The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-12-21

it in his coffinl He had either takel
the key from my pocket, or brought
another in his own; for at once he
proceeded to unlock the drawer and
take out the packet of money, after
which he passed out, aud mother and
I gare the alarm as soon as we were
able -.----t..
| The first idea of those self-possesse ed
enough to have any, was that skill
full robbery had been committed, and
that it might not be too la:e to dlscov-
er the tibet Lights were procured
and an immediate search begun. The
first object found was the skeptical
doctor, standing in the passage, shiv-
ering and spcechless. His eyes were
fixed, as if spell-bound,. on the door of
the chamber lately occupied by the
dead man.
'Whar's the matter. doctor 2 I
haste ned to ask.
1t was not till the question had
been several times repeated that an
answer was given.
HAS no one else seen it? he at
length commanded strength to utter.
Seen what?'
The ghost! the ghost!' he cried,
repeating the words of father and
mother Coote.
Being further questioned, the doc
tor made revelation that indeed was
passing strange. He had retired to
his room, but not to bed, at the time
of the alarm. Hurrying into the pass
age, he met a ghastly sheeted form,
whose progress he attempted to stay.
1t stopped, and slowly raised its hand
toward heaven, whence, i'll a solemn,
unearthly voice, came the words,
'Fouch him at Thy souls peril' The
apparition then vanished into the room
recently tenanted by the deceased
strange and the doctor had remain
ed m0tionless with fright, till found
as already mentioned.
The first thing was to search the
room in which the spectre had taken
refuge. The door not being locked,
we hurried i'll but noting was discov-
cred but the fact that no one was there,
and the impossibility of any persons
having left the chamber, save by the
entrance, which the doctor was posi-
tive no one had done. The only win
tened on the inside, and door COM
munica;img with the cler=yman's room,,
as that gentleman-whom he had
some difficulty in waking-pointed
out, was 5olted IN his side.
All Efforts to unravel the mystery
proved abortive Whatever of spirit
ual agency the affair involved two, very
material facts were patent: the dead
mans money was gone from the draw
er, and the key found in the lock had
been taken from Mr.. Coote's pocket.
Our little community began to be
demora ized Those who don't be-
lieve the house was haunted. thou ght
there were thieves IN 1t the upshot
being universal packing up prepara-
tory to Il general stampede
On the morning the first batch was
to leave, 1 very greatly astonished the
by limiting at the propriety
of search of the baggage of eve.y
guest for the missing noney-a course
l had reasons for, rs the reader will
see presently.
In my customary ramble that morn
ing had made two important discov
cries. Standingou 4 projecting rock,
with my back to the snn, and looking
across a glen from which dense fog
was rising, saw a gigantic human .
s cure, large as that described by Mr..
Coote. 1t stood facing, and seemed
looking intently at me. was too
nuc! amazed at first to note, as did
l moment after, that its glrb was the
perfect counterpart of my own. Rails
.ng my hand to secure my hat against
l sudden puff of wind. the motion
was repeated by the figure with gro
-esque exactness, as were several 9th
er gestures made by way of expert
nent. 1t was unquestionably my own
mage, reflected 10y the fog, and en-
arged end thrown forward as by
,oncave mirror.
So much for the Man of the Noun.
.ain.'
My next. discovery bore upon the
ghost question. Certain sounds ut the
oase of the rock caused me 10 stoop
Onward anu look il that direction.
'aw 4 man in the act of prying up a
stone. From beneath it he took a pa
,er packet, which he thrust into his
pocket, and then walked hurriedly
lway but the glimpse had caught
If his features filled me with even
greater astonishment than had the
Nan of the mountain. Suffice it to
ay, felt convinced that search fer
he missing money might not prove
n
When | proposed it, many grum- /
He'd at it as needless annoyance
nevertheless none felt at liberty to
bject. When everything had been s
verhauled to no purpose, I ventured s
0 incur st;ll further displeasure by {
lying my hand on the clergyinan's ]
rm, and saying: i
Il now propose personal search,
nd to begin with this gentleman "
'Fiel for shame'!' chorussed the Ia c
les. "a
This is really going little too far !
Npostulated the doctor. I
1T is an insult to my clothr said i
,e minister, looking more frighten- d
/ than indignant, however. 8
His cloth = interrupted a stranger i
ho had just arrived that's the only
erical thing about him. Pm detec. >,
We McClutchem, in quest of the big. =