The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-01-14
CHAPTER NL
THE GHOST Is CAPIrRFD.

Afternoon shadows We're deepening
into twilight gloom when DICK returned
from his peregrinatiouS even more
amused than fatiLUed b} Mi, expert
enCes IN the village where he found
that rumOr in the present instance had
by no means exaggerated fact. That
the Barnes Common Ghost had
walked on Christina, Eve, and again
on Christmas Day. was universally con-
coded, whilst many of the rustics, 10
whom Dick was known los sight eyed
him aSkance. and seemed disposed TO
give him wide berth, which he pathet-
lcally averred later might presumably
De regarded as first and foremost among
the advantages enjoyed hy an aunted
man, for there Is aSsuredly a certain
satisfaction IN the reflection that in an
oyercroWded lostlIng world one is at
least secure Of elbOw.room.
But now Dick occupied his gOdfa-
Tiers easy-Chdir beside the library fire.
enjoying the luxury Of solitary medita-
tlon-for the baronet had driven some
miles with DR.. Iiollingshead to pay
visit 20 a mutual friend. and was not
expected back till dinner. which was 10
be served tonight at six o'clock,
Dick rather enjoyed this intcrude OF
complete mental and physical respite
The events and revelations of the last
few days had been Of so exciting and
fatiguing nature that the inevitable
reaction threatened 10 set IN apace. and
already Dick felt luxurious sense Of
lassitude and hamilton creeping lazily
over him.
From the cushioned-depths Of his
chair far back in shadow, he was gaZ-
ing dreamily out through the low bow
window on 10 the desOlate lawn beyoAd.
surrounded by its belt Of gaunt and
leafless trees. Immediately in front of
the windows the grayelled terrace had
been swept clear Of snow, which pre-.
Cautionary measure, albeit a convent
ence in respect to ecrcss yet added TO,
rather than diminished from the pre-
valllng air Of drearlness and gloom.
His senses gradually lulled to stupor
by the ease of his armchair and the
grateful warmth of the fresde, after
his long morning exercise in the frosty
air, Dick felt his weary eyelds droop-
close--then open quickly, with q deCid.
ed Discrimination on his part to sue.
cumb to the insiduouS attacks Of Stun
Der; whilst misty phantasmagoria of
events past, present and to come
seemed TO evolve itself from the inmost
recesses Of his brain and run mental RI
OF to his utter bewilderment and dis
c0mtiture.
What marvellous story this which
the austere barOuet had poured over
night into his astounded ear How far
stranger, in good sOoth, had truth
proved itself than fiction; for, had his
authority been less unimpeachable,
Dick would have declined TO credit the
mere possibility of the proud and
wealthy Sir JaSper's grandchild run
ming weIl-nigh barefoot about the Lon.
don streets.
Whilst, cctcS, it implied a still more
powerful strain upon the Imagination
to conceive blind and inscruable fate
leading hapha2ard to Dicks own door
step, in the guise of wretched little
waif, the small frendlesS being whose
destines, it seemed not improbable,
might henceforth prove ineXtricahly en-
tangled with his own; for once sir JAS
per's grandchild was restored to her
rightful place in the baronct s heart and
home, Dick could not conceal from
himself that the future of that repen-
tant sire's godson must inevitably he
regarded from a very different stand
point to that Of heretofore,
With this reflection uppermost in his
thoughts, Dick la2ily Enclosed his
sleepy eyes, doubtful for one iullniteS.
NAL breathing-space whether he might
credit the evidence of his own senses
and believe himself wide awake, or
whether. on the other hand, he had not
mconscousy strayed beyond the mys-
tic boundary line into the land of
nod.
Was he, in good sooth, awake or
slumberingp Was it in dreamland that
he beheldy OF
No, n thousand times mol He could
no longer doubt or question. lie saw
distinctly saw--at this very moment, a
small white face without in the gloam.
ing, pressed against the window pane;
and smothering the exclamation which
rose up Involuntary to his lips, Dick
sprang hastily to his feet, and in less
| time than II takes me 10 narrate the
| fact. dashed across the floor, flung wide
the heavy easement. and, without paus-
| ing to ponder or reflect, cleared the
| broad Oll-fashjOueu WiuuOW-Selt at q