Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-10-15
Cafehing a Ghost.

Some few years ago, toward the end OF
December, all Moscow was startled by
the rumor..at first vague and doubtful,
then more and more distinet-of hid
eous figure which showed itself nightly
just outside one of the principal "bar-
riers" of the city, terrifying all behold
ers with the veritable semblanee Of a
demon-horns, tail, fiery eyes and all.
After time, however, it was whispered
that every one who had been Inter
viewed" by this disagreeable promenader
had ended by finding himself minus his
watch, purse, or some other valuable
fact which aroused suspicious that the
pretended demon was, after all, only
some daring thief, requiring the exor-
cisms of the police rather than those OF
the clergy.
Such, at least, was the view taken in
the bureau of police itself, where the
matter was being discussed one night by
some dozen members OF the "force, u
with the addition of such details as pop
ular rumor or their own lively fancy
suggested.
Suddenly a young Cossack, recently
enrolled, who had sat perfectly silent
during the whole conversation, arose
and said, quietly but firmly: "It's
against orders to let the devil walk
about! I'll just go and catch him."
So saying, the adventurous lad went
forth, saddled his horse, and set off in
quest of the pocket-picking demon, tax
ing with him no weapon save his "arkan"
"a short lasso, as formidable in Cossack
hands as in those of the American
"Gaucho." 1t was dark long before he
reached the barriers, but faint CLEAN
of moonlight showed a CHASTITY figure,
which seemed to rise out of the earth
at his approach, and said, in a hollow
voice:
''Halloa, there l want you! Come
down with me to my kingdom below"
The sinister summons was barely ut
tered, when the moose settled around
the speakers neck, and the half-throttled
demon found himself jerked from his
feet and flung violently to the ground.
The Cossack bound him hand and
foot, trussed him up behind the saddle,
and started back through the town at
full gallop, utterly regardless of the cries
of establishment that followed his course,
and the crowd that gathered at his heels
like a ball.
Meanwhile, the chief of police, having
gone to bed earlier than usual, had just
fallen asleep, when he was aroused by a
violent knocking at his door and a
shout of:
"Your excellency! your excellencyw
"What the deuce is the matter?" cried
"his excellency," savagely, adding a
brief but forcible apostrophe, which
need not be quoted.
"The devil, your excellency," answer
ed voice from without.
'The devil?" echoed the great man,
somewhat startled at the announcement
of such visitor, despite the appropriate
ness of the hour.
There's Cossack below, your excel
lency, who says he's caught the devil,
and wants to know what he's to do with
him."
A sudden recollection of the barrier
demon" flashed upon the chiefs mind,
and he comprehended the whole affair
in moment.
Hurrying on his clothes as quickly as
possible, he fastened down stairs, and
found at the door the horse with his
ghostly burden, while the Cossack, max
ing his salute, said, quietly:
"1've caught the devil, your excellency.
What are your excellency's orders about
himp"
Sitting laugh at his followers cool
ness, the chief ordered the prisoners dis
guise to be taken off, when the features
revealed were those of noted thief, for
whose apprehension a large reward had
been offered. The rascal was promptly
packed off to Siberia, while his captor
received in full the recompense to which
he was so well entitled.