Page:The traitor; a story of the fall of the invisible empire (IA traitorstoryoffa00dixo).pdf/34

 down on the old mahogany davenport under the stairs behind which he knew the secret door opened. He reached back carelessly, played with the spring and felt it yield.

Aunt Julie Ann's huge form waddled after him.

"Fore I pass de time er day I mus' tell ye Marse John, what de Jedge say. He give 'structions ter all de folks dat ef any Graham put his foot ter dat do' ter tell 'im he don't low you inside dis yard! I tell ye, so's I kin tell him I tell ye—Cose, I can't help it dat you brush right pass me an' come in, can I, honey?"

"Of course not, Aunt Julie Ann."

Her big figure shook with suppressed laughter. "De very idee er me keepin' Mammy's baby outen dis house when I carry him across dis hall in my arms de day he wuz born! An how's all de folks, Marse John?"

"About as usual, thank you, Aunt Julie Ann. How are you?"

"Poorly, thank God, poorly."

"Why, what's the matter?"

She glanced furtively up into the dim moonlit gallery of the observatory and whispered:

"Dey wuz terrible times here las' night!"

"What happened?"

"Ghosts!"

"What, again?" John laughed.