Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-10-20
A HAUNTED WARDROBE.
The Trick of O Foolish Bachelor
How he Fooled a Friend.


From the San Francisco Bulletin.
In lodging-house in this city q couple
of bachelors reside, one of whom is much
given to a belief in the supernatural. His
bookcase is loaded with works dealing with
the mysterious and horrible, and the up
setting of salt cellar or the breaking of a
mirror are to him full of dire importance
to the parties concerned in such articles. A
few days ago large wardrobe in his friends
apartments attracted the attention of this
superstitous youth. He thought it would
suit him admirably, and inquired the price
which was ten dol Irs. The owner of the
article received tie money, and assisted
the purchaser in carrying it to his room.
Matters went along smoothly in the lodg-
ing-house for several days, until the ongi-
nal owner of the wardrobe began to repent
him of bis transaction, and Shankered"
after the big clothes-box. He inquired if
his friend would have any objection to sell
ling it back at dollars profit; but the lat
ter refused positively, and declared that he
could not be induced to part with it for twen-
ty dollors. Then the other party bethought
himself Of plan, that the next time he
mentioned the wardrobe he said that his
only object in getting it back was feeling
of remorse for having imposed on his
friend.
Show SOP" said the superstitious youth.
81 got the trunk cheap"
"Because," was the answer, 81 should
not have sold it to you without relating the
history of the thing"
Sand what was the history?"
sSimply that bankrupt clerk hanged
himself from that hook that now supports
your white hat. l think it was some six
months ago the affair occurred"
"Is that so ?" said the other, with dis
tended eyes.
500 you think would let you have it for
ten dollars if did not want to get lid of
it? l only wish it back for the purpose of
destroying it. / have heard some noises in
that horrible thing myself" - Z1
The listener appeared to disregard these
gloomy items, but the schemer perceived
that his plot was working well. That night
he entered his friends room after the latter
had gone to bed, and whilst pretending to
get match from the wardrobe, attached
nail and string to one Of the hooks, leading
the string through the keyhole. Then wait
ing few minutes outside the door, until the
victim might suppose that he had, gone to
bed, he ierked the string gently until the
nail swung against the thin sides of the
wardrobe. After few seconds operating,
he heard rush, and had just time to get to
his room when the victim dashed in with
pallid face. "That coufounded bureau"
be gasped, ''theres some noise there"
sI'm not at all surprised" replied the
sehemer, sleepily. "In go in and look at
it with you" He opened wardrobe eau
tiously, while the other stood off at a short
distance, and plueked away the nail unde-
tected. That night the wardrobe was set
out in the hal; sand next morning 1t fell
into the hands Of the original possessor at
considerably less than he sold it for. Now
the hoaxed declares that he sold back the
wardrobe not for superstitious reasons, but
simply because he found SIT would not
suit"