The Cecil Whig., 1881-11-19
Leave me alone, but mind-don't 20 to

Leave me alone, but mind-don't 20 t,
bed
"Dont fear, Carter, I'll be on hand.
Reluctantly took up my post by Rosie
My friend had evidently met with somt
strange experience. and he was practi
cal old fellow, not to be scared by tritles
What could be the mystery? | crept VI
to him again and again. Through the
door he always implored me to go away
but al ways added, For heavens sake
don t 80 to bed; stay in the middle o.
the room" With both pistols cooked
and every faculty alert, l sat until tho
first streak of dawn. when Rosie at last
fell asleep. Soon Carter came softly
down the stairs.
"What is it. Carter?" l eagerly asked
Is there a scientific explanation
In a whisper still. as if out of regard
for Rosie (but he looked too worn out tc
speak loud he answered:
Yes, in a certain sense the explana.
s''h I'D "SiCHtlbC, ut UIokc OIL aD-
ruptly. "Doesn' an express train stop
here at fivc:''
Yes"
"lhen, in mercy's name, let me get
Oft. | never was SO worried out in all
my life."
Certainly there was something serious.
A man like this was not lightly moved
to shiver as he did. begged to be told
the whole truth.
My dear boy he began, "it seems
IA violation of your hospitality, but
"Nonsenser'-Carter was the most alb
surdly kind and considerate creature that
ever lived. Nonsense. Tell me all"
Well, then, this much at any rate, y
he answered, laying his hand on my arm.
and regarding me pitifully from out his
| tired eyes. You've been cheated in
| this house. It's beautiful but Il wait
ed eagerly, and Carter's long upper lip
stretched out into queer, yet, rs l
thought, melancholy smile" but there
were houses like this in London, and
they actually were unnhabitabe-had
to be burned down.
What. cried; "haunted houses, do
you mean ?''
Yes, said Carter, again smiling in
his grim fashion, II think this house is
as haunted as any house can be. 1t must
be burned"
Rosie had walked She half screamed
and demanded: What is it what did
you see -
Carter dived into his satchel, handled
over several books, opened small one,
marked two words, thrust the books iuto
Rosie's hand, and walked ont of the
house. :.
Rosie stared at me. then we both stared
at the two words, then we both stared at
the title of the book Elementary Ento-
moloGy. Back again we turned to the
marked words, Cimfr lectularius. Neither
of us was Latin scholar. as the reader
undoubtedly is: SO we had to find an ex
planation in the coutext. which read
THE Cime.r lectHlarius inhabits some
sorts of wood. and houses built of such
timber can never be cleared OF the pest"
The gentle Mcpherson, the amiable
old goose, with her less than four feet of
stature, had been too shrewd for me. No
wonder she despised the wits of men.
She had leased me worthless place, in
Tested by the dreadful bed bu-ber par
don. the Cimer lecturius.
Rosie's post in the middle of the great
room had kept her from the knowledge
that the beautiful paneled walls were
alive, and that without ghosts the nights
might be hideous
We moved out. lived in a boarding
house. were snubbed by an angry father
in-law, and I'm in prolonged litigation
with that old witch Mcpherson, who
stays in Scotland, and uses against me
certain legal quibbes in the wording of
the lease, which wasn't exactinr abont,
thinking | had 4 wonderful bargain, any
way.
There arc more things in heaven and
earth than can be mentioned in polite
society: SO, when we are dining out, and
would like the sympathy of friends in
social way, | cannot relate our horrible
story, though to this day, three years
now, pay the rent for C.mer lectularius.