ted every
inch of the way!"

"That's the way with me," returned Cynthia. "I'm not quick about going
into things, but once I'm _in_, you can't get me out! And nothing I ever
knew of has made me feel as this house has. Now I'm going to light the
candles in the locked-up room."

"That's the one thing _I_ can't understand!" protested Joyce, as they
climbed the tiny stairs once more. "You seem perfectly crazy about that
room, and it makes me so--so _depressed_ that I hate to go near it! I
like the library and the picture of the Lovely Lady best."

[Illustration: There was nothing to do but sit and enjoy the spectacle]

Cynthia did not reply to this but lit the candles and gave a last look
about. Then they returned to the drawing-room. As there was nothing
further to do but sit and enjoy the spectacle, the two girls cuddled
down on a roomy old couch or sofa, and watched with all the fascination
that one watches the soft illumination of a Christmas-tree. Sometimes
they talked in low voices, commenting on the scene, then they would be
silent for a long period, simply drinking it in and trying to photograph
it forever on their memories. Joyce frankly and openly enjoyed it all,
but Cynthia seemed nervous and restless. She began at length to wriggle
about, got up twice and walked around restlessly, and looked at her
watch again and again.

"I wonder how long these candles will last?" questioned Joyce, glancing
at her own timepiece. "They aren't a third gone yet. Oh, I could sit
here and look at this for hours! It's all so different from anything
we've ever seen."

"_What's that!_" exclaimed Cynthia, suddenly and Joyce straightened up
to listen more intently.

"I don't hear anything. What _is_ the matter with you to-day, Cynthia
Sprague?"

"I don't know. I'm nervous, I guess!"

"There-- I _did_ hear something!" It was Joyce who spoke. "The queerest
_click_! Good gracious, Cynthia! Just suppose somebody should take it
into his head to get in here to-day! Of _all_ times! And find this going
on!" But Cynthia was not listening to Joyce. She was straining her ears
in another direction.

"There it is again! Somebody is at that front door!" cried Joyce. "I
believe they must have seen these lights through some chink in the
boarding and are breaking in to find out what's the matter! Perhaps they
think--"

_Cr-r-r-rack!_-- Something gave with a long, resounding noise, and the
two girls clasped each other in an agony of terror.