CHAPTER XI
THE STRANGE VOICE
"This is very kind of you, I'm sure, Mr. Raymond," said Mr. Brown. "I didn't know there was any place in town I hadn't thought of. The church will hardly do, and the Opera House costs too much to hire for a simple little play. The town meeting hall is too small, and I was thinking we'd have to get a tent, perhaps.
"No, you won't have to do that," said the merchant. "You know there's a big loft over my store, don't you?"
"Yes, but I thought you had that piled full of things," said Mr. Brown.
"Well, it was, but it's partly cleaned out now," was the answer. "I'm going to clean out the rest, and you can have that place for your show, and welcome. It won't cost you a penny for rent."
"Oh! Oh!" Bunny Brown and his sister Sue fairly squealed in delight.
"I'm glad you like it," said Mr. Raymond with a smile. "I was up in my attic, as I call it, the other day, and after I got to thinking about cleaning it out I thought of you children and your show. I heard some one say that Mr. Brown couldn't get just the place that would suit, so began to measure around, and I think mine will do."
"I'm sure it will," said Mrs. Brown.
"But is there a stage and are there seats for the audience?" asked Mart, who was the first to think of these things.