increasing
curiosity.

"Because its effect upon them has been so disastrous. They were women of
intelligence previous to this, one of them quite markedly so, but from
that day they have given evidence of mental weakness which can only be
attributed to their continual brooding over this mysterious topic. The
house, whose peculiarities we are now discussing, was once their
family homestead, and they shrink from the reproach of its unfortunate
reputation. What! you don't think so?" he impetuously asked, moved,
perhaps, by my suggestive silence. "You are suspicious of these two poor
old women? What reason have you for that, Miss Saunders? What motive
could they have for depreciating the value of what was once their own
property?"

So he knew nothing of the lost bonds! Mrs. Packard had made no mistake
when she assured me of the secrecy with which they had endured their
misfortune. It gave me great relief; I could work more safely with this
secret unshared. But the situation called for dissimulation. It was with
anything but real openness that I declared:

"You can not calculate the impulses of an affected mind. Jealousy of the
past may influence these unfortunate women. They possibly hate to see
strangers in the rooms made sacred by old associations."

"That is possible, but how could they, shut up in a house, separated
from yours by a distance of several feet, be held accountable for the
phenomena observed in 393? There are no means of communication between
the two buildings; even the doors, which once faced each other across
the dividing alley, have been closed up. Interference from them is
impossible."

"No more impossible than from any other outside source. Is it a fact
that the doors and windows of this strangely haunted house were always
found securely locked after each occurrence of the phenomena you have
mentioned?"

"So I have been told by every tenant I have questioned, and I was
careful to question them, I assure you."

"That settles the matter in my mind," I asserted. "These women know of
some means of entrance that has escaped general discovery. Cunning is a
common attribute of the unsettled brain."

"And they are very cunning. Miss Saunders, you have put a totally new
idea into my head. I do not place much stress upon the motive you have
attributed to them, nor do I see how the appearances noted could have
been produced by these two antiquated women; but the interest they have
displayed in the effec