This is Paul Harvey...

Good morning Americans, this is Paul Harvey. Stand by for the news!

The Muehlhausens arrived back in Buck Creek last evening to face the evidence of suspicious happenings while they’d been gone.

It’s always a bit of a concern when they’re in one place or the other…(pause)…since they end up wondering what’s REALLY going on at the other house. This time they were greeted by tell-tale signs of activity as well as totally unexplainable phenomena.

Fritz donned his Max-the-detective outfit complete with the stiff vertical collar and black coat, and started snooping around (all hunched-shouldered, like Max) with a magnifying glass held to his protuberant nose.

As an editorial comment, I want to say to you that if you believe the preceding description of Fritz, who is actually the straightforward get-what-you-see-type guy, you’re just plain gullible and perhaps in need of professional counsel – or maybe a masseuse. I suggest you take your pick and get some help.

Page 2: And now for more of the story.

Clues continued to pile up.

Clue #1: A big empty box sat on the back porch. Clue #2: The house seemed cooler than usual for a summer evening. Clue #3: There was water in the basement, enough to soak a throw rug quite thoroughly, something that never-ever happens. Clue #4: The humidifier in the basement was not running. Clue #5: An upstairs window was wide-wide open – like Jaws personified.

In true fashion, Max made quick work of his investigation. It seems that after living for thirty years in this brick-oven-of-a-house, the Muehlhausens HAD CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING INSTALLED THIS PAST WEEK!

Yes, that’s right. Central air. Otherwise known as….(pause)….AC.

Page 3: And now for the rest of the story.

As for the water in the basement, its cause is still a mystery. It must have come in if and when the technicians (their son and one other professional) left the basement hatch door open before a rainstorm. That’s their best guess. The humidifier probably got unplugged during installation. And who knows about the upstairs window! Gremlins, perhaps? Ask your counselor or masseuse if you’d like another opinion.

And that, my friends, is the end of the story. This is Paul Harvey. Good day!