Kenelm--er--Mr. Parker
here, saw a light a spell ago and, bein' as this house is supposed to be
empty, he--"
"Wait a minute!" Miss Howes interrupted. "Whose house is this?"
"Why--why, it ain't anybody's house, ma'am. That is, nobody lives here."
"But somebody used to live here, it's likely. What was his name?"
"His name? Well, old Laban Eldredge used to live here. The house belongs
to Captain Abner Cahoon's heirs, I believe, and--"
Again Thankful interrupted.
"I knew it!" she cried, excitedly. "I wondered if it mightn't be so
and when I see that picture of Uncle Abner I was sure. All right,
Mr. Whoever-you-are, then I'm here because I own the house. My name's
Barnes, Thankful Barnes of South Middleboro, and I'm Abner Cahoon's
heir. Emily, this--this rattle-trap you and I broke into is the
'property' we've talked so much about."
CHAPTER III
Emily said--well, the first thing she said was, "Oh, Aunt Thankful!"
Then she added that she couldn't believe it.
"It's so," declared Mrs. Barnes, "whether we believe it or not. When you
come to think it over there's nothin' so wonderful about it, after all.
I had a sneakin' suspicion when I was sittin' here by you, after you'd
gone to sleep. What I saw afterwards made me almost sure. I--Hum! I
guess likely that'll keep till we get to the hotel, if we ever do get
there. Perhaps Mr.--Mr.--"
"Bangs is my name, ma'am," said the big man with the lantern. "Obed
Bangs."
"Thank you, Mr.
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