Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-08-02
1T WAS NOT A GHOST
Mysterious IntrusfOn-A Young Com
pie Annoyed by Nocturnal
Visitor.

About July a young couple giving
their names as Mr.. and Mrs. James a.
Keck, recently married, applied at
/ No. 81 George street in answer to an
advertisement, and rented the back
room on the first floor as a sleeping
apartment To all appearances they
had married for love, and for a few
days everything ran along smoothly
enough. Having successfully under
gone the scrutiny which is sure to
greet newcomers in a lodging-hOuse.
they seemed to settle down for good
stay. They. did not appear to be in
clined to be over sociable, but were
evidently satisfied with each others
company.
Matters had progressed thus but q
week when the household were star
tied during the night by noise IN the
first floor back room. Investigation
proved that a strange man had dared
to trespass upon the privacy of the
bridal chamber, but had escaped be-
fore his capture could be effected.
About 1 o'clock the next night the
young woman was lying on the bed
trying in vain to battle the heat and
to get to sleep, when suddenly the
dark outline Of mans form present
ed itself at the window and started to
enter With a scream she made a
bound for him, but only succeeded in
grasping his coat tails, which easily
Slipped through her fingers. OF
course the entire neighbOrhood and
household was on the alert after this,
but it was only few nights later that
the intruder entered the room again,
and, after chlOrOfOrming both hus-
band and wife, departed, leaving ev-
erything Just as he had found it,
though he could easily have made off
with a considerable amount of prop
erty, in the shape of money, jewelry
and clothing.
The neighbors suspected that some
thing was wrong, and numerous the
cries were expressed as to the object
of these nocturnal visits. AS the hus-
band was absent on several of these
occasions, it was thought by some to
be a trick he was playing on his wife,
but the chlorofOrming act dispelled
this theory. A few days passed, dur
ing which a vigilant watch was kept
for the intruder, but he came not and
all were cOngratulating themselves
that the couple were to be left in peace.
The mysterious man, however, put in
an appearance both Friday and Sat
urday nights last, the neighbors, on
one of these occasions, discerning the
fash of the dark-lantern which he
carried This was more than the
young couple could stand, and about
as much as the landlady cared to put
up with. Mr.. and Mrs. Koch gave
notice yesterday morning of their in
tention to vacate, which they lost no
time in doing, leaving no word behind
whereby they might be traced. The
lady of the house says that she was
on the eve of requesting them to move
when they announced their intention
of so doing. The room is to be rented
to two young men, who will probably
make it rather warm for the maraud
err, should he continue his visits. From
Mrs. Kech's own story the visitor evi
IDENTIFY cherished designs upon her, but
for what reasons she cannot tell.
1t was rumored that to marry her
husband she had Tilted a former suit
or, who had vowed vengeance, bat
whether he had adopted this mode of
getting even or not, they are unwil-
ling to venture an opinion. The neigh
bors say she made tne remark that
''the man in the window" resembled
her old lover.
The air of mystery which surrounds
the whole affair is the one topic of
conversation in the neighborhood
among those who know of it. All
effort was made keep it quiet, and
why the husband did not make some
effort to attack the stranger on one of
these visits only deepens the mystery.
However, as they have removed, it is
hoped that they have as effectually
covered their tracks from their UNI
welcome visitor as from their old
neighbours Cincinnati News Journal.