The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-05-18

ed by skull and cross>bones. He shook his
fist excitedly in my face. I noticed that
the air was not stirred by his NOV ment.
II was odd, too, that recovered my courage
as soon as he began to threaten.
| His gestures became more threatening.
He repeated twenty times. running the ques-
tion with which he first accosted me: 'Now
have found you, what shall l do with you?"
Come" cried at last, ''this is fooling.
What do you mean by coming to my house
like mailman? Leave off asking what you
will 90 with me. If you are ghost out Of
his senses, say so; if not, vary the monoto-
ny by saying something else. Can't you
| swear?''
He groaned and wrung his hands.
II can't he said lit isn't allowed. l
wish could. Now what shall l do with
you? What shall do with your
'.You have asked me that hundred times
already. Bah! you are ghost. Chests can
do nothing. used to believe that they did
not exist. Now / see that they do But
look here"
! took the poker from the fireplace and
passed it through him. Then l cut him
down like guardman at Waterloo. Then
l sliced him in two like a soldier at an as
sault Of arms. At each pass of the weapon
he ducked recoiled and cried aloud.
"See, you cannot resist. do what like
with you. What can you do in return?"
He raised his hand and struck at my face.
1t was as if cold wind blew upon my cheek.
l could not repress shudder. The old
shiver came across me. lie saw it at once,
and sprang at my throat. To my surprise.
what was before as breath Of cold are be-
came tangible felt his cold grasp with
his long, bony finger at my throat. His
face, close to mine, was filed with an eager
longing for revenge. His teeth glimmered
in the twilight 1t was but for moment
that was afraid. Then l sailed my cour-
age, sprang upright, and looked my spectral
enemy in the face. AS looked the tangi-
bility of his fingers weakened, the tightness
of his grasp relaxed, and his look changed
from one Of triumph to that Of bafaed rage.
Then be fell back sullenly and threw him
self into an easy chair, glazing round the
room.
81 never allow any one but myself l
said, ''to occupy that chair. l: is mine
Please take another.
He changed the chair Immediately.
"Will that do"
1t was one next 10 mine. begged himto
take one on the other side of the fireplace,
which he did at once. Then sat down and
surveyed the situation.
was alone, save an old woman, my tenn
porary factotum, in the kitchen. The peo-
pie in their houses round were now all away
for their holidays. l had ghost, presuma
bly, lunatic offs dangerous kind, under
my roof 1t vas impossible to get rid f
him, unless he chose to 60. You cannot
push, kick or throw ghost out ola window
or door; you cannot lock him in one room
while you 60 to sleep in another; you can
not shut yourself up in your bedroom and
de y him. above all, you never know what
tricks he may be at. Thinking of these
things, became conscious Of another access
of terror-slighter this time. My guest,
however, perceived it, and in twinkling
was ON me again with his skeleton fingers
round my throat shook him off; that is
regained my presence Of mind, and he
covered back to his seat, where he sat- hi:
head on his arm, and his long white clothe:
clinging to his limbs, sight never to bs
forgotten.
Pray tell ME what it means said.
1T means that if you were afraid of me
| would throttle you like dog. ! NEAR
that am sitting here wal ing for the mo
ment when you will realize who and wha
am: the injuries you have done me, tn
wickeaness Of your life, the loneliness 0
your position, and your presence with an
other world Ha ha. see il coming! You
nerves won't stand me another quarter of al
. hour. and then shall seize you by tn
windpipe. and squeeze, squeeze, the life
blood out Of you.
c Presently he went on again:
: You will have to 60 to bed soon. Yo
S cannot sit up all night.
l. How long can you stay here
AS long as please. Ho. BIO! no, ca
It be with you, now have found you, morn
lug. noon and night. When you are quietl
in your bed shall be sitting by the bedside
n waiting for moments weakness. Whe
y you are IN your Office in the city. shall
o at your elbow, waiting to hnd you of you
e guard AT dinner shall be behind you
s. You viii not escape me. Sooner or late
y you viii be afraid. The time will come
: shall wait. shall wait.
IS pray explain" said blandly. .'You
:; will wait until am afraid
n Precisely. We ghosts cannot hurt pee
l. pie who are not afraid OF us Our power
IS only over the cowardly and supers.isious-
4 that is, ever nearly all mankind Once
W man has the pluck - stand up TO Us We AZ
lie powsrless.
l. My good friend. replied, s.let us en-
1t joy each others society without mutu.
5. confessions. grant all that you have sais
T. It is very curious AMI interesting. No
ii perhaps. quite 50 horrible as | might nav
W expected, had known you were comm.
: but siili-hy the way. you hail from ID
at cemetery close by
= Il do Al. villain AMI traitor, who RI
" me there 10: AMI as | was taking a
4, evening invisible stroll happened 10 loo
in at your window, and saw the gD.n Ia
expected and most hoped to see Ha. Ia.
a. shall make il hot for thai man So w.
fe too &c added. weakly. after pause.
ct made no reply. but went On smoking
il If he had been al ordinary visitor.
$, When was in that country ship. ira.
ed iug between Rangeon and Calcasta-ther
If what's the use Of raking up the old story.
q Meme" replied None Al all. unle'
IS yoG ike
Il, Ma rSr -afSsr- What's the good