The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-05-09

George Avery, the truest and best of my
early friends.
forthwith introduced him to Ned. who
gazed at him with the profoundcst aston
ishment, and seemed to still cling to the
idea that he was in the presence Of Short
Steve. But when the shopkeeper address.
cd my friend as Mr.. Avery, and when he
asked him if he would have the purchase:
sent to his house, even Ned's incredulity
gave way, and we three emerged from the
store together.
Avery insisted on our dining with him
Ind we consented.
Over prime bottle of cabinet sherry
related the story Of our suspicious where
upon George, laughing heartily, vowed that
he would let his beard grow to the length
|of st. Peters, in the pictorial Bible, to
prevent others making the same bad mis-
take. P.7+
Ned Halsey was disgusted with our fail
ure to discover the perpetrators of the rob-
berries, and resolved to start for New York
the next morning.
l had intended to accompany him, but
George would not hear to it, and, at his
earnest request, and his wife's Ia pleasant
and affable little woman), l consented to
remain their guest for few days.
My friends place of residence was sitll-
ated in the suburbs of the town. 1t was a
fine site, and the surroundings were rather
romantic than otherwise.
/ arose earlier than the sun one morn
ing lit is not my usual custom to do sol
and took walk in the brisk, bracing Oc-
tober air.
! A pretty looking white cottage not far
off had attracted my attention, and to-
wards it l wcnded my way. fancied it
to be the abode of some newly made vic
tins to the unerring darts of Cupid-that
chubby god to whom unreasonable artists
give an impossibly long bow and impossi-
bly, fat legs. Ttt
Judge my surprise when found it was
entirely deserted. The gate was unhing-
ed, the tall withered grass was uncut in
Hymen had built their fireside altar there.
The house was well built, the location was
certainly desirable, and was at loss to
discover cause for its desertion. So
when / returned broached the subject to
my hostess.
She assumed grave, mysterious air,
and in low, confidential tone, such as on
ly women possess, she informed me that
the house was haunted.
| smiled rather incredulously. ~.
80, knew you wouldn't believe it"
she continued, and don't know as do
myself; but there is certainly something
very strange about it. We own the place,
and we have not been able to get any,
body to live there for more than month.
First we rented it to young married cou-
pie $50 my suspicious concerning it were
not altogether unfounded), but they heard
night after night strange and unearthly
noises that could be traced to no human
agency, and so they came to the conclu-
sion that it was best to seek home in
some less awe-inspiring place. Next an
honest carpenter with small family and
no superstition took it, but in less than a
week they declared that all the ghosts of
Hades haunted the place, and so it became
again vacant.
Subsequent tenants only confirmed the
previous reports. The queerest part of all
| is that Gcvr 70 epont Sht ehore, and
though he won't admit his belief in ghosts
he acknowledges that he heard some un-
accountable noises. Mrs. Avery told me
all this in such a plain, matter-of-fact way
that my curiosity was really aroused.
| Her husband came in shortly after, and
! over the comfortable breakfast we discuss
ed the matter more thoroughly.
! l suggested that George and l spend a
night at the haunted house and endcavor
to sift the spirits. .F.
| He yielded ready assent, and so we re-
paired thither before sunset, in order that
the ghosts and goblins might not get the
start OF us. =,
| 1t was clear and beautiful moonlight
evening. We concluded to take our posi-
ton on the second floor and to keep close
watch, one at the east and the other at the
west window. We were in separate rooms,
but the door between us was open and We
could chat with each other. With.a thou
sand pleasant "reminiscences of our boyish
DAYS it was not difficult for us to keep wide
awake Not a sound had we heard up to
one o'clock. l suggested that our scepti-
cism prevented us hearing the noises, and
was rallying George on his belief in the
. stories concerning the house, when sud
denly the sound of footstep, as Of some
one approaching, reached my car. We
were both on the alert in a moment. From
my position l could see the figure of a
man, closely muffied, coming towards the
house. l beckoned George towards me,
! and we watched the intruder.
Lie moved with the greatest care, tread
ing on the thickly-tufted grass, so as to
leave no footprints. He finally reached
the house and opened. noiselessly, the win
dow directly beneath me. Having appar-
emily taken a close observation, he gave a
low, shrill whistle, and forthwith six other
men emerged from the grove and bent
their steps towards him. a@
All then entered the house from the VIM
dow, and we could hear them walking
around beneath us.
To tell the truth, George and myself
were somewhat frightened. t a
My mind was Immediately made up as
to the identity of the visitors; they were,
without doubt, the yeritable robber gang
that had thus far so successfully eluded our
pursuit But it seemed as though we had
/" caught several Tartars.n The idea OF
/" tackling" seven desperadoes was not al
together pleasant. Concluding that dis
cretion was the better part of valor, we lay
perfectly still and listened.
Through crack we saw the glimmering
of a ght. Then door opened and the
whole party went into the cellar.
Now was our time for action. Being
less clumsy and more accustomed to such
work than George, bade him remain
where he was until / took peep at the
4 seven men who were not in Buckram.
| Removing my boots, descended, by the
stairway, to the main floor. In my pocke,
l usually carry gimlet; it is as useful in
our business as a pair of scissors is to q
counter-iumper. With it l bored holt
through the floor, and through this gag
cd. A strange spectacle met my eyes.
, Seated around rough deal-table were
the seven rufians busily engaged in count
! ing and asserting money and other valua
lbles. l could hear the musical clink o
gold (it was before the days Of greenbaeks
and could see large quantities Of rich sill
yer plate. -.l
81 All the party were closely disguised
$ They appeared to be not on the best terms