but their very fumes breathe poison"
 Her hands clutched at her throat as though she were indeed choking and for a moment the woman seemed on the verge of collapse. Then catching up a small object which had laid on the rug by her side she rose and turned. A tiny pinpoint of light shot out before her and Miles saw that the object she carried was an electric torch, it's eery gleanl distort ing her face with the wisps of gray hair falling about it, into the sem blance of the veriest witch.
 He shrank back fearful lest she dis ! cover his presence, but Miss Jerusha stared straight before her with the wild blank gaze of one who looks | upon the hideous visions of a mind distraught and slowly, groupingly she passed from the room.
 CHAPTER VII.
 A soft rain was falling when Miles | awakened the next morning and in | the clear, gray light the scene which | he had witnessed in the drawing | nAorn seemed vague and unreal That | creature with disheveled hair and i rrazed eyes could not have been the | dienified. self-contained Miss Drake, nor could that cryptic speech have | iesued from her lips,
 Fastening out into the hall he opened the door of the closet under the stairs. The mail bag was hang Ing in its accustomed place and the handy mans first task of the morn ing was to tatke 1t to the post office. There was no sign of life about the house and Miles soon had a kettle