“Dot’s funny,” said Glitch. “Maybe it’s hiding someveres in der room.”
We searched the room, without result.
“You’ve been seeing things,” said Newberry.
“What did the animal look like?” I asked.
“Vite, und big as a dog. It kommt der door in, so, und galloped across der floor, so, und yumped in der casket chust like dot. Ach! It vos a fierce-looking beast.”
Glitch was very much in earnest and gesticulated rapidly as he described the appearance and movements of the feline. Perhaps I should have felt inclined to laugh, had it not been for my own experience that night. I noticed, too, that Newberry’s expression was anything but jocular.
It was now nearly four o’clock, time for Newberry to watch, but Glitch protested that he could not sleep another wink, so the three of us drew chairs up close to the fire. On each side of the fireplace was a large window. The shades were completely drawn and the windows were draped with heavy lace curtains. Happening to look up at the window to the left, I noticed something of a mouse-gray color hanging near the top of one of the curtains. As I looked, I fancied I saw a slight movement as of a wing being stretched a bit and then folded, and the thing took on the appearance of a large vampire bat, hanging upside down.
I called the attention of my companions to our singular visitor, and both saw it as plainly as I.
“How do you suppose he got in?” asked Newberry.
“Funny ve didn’t see him before,” said Glitch.