The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-04-12

the papers must be made out fair and
sauare-two thousand after my five
years lease"
And so had my way.
Jane and I went up to the house next
day.
It was a wonderful, grand, dirty old
place.
We set to work to clean ito drive
out the insects and the rats; and We got
some fresh straw to sleep on, for the
beds were all Wondering away.
That night at nine We lay down, with
lamp burning, and went to sleep like
two tops, and 1 think it must have been
twelve o'clock, or nigh to it, when Jane
shook me violently.
I started up, and holding each others
hands, we both saw what had frightened
her.
A man stood near the bed, young
temples; his breast was bare, and We saw
great bleeding wound there.
had my pistol under my pillow, and
drew it out and looked at him.
Away you go, or I fire." Isaid; I'm
not fool to be trIcked in this way"
Instead of obeying, he slowly moved
towSrds the DeC.
Jane skrieked, and drew the counter
pane over her head.
l covered him with my pistol.
Zone step more, and l fire." I said.
He took the step.
fired.
A shrek OF laughter followed, and
there was no one there.
arose and searched the place.
Every window was barred, every door
locked.
unlocked one OF the doors, and en-
tered the adjoining room.
A great bed, with tester and canopy,
stood there, and upon this lay the figure
OF Q woman, all in white, covered with
blood.
flushed towards it, lamp in hand.
Again those hollow shrieks Of laugh
ter, and nothing but the stained and yell
low ticking of an old feather bed lay
under the canopy.
Luke! Luke" screamed my wife, who
had followed me, cling to my arm. sit
is all true. Let us leave the place."
"Jane," said I, "It seems to be true
that this place is haunted, but we have
risked our all on it. The things We have
seen have not hurt us, and propose to
drive them away. I'll take you to the
village, if you like, and leave you there
to live, but here stay till beat these
ghosts"
mot Alone" said Jane; and she did
not leave me.
If you believe me, day and night for
three weeks we we're haunted as people
never were before-faces, voices, hands
in the house or in the field; and worse,
than all, We grew ill.
sent for the doctor, who wouldn't
come, and We went to him.
"You are poisoned" he said. "What
have you eaten, or what have you been
Drinking"
We thought it over, and told him
that we knew of nothing harmful, and
that we cooked and prepared all our own
food.
81 never knew anyone to pass day at
that confounded house you live in with
out being affected in this way" said he;
"even those who did not eat there.
Constable Collins says he touched moth
ing but cold water, and be came to me
nearly dying.
Its the we'll, thep," said I.
"They used to call it the best well in
the country" said the Goctor.
"It has a nasty taste now" said I.
''I'll beg water from my neighbor until
I've cleaned it out
And that day 1 began.
We got better slo WY, and tried to
hire two farm-laborers to help me with
my well.
Not o one would come.
Twas almost tired of living as did,
and feeling like maniac; and one day 1
went to the we'll, and sat there wondering
whether it might not be best to give up
and go somewhere as q farm-lsborer,
when I felt what seemed to be an icy
hand upon my head, and looking up saw
my two ghosts, side by side.
They we're horrible enough, can tell
you, and they looked at me and pointed
into the we'll; and then heard two voices
crying:
"Get us out! Get us out! Get us
out and bury us The water is cold.
and our wounds are deep! Get us out"
And then the truth came to me, good
ness knows how.
/ was just able to crawl over to my
neighbor's house, and said to him:
Mr.. Jarvis, will you send one Of your
men to the authorities and have the
police sent up to my place? There's
something in my well that ought not to
be there"
Well, they came, and I Was right.