“Did you see anyone leave this room, Joshua?” he demanded.
“No, suh.” The butler’s eyes were rolling about to an alarming extent, showing the whites against his black face, which had grown gray with fright. “’Twarn’t no one ter see—it must ter been a harnt.”
“Nonsense,” exclaimed Douglas heatedly. The telephone bell was keeping up a dull clicking as the sleepy central tried to find out what was wanted, and he leaned over and replaced the receiver on the hook as he picked up the instrument. “No ghost put out your hall light, and no ghost wears clothes. I caught the intruder’s gown, and if it hadn’t ripped away I’d have caught her.” As he spoke he opened his right hand and disclosed a torn piece of oriental silk.
[CHAPTER VIII]
KISMET
“GOOD morning, Uncle Dana.”
The tall, distinguished looking, gray-haired man standing in front of the mantel wheeled around with a visible start of surprise.
“Good Lord! Eleanor, I didn’t hear you enter the room. How silently you move, dear.”
Eleanor’s pretty mouth dimpled into a smile as she kissed her uncle warmly. “I’ll send you an ear-trumpet,” she declared, saucily. “Come and sit by me on this sofa. Did you get my note this morning?”