. Ridiculous, of course, but a fact
with which Mrs. Packard has had to contend in"--he gave me a quick
glance--"in hiring servants."

It was now my turn to smile, but somehow I did not. A vision had risen
in my mind of that blank and staring face in the attic window next door,
and I felt--well, I don't know how I felt, but I did not smile.

Another short laugh escaped him.

"We have not been favored by any manifestations from the spiritual
world. This has proved a very matter-of-fact sort of home for us. I had
almost forgotten that it was burdened with such an uncanny reputation,
and I'm sure that Mrs. Packard would have shared my indifference if it
had not been for the domestic difficulty I have mentioned. It took us
two weeks to secure help of any kind."

"Indeed! and how long have you been in the house? I judge that you rent
it?"

"Yes, we rent it and we have been here two months. It was the only house
I could get in a locality convenient for me; besides, the old place
suits me. It would take more than an obsolete ghost or so to scare me
away from what I like."

"But Mrs. Packard? She may not be a superstitious woman, yet--"

"Don't be fanciful, Miss Saunders. You will have to look deeper than
that for the spell which has been cast over my wife. Olympia afraid of
creaks and groans? Olympia seeing sights? She's much too practical
by nature, Miss Saunders, to say nothing of the fact that she would
certainly have confided her trouble to me, had her imagination been
stirred in this way. Little things have invariably been discussed
between us. I repeat that this possibility should not give you a
moment's thought."

A burst of sweet singing came from the drawing-room.

"That's her voice," he cried. "Whatever her trouble may be she has
forgotten it for the moment. Excuse me if I join her. It is such
pleasure to have her at all like herself again."

I longed to detain him, longed to put some of the numberless questions
my awakened curiosity demanded, but his impatience was too marked and I
let him depart without another word.

But I was not satisfied. Inwardly I determined to see him again as soon
as possible and gain a more definite insight into the mysteries of his
home.

CHAPTER IV. LIGHTS--SOUNDS

I am by nature a thoroughly practical woman. If I had not been, the many
misfortunes of my life would have made me so. Yet, when the library door
closed behind the mayor and I found myself again alone i