Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-06-22

idiot" answered Trait. with a very
wry face. having just bitten into q
very wormy chestnut.
Very well, then. He sleeps alon,
in the corner room of the third flool
-Shafer's ola room and there ISM
any master. and only two other fcl
lows. on that floor. Well just fl,
ourselves up TO night Trait
Burnett, Black and myself as neal
to what ghosts ought to look like, il
there happened to be any, as We can
Somebody must get leave to run
down to the village for four white
masks before night After the last
bell for lights out, you fellows must
slip around to Traits and my room
Late enough about II o'clock -
when the Doctor and everybody is
asleep, We'll come out. creep upstairs
and go into Belfort's room"
Suppose he wakes?' interrupted
Black.
Let him. He'll have to wake 4
minute later. when we all stand
round his bed! Then I'll give hlm Il
shake. He's an awful coward. and
he'll be so frightened at seeing our
four white figures about him that he
won't know what he's about If he
tries to make any noise. we must
catch hold of him and stop him in a
hurry. After we've frightened him
enough We'll pull off our masks, show
him who we are. and make him
promise never to tell one single ghost
story more in this school, or we'll let
out to the other fellows how scared he
was. They won't ever let him hear
the last of it if we do. What do you
think of it?'
"Capitalr' Fine idea!' Best
lark out!'' came the expected chorus.
Black, careful soul, stopped it.
Look here, Moifat," he objected,
''your notions are all very we'll But
suppose that when Belfort starts up
he is either too clever to be tricked, or
too frightened to do anything except
give three or four of the worst
screeches you ever heard. He'll
bring the whole house up. Doctor
and all, before we can get off"
"Well," admitted Sands, "of course
in that case we'll have to cut away
like good fellows down the back
stairs and into our rooms You two
can get out of my window into yours
over the piazza roof. But we will get
square with him all the same. for
spelling the thing. Let each fellow
take his wash stand mug along with
him full of water If he yells down
with the water on top of him before
you rum That'll be one comfort to
think about afterward"
This last idea clinched the business.
The League separated. Hugh was
given leave by the unsuspecting MIR.
Camp to run down street before tea; ;
just time to do it, sir
He strobe up the tagged walk in
twenty minutes with a package. and
with winks full of mystery to
Burnett and Trait, sought the Sc
clusion' which Trait and Mofl'at's 5
room granted, the others accompany
ing him.
Tea followed. After it Trait no
ticed a dozen of the younger boys in
the prayer hall hanging around Bel
fort-a tall, bulking fellow of Is -
who was plainly reeling off one of the
longest and silliest ghost stories
They sat listening with Il fearful joy.
HE won't be trying that after to-
night" Black said to Trait as they
walked out.
Trait laughed. The evening study
hour in the school room was finished
somehow. Sands and the other mem
bers of the League scarcely dared to
lift their eyes to DIR. Portress's grave,
good -humored face as he read prayers
distributed the evening mail. aud an
swered forty three "Good night, irs, p"
as the boys filed out the custom of
the school. An hour later each boy
was supposed to be ready for bed.
The bell rang; master walked past
each door to be sure that bad lights
were out. Quiet settled down
throughout the big school building.
Hardly had the masters step died
away when Sands Moffats door opened
softly. Two white figures entered
White masked, and draped in the
sheets of the beds, four noiseless
figures, each covered with a white
turban, slipped out of the same door
a couple of hours later. Each car
ried something carefully in his hand.
All was still. The air was chilly, and
the four figures might have been seen
to shiver and shake with cold and OK
citement, as they glided one by one
up the stairs without word or
sound.
"Steady, Black! Less noise, Bur
nettw whispered Sands. as he drew
near to the end of the hall.
Hope you haven't spilled any
water. it might track us if we have to
run for it," came Blacks low voice.
"Never mind the water Hurrah
for ghosts!' said the irrepressible
Trait.
"Be still. Traftw ordered Sands.
He reached Belfort's door, and Noise
lessly turned the knob. The other
three followed him within the room.
A broad strip of moonlight fell across
the floor. There stood the bed in the
shadow. The League took their
places around it, their hearts ''thump-
ing like pile-drivers," as Burnett af-
terward put 1T.
"One-two" counted Sands with
his hand. Alack! Ere he counted
the ''three" the sleeper in the bed
stirred. He woke up. Two swift,
sharp cries escaped him. He struck
out to seize the nearest ghost.
'Down with your water!' exclaimed
Sands. Quick" Run for itr'
The dash of the wafer over the bed
and the rush of the four boys to the
door, head over heels, succeeded.
The door bad latched. Sands caught
the handle. 1t came of. Trait fell
atop of him, Burnett crashed On Trait,
and Black plunged against Burnett,
upsetting all the quartette and a
towel rack. Before they could