The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-04-09

was my astonlshment to see the same
small door spring open, and disclose
the same box.
To seize the box was the work Of
an instant, and opening il / psrused
The papers They were Of some val
usble estate, and were quite old
They were drawn in favor of Ames,
Elmdale Grange.
/ said nothing to any one, but kept
my own counsel.
Casually speaking to my best, ]
asked him if be knew OF 9 place cali
ed Elmdale, or of any one called
Ames-
"Ob, yes! that's another story of
this village, in which old Ames's son
was deprived of the estate on account
OF the loss Of some necessary deed, !"
be replied '.lt was 9 downright
shame, for be was a nice, noble young
man, and the estate is now in the
hands Of villain p
elf any man deserves hanging. be
does !" be Eercely muttered- "Yes,
the mean, low scheming rascal Pray
pardon my warmth" be said hut it
is enough to set one crazy thinkiI 3
about that young Ames shaving Ike
q dog, while this villain lords it in
Ames's lawful wealth"
These events caused me to prolong
my stay, and made up nv mind TO
see the whole mystery entirely clear
ed. l took q walk over to Elmdale,
and could not help but admire its
beautiful grounds, and the extent Of
its domains.
As passed the entrance perceiv-
ed an elegantly dressed man saunler-
ing up the wide path, csrelessly clip
ping the top of the grass with bis
cane.
He, l rightly guessed was the pro-
prietor. From the mans evil face,
aud the evident delight with which
be used bis cane, l knew that the
landlord had not misjudged him.
Hearing step behind me. | turned
and beheld young man, la the at
tire of a laborer, that the proprietor
had heard him also, and that be knew
him was evident, for be bowed with q
mocking smile.
The young man kept on without
replying to the salutatioD, which,
soweyer, did not disconeert the care
less stranger. for be walked as leisure
ly as before, and disappeared within
the house.
These, thought I, were the two
contestants for the property. But"
| said, mentally, looking toward The
house, IL shall have something to do
With it; your triumph shall not be
long"
reached the inn in time for sup
per, and sought my own room. this
time, however, with a determination
TO keep awake.
When the figure appeared / kept
my fears under strong control, aud
saw what | bad not noticed before in
my terror, that the ghastly hand
seemed rather like flesh and blood.
Il went through the same actions as
before but as | seized its hand, not
catching it very tight, it slipped from
my grasp. and leaving 10 my hand a
ring.
The next morning | examined, un-
observed, the hand of the maid who
bad shown me to my room on my ar
rival. | knew she was accustomed
TO wear a ring, and saw it was gone.
Afterwsrd l found her looking quite
abxiously about the different rooms.
Have you lost anything :" | ask
ed.
"Yrs, sir; a ring" she replied.
ais this it ?D at the same time TAX
ing the ring from my pocket.
YES" she eagerly returned, and
held out her hand for it.
"Stop q moment" said /. "Do
you know Wocdfell Ames 2r
"Yss,' said she, growing quite
pale and scared looking. why, sF-
cry enc knows him."
/ looked at her rather sternly, and
telling her about my discovery, |
managed to work upon her fears, and
she confessed that she had stolen the
deeds from Ames's library, at the in
stigation of the present proprietor,
0rville Glenn.
She was a servant at Elmdale at
the time, and being dszzled by
tempting bribe, had committed the
deed.
She was afterwards discharged on
some ground, and came to the inn to
live.
Where she had put the papers she
had forgotten, and thinking 80 much
about them-she must have got up
in her sleep and gone to where she
had laid them. / informed the land
lord of my proceedings, and young
Ames was soon installed in bis prop
er place.
The maid became sfterwsrd cured
of her sleep walking, and the cham
Der ceased to be "haunted-" Ia re-
gard to my hosts tale, / am unable
to say whether he was laboring un-
der delirium or not, but know tha.
the spectre | saw was one Of pure
6esh and blood.