Of course , the other lads made great fun of the whole thing , and plagued Dr. Alec 's students half out of their lives . But they kept on persistently , and one day something happened which made the other fellows behave themselves for ever after . It was a holiday , and Rose up in her room thought she heard the voices of her cousins , so she ran down to welcome them , but found no one there . `` Never mind , they will be here soon , and then we 'll have a frolic , '' she said to herself , and thinking she had been mistaken she went into the study to wait . She was lounging over the table looking at a map when an odd noise caught her ear . A gentle tapping somewhere , and following the sound it seemed to come from the inside of the long case in which the skeleton lived when not professionally engaged . This case stood upright in a niche between two book-cases at the back of the room , a darkish corner , where Brother Bones , as the boys would call him , was out of the way . As Rose stood looking in that direction , and wondering if a rat had got shut in , the door of the case swung slowly open , and with a great start she saw a bony arm lifted , and a bony finger beckon to her . For a minute she was frightened , and ran to the study door with a fluttering heart , but just as she touched the handle a queer , stifled sort of giggle made her stop short and turn red with anger . She paused an instant to collect herself , and then went softly toward the bony beckoner . A nearer look revealed black threads tied to the arm and fingers , the ends of threads disappearing through holes bored in the back of the case . Peeping into the dark recess , she also caught sight of the tip of an elbow covered with a rough gray cloth which she knew very well . Quick as a flash she understood the joke , her fear vanished , and with a wicked smile , she whipped out her scissors , cut the threads , and the bony arm dropped with a rattle . Before she could say , `` Come out , Charlie , and let my skeleton alone , '' a sudden irruption of boys , all in a high state of tickle , proclaimed to the hidden rogue that his joke was a failure . `` I told him not to do it , because it might give you a start , '' explained Archie , emerging from the closet . `` I had a smelling bottle all ready if she fainted away , '' added Steve , popping up from behind the great chair . `` It 's too bad of you not to squawk and run ; we depended on it , it 's such fun to howl after you , '' said Will and Geordie , rolling out from under the sofa in a promiscuous heap . `` You are getting altogether too strong-minded , Rose ; most girls would have been in a jolly twitter to see this old fellow waggling his finger at them , '' complained Charlie , squeezing out from his tight quarters , dusty and disgusted . `` I 'm used to your pranks now , so I 'm always on the watch and prepared . But I wo n't have Brother Bones made fun of .
I know uncle would n't like it , so please do n't , '' began XXXXX just as Dr. Alec came in , and , seeing the state of the case at a glance , he said quietly , `` Hear how I got that skeleton , and then I 'm sure you will treat it with respect . ''
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