The Room with the Tassels

cting

scussion was going on

. "No spooks ever killed off those tw

I should say they found 'em, good and plenty! You know's well's I do, this house has always been ha'nted, ever since that woman ki

his head. "How could a spook kill two folks at

once? Nobody was around but their own crowd, and that l

e. That smell of bitter almonds is been in the air a heap, and I ain't had none for flavourin'

n a-dustin' round in that there ha'nted room, I've smelled it-not strong, you know, b

ed old Thorpe. "'Tain't spooks,

then?" deman

t that's neither here nor there. Murder's been done, but I'll be

Stebbins, "but you're 'way off, Thorpe, a surmisin' murder

n of them hifalutin folks, but if you'd heard 'em talkin' 's much as I have, you'd know

"I've heard 'em say things that hadn't no meanin' w

looked important, "I'd jest say ke

his wife. "Well, she's a handful, all right, but

all,-an' then she'd go right on. Oh, I kin read character," and Thorpe plu

dvise you to keep your trap shut about Miss-that lady you referred to. This is my

sts, too. Why, I happen to know that the spooks warned that little Reid girl she'd die at four o'clo

and two of 'em did," added Stebbins. "How could an

idn't. But," and Thorpe wagged his

discussed in the hall by the o

e shut in the drawing room endeavouring to wrest fr

d in the hall, were talking ear

so few to mourn for poor little Vernie. That child h

n Milly, "and indeed, Norma, I feel as so

that way. But, she was so alone in the world. M

man this fall, and brought up properly. Mr. Bruce was no sort of a guardian for the child-I mean he was

eant to have Vernie properly chaperoned and a

," and Norma

se, and there is no explanation of those two mysterious deaths, except supernormal forces. It is no use to shirk the supposition of murder, indeed we must consider it ve

l play was impossible. But, moreover, there was no one here present but our own party.

f murder, it is in the abstract, and because it is right that we should con

said Landon, indignantly. "But wha

ged to preserve an impersonal attitude, or I can't think at all! The oth

nse. But since you raise this absurd theory, let's settle it once and for all.

ce was fond of life and he ado

ould Vernie have killed

on't say such things, Eve.

o were the width of this hall apart.

anyway?" said Norma. "Oh, w

theories to prove their absurdity. Now, as I say, I am a convert to spiritualism in all its form and phases. How can one help being afte

but Eve's wonderful eyes glow

ou really stay here a while? Will you, Milly? I can't stay unl

ly moaned. "I need

. It gives me the horrors to think of it. And if you really expect spiritual commun

he conditions here are ideal for investigation

Landons prefer to return to New York? I don't doubt you know the righ

htfully, and then Stebb

h yet?" he asked; "

le bit. I wish you'd tell us of anything you know of your own experience, not hearsa

at ha'nte

tell us anything about that haunted room tha

ns, doggedly. "I've slept there and I'

e are really such

now

be responsible for the deat

e don't know nothing, of any sort. Wayburn, now, he's a fair doctor, but, good land! what can they learn fr

elaboration of phrases could state that more succinctly. They wer

hy did the spirits want to kill Vernie? A lovely, innocent child

tebbins spoke heavily, as if burdened with fear. "Now I lea

d the Professor. "I know it was not

leery of that bitter almond flavourin' and she don't

ked thoughtful. "But it is an inexplic

s. "And that's what it is due to. Why, that smell's been said

Crawford?" asked Eve, suddenly. "You

of little things. But one thing is 'cause he makes fun of the spooks here. He don't take no stock in such things

oes he think?" as

rder he says it was, and that he

d Landon, abruptly, an

no such things. I don't deny I've been some scared up hearin' you ladies and gentlemen talk about such matters. But I d

restin' but not convincin'. My man, if there is no possible way that murder could have been done,-

ir, but it don't make no di

rpe, my man, have you never seen any circumstance or occurren

, hard-working people, and he knew he could trust us not to tattle or tell no tales of your goin's on. He says, 'Thorpe,' says he, 'they're a queer lot wha

the villagers gossip about this here house, if they get a chance. So, with the Thorpes at the head of things and a couple of good close-mouthed girls for helpers, I 'llowed you'd not be troubled. And you ain't been,-

ied Eve, "wha

lly is, he's set on havin' an inquest,-says he's got to. Well, I don't know

s a strange condition of things," Crawford began, addressing himself to Wynne Land

hearers thought over the grave

dazedly. "What sort of po

ydrochlorate. This is so deadly that a half grain will kill a man instantly, or in a few seconds. But my colleague and I have agreed that since it is impossible for

e take it?"

Professor. "Such a drug is not avai

estions are for the future. We are just learning the facts. The results of our tests

ther and wiser minds do. I wish to remind you, therefore, that we who believe these deaths were caused by supernatural agency, believe also

Milly, "that is

ed, logic must prove that if a phantasm can take away a human life it can

at present. I am giving you my report as a medical man, not as a member of the police force. Those other matters will be c

n the positive manner he affected. "Leastwise, one of 'em kil

tify, my man," and Crawford glowered

sides," volunteered Stebbins,

tween these two. "You, 'Lijah Stebbins, keep quiet," he admonished, "

that?" Stebbins' ey

. But you'd better lie low. You might be un

chalky white, and whimpered a little, as he said,

matically, and then the two doctors start

octor Wayburn, trying to gain ent

orth, slowly, and, with a white

with it?" asked La

great nervousness. "I think I f

the white face was pallid and the scarle

their attention, and speaking from the do

s no bod

ral at once, and c

nd Professor Hardwick pushed his way past

d, reappearing, "Ve

u mean? Why, we've all been right here

lf," and Hardwi

, still form that had been reverently laid on that bed. Everybody entered and peered aro

y had utterl