Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-10-28

Look at him, how be Is a-comin'."
said Jake Taylor HE must have
had his hipj'ints lied" ii
"Now, thst can't be. Jake, said
old Colonel Free, village phiioso- |
pher ia long brown coat, " for you |
couldn't lie his joints without cutting
through his skin and his muscles
and his siners cut" II
II don't know about that, said
Jake. They've got q patent way
Of ueing j'inis-but just look al the
boy, I'll bet q COW he's seen it,"
By this time Abe had reached the
store-steps, and in coupe OF bounds
he was on the porch. and then he
darted into the store. The crowd
rushed in after him, but in a single
| lump be had cleared the counter and
cuddled himself up under it on
pile OF remnants of spotted shilling
cslicoes.
Have YOU seen 1t =" asked two or
three Of the men who had gone round
behind the counter, while the rest
peered anxiou.ly over it.
But not one word could they get
from Abe but solitary" Yes"
/ Finding it impossible to make any.
thing out of the boy. who curied
himself up under the counter as
reso,utely as il he meant 10 stay
there and grow up, the villagers held
council; and, moved by spirit Oh
sslf-sacrifice and heroism which had
never influenced them until that
moment, they determined that it was
wrong 10 leave poor Hannah in this
haunted house by herself. and con-
cluded to form party.to go and look
after her interests. And also, 1t
must be added, to see what they
could see Nine or ten persons in
body together will sometimes screw
up courage sufficient !even to peep
at ghost.
The party started out vigorously,
armed, some with clubs, one with a
pitchfork. one with a pocketpistol,
several with pokers, shovels, and
such articles as they could pick up in
the store and Mrs. Henderson, the
wife Of the store-keeper, carried a
flatiron. The men were opposed to
woman going at all, but Mrs. Hen
lderson was person of resolute
mind. and she declared that her fiat
iron would do as much execution as
any of their weapons, If they should
come TO close quarters with ghost.
Just as they were about starting
Isaac Harris came out of the stables,
and very readily joined the expedi-
ton. The presence Of Isaac en-
couraeed the party very much, for
he was the biggest and strongest man
in that part of the country. He was
; a teamster by profession, and had
lust returned from Q six weeks trip
in some OF the adjoining counties.
He carried his long wagon.whip,
which was q very effective weapon
when used upon anything human or
animal, whatever 1t might prove TO
be when applied to . ghost.
1t was not more than Q quarter OF
an hours walk to the old house, but
the party seemed to be very tired be-
fore they got there; at least. they
walked more and more slowly, and
when they reached the gate OF the
garden, at the side Of the house. they
stopped, as II their strength had en-
Z tirely given out. They stood in a
little knot by the gate discussing IN
whispers what they had better dc
/. next. They could see light in the
kitchen at the back of the house. and
they thought that Hannah was pro-
] baby in there, but whether alive OF
dead was difficult question to re-
: solve. There was considerable wits
/, pered argument In regard to the
color Of the light that came through
Q the window. Some Of them, Jake
Taylor, in particular, insisted that
the light was quite lblue-in which
case the ghost was probably In the
room, whether Hannah WAS there o.
) not.
vi But they could not stand discuss
!. ing that matter all night; something
I must be done. Most Of them were
1 beginning to feel very shaky and
9 chilly Although 1t was summer
time, the nights were often very cold
E especially In the vicinity OF such
! house as that. Several urged JAKE
) Taylor to 60 In first, but he declined
: saving that one of the older men. like
4 Colonel Free, ought to take the lead
i But the colonel positively declined
: A little man and an old man. such a
1 he. was not suitable for such posi-
i ton.
: "A big ras'ler, like Isaac Harris
!. ought to 90 ahead :" he said.
= But Isaac declared that ras'linf
i wasn't no good with q ghost. "Yoi
= might as well try to hug smoke,
: said he.
d Mrs Henderson put an end to thi
!. DISPUTE by opening the gate, ant
I boldly marching In. flat.iron and al
I she walked quite steadily up th,
) nath hut when she reached bi,
4 hor wood bush. ehe stopped. and Ia
!. Voluntarily wet her finger. and triet
her flat.iron. The rest were dread
I'll fuilv afrnid abe vas coming back
INIT the cold touch of the iron seemet
\ n ,essore her Ia her proper state o
: mind and she vailed stfvieht up /.
: The S;sche, entrsnce hesitated
4 moment on the broad stone stcp. an,
l,har cr.reA ths Aoor and venf In