The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-08-25
A California Ghost Story.

MOUNTAIN Wv Lg - 0A<
lowered in vines and fruit trees. The
proprietor's name was William A. He
was a carpenter by trade. Having &C
quired q snail fortune by mining, and
being q bachelor, he thought that by build
ing a cottage he would soon find q young
lady who would consent to be his wife,
and share his home and fortune.
But, alas, like many human hopes, he
was doomed to disappointment. After
finishing his building, and spending the
rest Of his little fortune in furnishing the
apartments, ne found himself without 8
dollar, and be was compelled to let his
abode to a rich Colonel, who, together
with his wife and daughter, was visiting
at that time in the town of c. for the
purpose of recruiting his health.
I am obliged to give a short description
of the cottage, because 1t IS necessary TO
the sequel of this story. On entering the
cottage the visitor is struck with the ex.
quisite taste with which the carpenter
had fitted up the interior. a passage ran
the entire length of the cottage, dividing
ii into two compartments, the whole pas
sage paneled and painted in imitation of
oak and laurel. At the farthest end of
the passage was an oval window of
stained glass, about five feet from the
floor. The cottage contained q parlor,
kitchen and dining room, besides two bed
rooms, . pantry and wash-room. The
Only entrance was through the front door.
TIE Colonel, together with his family
anu servant girl, were the only inhabit-
ants OF the cottage and nothing seemed
10 mar the Quietness of the family. Regu-
larry, night after night, they went to bed
about nIne O'clock.
They hsd occupied tie cottage about
four weeks, when, at about one o'clock at
night, the Colonel thought he heard allow
creasiag noise in the passage. Thinking
it might be robbers, the Colonel softly
orened the bedroom door. lie was a
fearless man, believing in neither ghosts
nor h~0bgoblins, and for other enemies he
haG q revolver IN his hand.
Hce4ing II the arkne of the passage,
he saw, BY the faint light through the
window, 3 black shadow seemingly dissp-
par through tae Wall. The same creah-
ing vas hesrd, then everything was
quiet
The next morning the Colonel examined
every NOOK aid corner of the cottage, bur
discovered 10 secret outlet. He looked
s. anu tried 81 the ~fastenings of the doors
sud windows, but all were rs secure IS
bolts and bars could make them.
The next night the inmates Of the cot
tage We're awakened by the screams of the
servant girl.
On entering the passage the Colonel
found her lying Upon the floor IN convul
siOns- When becoming quiet the girl
sta.ed that, as o 0 IS she had nut things
all right n the kitchen, she haI sat down
10 read a newspaper. After reading q
While she felt very sleepy, so she lighted
2 candle, extinguished the lamp, and
crossed the passage 10 her bedroom.
she put her hand on the dooThandle,
but the door vas locked.
Nus wishing 10 disturb the family, she
was about turning back to the kitchen,
When the light was blown cut and the
candle dashed from her hand. With q
scream she tel 10 the floor and lost al.
Consciousness.
Tee Colonel found the key CT her hes
room on the floor Of the passage. Telling
the girl rot TO say anything 10 her neigh
bor5 about the affair, ct least not until The
=. steTy WIS cleared up, he Sent his
daughter 10 sleep with the servant girl.
me rest Of that night passed without
any occurrence.
On tie following morning the Colonel
Went to the cabin of the carpenter and
told him abJut the mysterious noise and
the fright Of The servant girl. The car
penter said that be never slept IN the cot
tsge, a1d therefore h did not know any
thing about It.
The COlonSl returned home, and TO
quiet the fears OF the family, he toIG
them that he had found ont the cause Of
the IOiee-it was rats.
Several nights passed and nothing was
seen nor heard, but on the fifth night,
near twelve o'clock, the same creakirg
noise was repeated.
The Colonel took his revolver in hand
and approached his bedroom door, against
which he put his ear. He distinctly heard
low shUfiiiDg sound, as if a person was
moving towards the door He stepped
back & few PAGES and leveled his revolver
az the door, ready to fire.
ne heard q key turned in the lock, and
soon the 0Oor opened, and On the threshold
stood the figure Of a man.
The Colonel took careful elm and fired.
With a gT0an the figure fell backward
ON the floor of the passage.
The screams or his wife and girls were
fearful, cut the Colonel with a loud voice
stopped their outcry.
Procuring = light the Colonel went out
INTO tie passage, and, on removing a
mask from the face of the PROSTATE man,
he recognized, TO his astonishment, the
features Of the carpenter, William A,
his landlord.
On examination it was found that vii
liam was still alive. The bullet had pen
etrated the arm, and, as was afterwards
asceTtalned, breaking only one Of the
smaller bones
As 500 as William was able to sneak.
he confessed TO the Colonel how he had
entered the hOuse. lie said that the wash
80 nd m the E1foh.a hr--
cealed hinges, ard as the back CT the
washstand was part OF the actual outside
OF the house, IL o but a slight push
and II would move from its position, leav-
ing an aperture large enough for a man
7" crawl through Into the kitchen.
tic M maae the concealed door mere
" tor the purpose Of trying if he could
construct 4 secret me6us OF egress from
tEe horse. As ne knew that the Colonel
had a large sum IF money in his ted
room be hsd made up his mind to rob
nm Twice ne had entered the house.
Dut each time ne was scared away. first
by the Colonel whom ne SAW as ne open
Ell the bed room door, and the second
tire By the girl
AID now, after Lis third attenpt he re-
ceiyed a just punishment, and he begged
on his knees Tor mercy.
Inc Colonel told the carpenter that IS
ne was already punished enough he would
not prosecute him for burglary, and the
carpenter, stil upon his knees, thanked
hIm tor hls leniency, and promised that
as long as d lived he would never make
another attempt at burglary.
Inc ext cay, the Colonel and HIS fam
ny returned 70 San Francisco G0lden
Era.
A VobIa SpouGnr-