They crept silently out of the further door, down the back stairs, out of the window, and fled with all their might down the road.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Miss Hatherly first walked majestically into the closed door and then fell over Robert’s “overflow bag,” which the Outlaws had forgotten in their panic.
******
Robert went to see his beloved the next day and to reassure her of his undying affection. She yawned several times in the course of his speech. She was beginning to find Robert’s devotion somewhat monotonous. She was not of a constant nature. Neither was Robert.
“I say,” she said interrupting him as he was telling her for the tenth time that he had thought of her every minute of the day, and dreamed of her every minute of the night, and that he’d made up a lot more poetry about her but had forgotten to bring it, “do come indoors. They’re having some sort of stunt in the drawing-room—Aunt and the High Thinkers, you know. I’m not quite sure what it is—something psychic, she said, but anyway it ought to be amusing.”
Rather reluctantly Robert followed her into the drawing-room where the Higher Thinkers were assembled. The Higher Thinkers looked coldly at Robert. He wasn’t much thought of in high-thinking circles.
There was an air of intense excitement in the room as Miss Hatherly rose to speak.
“I entered the haunted house,” she began in a low, quivering voice, “and at once I heard—VOICES!” Miss Simky clung in panic to Miss Sluker. “I proceeded up the stairs and I heard—FOOTSTEPS!” Miss Euphemia Barney gave a little scream. “I went on undaunted.” The Higher Thinkers gave a thrilled murmur of admiration. “And suddenly all was silent, but I felt a—PRESENCE! It led me—led me along a passage—I FELT it! It led me to a room——” Miss Simky screamed again. “And in the room I found THIS!”
With a dramatic gesture she brought out Robert’s “overflow bag.” “I have not yet investigated it. I wished to do so first in your presence.” (“How Noble!” murmured Mrs. Moote.) “I feel sure that this is what Colonel Henks has been trying to show me. I am convinced that this will throw light upon the mystery of his death—I am now going to open it.”
“If it’s human remains,” quavered Miss Simky, “I shall faint.”