The sexton of St. Anne's swore the bell had rung thirteen times.

Cryer initially suspected a prank.

The bell rope had been removed years earlier and the tower door was locked.

On the third night Cryer waited inside.

At midnight the bell began.

Once.

Twice.

It rang thirteen times.

Cryer ran to the bell chamber. The bell was moving.

No one was there.

Later examination found a length of old rope beneath the floorboards, frayed and coated in dust.

It had not been attached to the bell.

Cryer kept a piece of it.

For months afterwards, it smelled faintly of smoke.