The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-07
A GOOD GHOST STORY.


a specter in a Dog-cart-An Incident De-
flying Explanation.
The breed of ghosts appears TO be not quite
extinct in England yet. Seldom, however,
has one of those shadowy visitants the hardi-
hood to expose itself to such unobstructed
and point-blank investigation as did the
phantom which introduced itself the other
day in England to Mr.. C c., the
son of the well-known Admiral O..
One daS at the beginning OF this month Mr..
u was going to call on the Duke of
R at B Castle, and he probably
did not trouble his head much about things
hereafter, when he found himself at a small
country station, some miles from his
destination, with no vehicle to get
him over the muddy country
lanes in between. After Worrying round
bit, however, he succeeded in hiring
trap-a commonplace dog-cart enough,
with nothing ghostly about it-and q horse
that looked as if, with good management, it
might hang together in this life for two
weeks yet Having turned out horse and
trap, however, the resources of the place
were at an end. Not a man was to be found
who could accompany him to look after the
beast; so, having done grumbling, Mr. c.
took the reins himself and started for B
Castle. Nor was there anything to suggest
ghosts in the drive there; and the Duke of
R was as real aud feshly and well-con-
Quoted as duke ought to be. So far then, the
odds seemed all against ghost finding room
to come in to the days events. When Mr..
C., however, had got half way back
70 the station he passed a pond by the road
side which he had not noticed on his way
out. Turning around to look back a it, lie
was astonished to find there was another
man on the trap sitting back to back to
himself. The stranger was to all appearance
farm laborer, dressed in corduroy and
red neckcloth. Mr.. C. at once concluded
that his companion had been sent after him
by the innkeeper from whom he had hired
the trap; but what puzzled him was how
and where a stout farm laborer in hobnailed
boots could have climbed up without his
feeling it. The shortest way to settle this
was to ask him; but, unfortunately, the in
trader paid no attention to the question, and
seemed quite unconscious OF anything un-
usual when Mr.. C shouted common
places on the weather at the top of his voice
Nothing remained, therefore, but to whip up
the dilapidated horse and vile away the rest
of the journey with cursing the innkeener
who could find no better man TO send HIM
than a deaf and dumb farm laborer On ar
irving at the inn Mr. c. handed the reins
back to the stranger and walked into the
house. Meeting the landlord, his first re-
mark was naturally on the sort of man the
other had seen fit to send after him.
What man? was the reply; 4 sent no
man after you"
Surely you did," said Mr., c. "a man
in corduroy, with a red scarf round his
neck
Good God sir" returned the other that
man was drowned an hour ago, and is up
stairs now!"
Nonsense. He is in you trap now; come
and see."
However he was not in the trap; that was
empty. So Mr. c. followed the landlord
upstairs, and there ON a bed lay his COM
panon OF the dog cart--corduroy, and neck
cloth and all--dead. He had been found
drowned half an hour before Mr.. C.
passed, in tine very pond close by which he
had taken his seat in the dog-cart, and had
apparently availed himself of the first pass
ing vehicle TO get lift to the place where his
body lay