The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-20

o.sey Ds,nss on Broad Street--Why a Lease
go Broken and Why House Agent VIII
Not Sve for Its enforcement.
lPhiiadelnh.a Times.I

moved out few days ago, and deiics the
irate house agent, who threatens 10 hold
him liable for several months OF unexpired
lease. The lessee, who Is prominent law.
yer, claims that he hes been evicted by
ghosts. Tic declares, moreover, that
the landlord knew that the house
was haunted, and he swears that
be will contest the payment OF fur
Their rent in the courts " necessary.
Indeed, he IL preparing his defence IN ease
the issue comes to trial. The family pnysi.
clan and every member Of bis household
have more or less direct testimony TO give
regarding the supernatural inmates OF tie
house. The story has been known 80 sew
eral friends OF the lawyer who live on
Spruce street near Broad aud on Arch
street near Eighteenth. One OF these gem
tlemen passed the night with The lawyer In
his library In order that he might be able
10 corroborate the tales that were told him.
The house Is near Columbia avenue on
Broad street.
TAKING POSSESSION.
The lawyer became tenant two years
aud half ago. The site Of the house Is
one of the most desirable on the great
boulevard, and the occupant furnished "
sumptuollsly. The drawing-room was
large. and sliding doors separated u from
the library behind, which was filed with
professional and miscellaneous books. The
dipiug-room was IN an extension. Several
months passed after the lawyer had taken
possession before anything Hhusual oc-
Cured. Then the incident was so trivial
that II excited curiosity rather than fear.
/, was this: The gentleman returned
from the theatre one night. Find
ing that everybody in the house had gone
to bed, and that the building was perfectly
quiet, he stepped into the library to smoke
cigar. The lamp on the table had heavy
shade upon it. which kept the room In
shadow. Seated almost sideways to the
crate, the gentleman could look out through
the open doors leading to the drawing-room
and could distinctly discern a light In
house on the opposite side OF the street. AS
be sat smoking, thoroughly wide awake,
the gentleman imagined that he saw one OF
the Sliding doors move slightly. In few
moments the light outside was shut from his
view. BE thought little OF II at the instant
hardly enough even to ascribe 1t to an opti-
cal illusion. When he looked again both
doors were moving. and as he sprang 10
his feet they came together with crash
that reyerberated through the silent halls.
The lawyer, 10 whom the idea Of super
natural agency bad not yet occurred,
stepped promptly TO the doors, opened
them. and passed through the front room
into the hall. All was silent. Hall and
drawing-room we're empty. Still thinking
that q servant had been closing M the
house he called aloud. Then he lit the
chandelier, shook ont all the draperies at
the sides OF the windows, and peered be-
hind the sofas. Nobody. Not word
about this was said to any member Of his
family.
THE MYSTERIOUS FOOTSTEPS.
Several weeks passed. The lawyers wife
spoke to him one morning about hearing
persons going up and down stairs several
times during the night There was step
near the foot of the second iight that
creaked. Their bedroom door was quite
near, and when awake the creaking
stair could be readily distinguished.
All the members OF the family were
asked in the morning, but all denied
having been up or down stairs during the
night. The servants were equally positive.
At that point the matter was dropped.
The lady OF the house simply doubted
the eredibility OF the witnesses. A night
or two after the doOr-bell rang, but though
the lawyer sprang ut once to window
which was open nobody was on the stoop.
1t was bright moonlight night, and there
was no place for any one to hide. The law
yer then took matches and went down
through the halls. The front door was
bolted. Not sound was TO be heard.
His last match was burned at the door,
and he started up the stairway in the
dark. Close behind him came the foot
fall OF another person. When he reached
the landing he lost no time in gain
Al IA Nvo -
bright light within. He pushed the door
open, hoping that he had at last caught the
servant who had been annoying him. The
sound Of the football pursued him, and, as
he had stood there In the full glare of the gas
light from his own room, passed up the
second flight OF stairs to the floor above.
The squeaking stair again registered the
weight OF human body. The wife within
heard the step. "Who Is u" she asked,
without a suspicion of anything more than
belated servant. The lawyer could only
slide In.o the room, bar the door and stani-
mer. g. II know"
aHosTLY CARNIVAL.
T For more than month after this Incl
dent the house was full OF spooks every
night. Still the lawyer was resolute aud
plucky. The gas would suddenly go out
In the library. He only cursed the gas
trustees Cold gusts Of wind would blow
through the house, though the weather was
mild. He only abused the Signal Service
Bureau. The folding doors closed and
opened 30 often that the crash did not even
disturb mm when he was engaged in read
Ing up references for a law case. Noises
like the bowling Of dog. could be heart
In the cellar, though he did not keep al
animal about the premises. Sounds, as o.
two persons whispering together, could bs
distinctly heardin the wide hallway, though
several prompt Investigations showed tina
the place was deserted. The lawyer di,
not give serious attention 10 these matters
though the other members Of the fami
were In open mutiny. The cook refused I
20 to the cellar for coal. The waitress CAV
notice TO leave because the lady OF the h0us
forbade her to spill grease over the stair cal
pets from the candle with whscA she insist
ed ON lighting herself up 10 bed. Neithe
servant would answer the door-bell afte
dark or light the gas in the drawing-rool
Il by mischance 1t was forgotten befor
nightfall.
THE FINISHING SCENE. q
just about this time lady, related /
The family, came on visit. She occupie
room at the back OF the house, on the sec
ond floor. About midnight she threw hen
sell against the door OF the room occupe,
by the lawyer aud his wife. frantlcally de
\ handing shelter and protection. She wa
admitted, pale, almost iainting. She ex
planned that some one was secreted in he
room. She had heard groans and deel
sighs. MOI the slightest intimation bac
been given her OF the stories current IN IA,
Rouse. The wife accompanied the yisito
TO her room. The gas was lighted. Moth
Inn AAxst On. l.. g-Tf
visitor left. A new cbambermaid wa
hired coon affer hnf af Tia onh a IT,