The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1871-04-18


repeating the words of father aid
m0the. Cote.
Being further questioned, the doctor
made a revelation that was passing
strange. He had retired to his room,
but not to bed At the time of the
alarm, hurrying into the passage, he
met a CHASTITY, sheeted form, whose
progress he attempted to stay. 1t stop
ped,and slowly raised its hand towards
heaven, whence in solemn, unearthly
voice, came the words, "Touch him at
thy spnls peril lpTTThe apparition then
vanished into the room recently ten
anted by the deceased stranger; and
the doctor had remained motionless
with fright, Till found as alreadg men.
toned. ,",,' ,,..fl.,. .'i.'..t
The first thing was to search the
apartment in which the spectre had
taken refuge. The door not being
locked we hurried in; but nothing
was discovered 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 positive no one had done. The
only window of the apa rtment remain
ed fastened OH the inside, and door
communicating with the clergymah's
room, as that gentleman whom we had
some difficulty in waking-pointed out,
was bolted on his side. -..
All efforts to unravel the mystery
proved abortive. Whatever spiritual
agency the afflir involved two very
material facts were patent; the dead
mans money was gone from the draw
er, and the key found in the lock lad
been taken from Mr.. Coote's n3cket.
/ Our little community began to be
demoralized. Those who didn't believe
the house was haunted, thought there
were thieves in 1.-THE upshot being a
universal packing up preparatory TO a
general stampede.
On the morning the first batch was
to les.se, | very greatly astonished the
Company by limiting at the prppriely
of u search of the baggage of every
guest for the missing money--a course
i had reason for, as the reader will see
presently. a/ s8t ~-
In my customary ramble that morn
ing had mac G two important discoy-
cries. Standing ON projected rock,
with M Back to the sun and look ing
across glen from which dense fog
was rising, saw gigantic human
figure, quite as tall as that described
by Mr.. Coote. 1t stood facing, and
seemed looking intently at me. was
too much amazed at first to note, as |
did moment after, that its garb WAS
the exact counterpart OF my own.
Rairing my hand to secure my hat
against Il sudden puff Of wind, the ma
tion was repeated by the figure with
grotesque exactness, RS were several
other gestures | made by way of ex
pertinent. II was unquestionably my
own image, reflected by the fog, and
thrown forward as a concave mirror.
So.nuch fol the MAN of the Noun
tain" e -I.l.ia 10
My next, discovery bore upon the
ghost question. Certain sounds at the
base of the rock caused me to stoop
forward and look in that direction. |
saw a man in the act Of rrying up a
stone. From beneath it he took a pa.
per packet, which he thrust into bis
pocket, and thea walked hurridly
away but the glimpse l had. caught
of his features filled me with even great.
er astonishment than had the Man of
the Mountain. Suffice it 10 say, | felt
convinced that a search forthe missing
money might not prove fruitless.
When | proposed it, many grum.
bled at it rs needless annoyance.
Nevertheless none felt at liberty to OBJ.
jeet. When every thing had been
overhauled to no purpose, l ventur ID
to incur still further displeasure by
laying my hand on the clergyman's
arm, and saying:
81 now propose a personal search,
and 70 hegin with this gehtlemunl' .,
n''Fie! for shame" chorused the
ladies. a..l .'.h'.
"rhis is really going little too far, =
expostulated the doctor.
1T is an insult to my cloth !" said
the minister, looking more frightened
than Indignant, however. '-' ---.
"llis cloth p interrupted a stranger
who had just arrived that's the only
clergieal thing about him. Fm de-
tective McClatehen 10 quest of the
biggest thief in America, and there he
isPc stF -rT rrs T-r9 -r-
In thrice the officer had his game
in hand and quicker than it takes to
tell it, from one of the pseudo parson 5
pockets was prodnced the pare, / had
seen taken from under tho stone. Mr..
Coote found it to contain the. identi
cal bank notes described in his list, OF
which he resumed charge, till they
shoLld be reclaimed by the late owners
friends.
The guests about 10 leave unpacked
their trunks, and concluded 10 remain
The detective and his prisoner had ur-
gent business elsewhere. In answer TO
pressing solicitations, | gave detailed
account Of the mornings diseove les
Every thing looked plain enough now.
A sheet from his own bed, and little
chalk, had transformed the mock min
lister into very respectable ghost,
while the communication between The
tWO chambers, accounted for the mys.