The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1867-11-28
EBENsBURG, PA, THURSDAY NOVEMBER %, 1867

tneFe Oy the Oell~cOr0, which was hanging
somewhat loose, than as if stirred by an
internal power.
| ''Bet what had moved the hands and
rung the bell? This was the startling
mystery. The room was rot large, con-
tanned no great amount of furniture, and
was easily searched / had just passed
| the light under the bed and around and
behind everything, when Carl appeared at
the door, pale, trembling, and covered
with cold, clammy perspiration.
g" is he alive 2 hesrather gasped than
said.
"'No,' ! replied, 'nor has there been
any life in him since his breath went out
'Merciful God 7 he calculated, ner-
vously grasping chair for support, what
rang the bell then 2
"'That is the mystery 1 am trying to
solve said l. sit is possible there may
be some person concealed here
II cautiously opened door of long,
deep closet as l spoke, in which hung the
clothes of the deceased, and went in and
examined it thoroughly. No other human
being was there, and nothing had been
disturbed. There was no other outlet to
the room except the door communicating
with the apartment in which we had been
watching, and the two windows looking
out upon lawn, and the sashes were
closed and curtains drawn, showing 10
signs of recent disturbance. ] then re-
examined the room, and particularly the
bed, without making any new discovery
"'This is all very strange!' = said /,
half musingIy, and looking inquiringly at
Carl-'very strange indeedi'
"'It must have been something super
natural, he replied, in a hollow whisper ;;
and moving over to the chest in the cor~
ner, he sank down upon it. AS he did so
the sharp click of the spring lock caused
him to spring up as if shot. For a mo-
ment or two he stood trembling, and then
said, with more nerve
81 believe / am cowardly fool to be
scared at everything! do not fear any
thing human, though,' he added, 'but this
unearthly business unmans me-
81 now re-examined the corpse to be
sure there were no signs of life in it, and
found not only death there but the begin
ming of decomposition. Perfectly sure of
this, we went into the other apartment
and sat down TO wait through the remain
der of the night and ponder the mystery.
Scarcely were we seated before we fancied
we heard dull, mnffled sounds in the beds
room, followed by something like a smothe
cred human groan. Carl's teeth now near
ly chartered with terror, and l confess l
never felt less courageous in my life.-
These strange noises only continued for a
short time, and gradually died away into
eilence, after which we were disturbed no
more.
SIN the course of time our friend was
buried, and some time after the funeral
we proceeded TO open his strong box, or
chest, according to his directions, Then
it was that our supernatural mystery had
a natural but horrible explanation.
Gin that chest was the black and decay
ing corpse of one whom we all knew in
life. The following is our conjecture:
''Cognizant of Adolph Hofer's money
and jewels, Of their place of deposit, and
of our mode Of watching the dead, he had,
on that eveDtful night, entered the dead
room through window at an early hour,
and concealed himself in the closet till
midnight, and then set about his work of
robbery. Some accidental noise having
alarmed US, as he could tell from our con-
versation, he had, either in his haste to
secrete himself, or Intentionally to frighten
US still more, rung the bell in the manner
stated, and then got into the chest, which
had powerful spring-lock. My friend
Carl, by accidentally sitting down on this,
had sealed his doom and his subsequent
groans and terrible efforts to burst from
his narrow prison were the strange noises
which had SO disturbed us the second time.
The mans death was fearful retribution,
and the discovery of his dead body spoiled
an otherwise wonderful ghost story"