The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-11-21

OF Captain on the porch.
II don't quite comprehend your good
luck with the dog" he remarked, "but
| would advise you in future to keep
within doors until you have seen me
about"
IF you have no objection" I replied,
II would very much like to feed the
dog once-only once. / will be very
careful, but 1 really will consider it
a favor if you will consent to my re-
quest.
"All right" he returned. "You know
what I have said about his terrible ma
ture; therefore be on your guard"
That day Icarried Captain his dinner,
and he devoured it while ] stood by his
side. From thenceforth I had not u
misgiving as to his good disposition to-
ward me.
I was detained at the farm for six
days before the lameness of my horse
allowed me to resume my journey.
During this period I become much at
tached to Mr.. Shelly and his wife.
Captain and myself had grown to be
such friends that we had taken several
strolls together over the land.
Notwithstanding my host and hostess
appeared to be atfectionately attached
to each other, there was certainly
thing wrong at the farm, and it could
not escape an observing eye. Once OF
twice had come upon Mr.. Shelly and
his wife unexpectedly and / thought 1
while her manner evidently betrayed
fear. Still her husband was so kind
all the while, that I could not avoid
bordering or the matter. 1 never in
truded my presence upon them if 1
could avoid it, but it sometimes would
occur in spite of me.
One afternoon I came into the room
abruptly and found Mr.. Shelly tanning
his wife and caught q remark he utter
ed with strong emphasis. "We must
sell this place" he said, "for it appeal
impossible for you to have a days hap
piness here, and I would sooner sacri-
fee it hal see you die slowly before
my eyes. Oh, tits too hard!" and he
kissed her brow.
Turning about, he saw me and knew
I had heard his expression.
II think l will lie down." said Mrs.
Shelly, and as she passed me I noticed
her face was as pale as the dead.
When she had gone up stairs MI.
Shelly turned to me and said: IT sup
pose you perceive there is something
amiss here. You see no hands about
the place and q general state of idle
ness reigns supreme. OF course there
is a reason for it and I am going to tell
you what it means. The only thing I
am afraid of isthat you may consider me
a mailman or a fool, but 1 swear to you
what I am about to relate is as
true as holy writ. I am an honest
man, sir, and a truthful one; conse-
quently / do not lie when 1 say we
have an-apparition-in short, q ghost
here. / pray you do not hastily mag
inc that / am o weak and superstitious
man; you shall be convinced, for you
may see the whole matter with your
own eyes and then judge for yourself.
My wife's health has been failing even
since this thing came about and it breaks
my heart to witness her suffering. L
can't find a ready purchaser for the
place and old Reuben is the only per-
son who will remain with me, but, you
see, he hides as much as possible in
doors. Look" he continued, pointing
across the road to a piece of woodland,
edo you observe yonder fallen tree?"
l gazed in the direction indicated and
saw the trunk of q large tree Lying prone
on the ground. It was, in fact, a huge
log, from which the bark had long been
peeled. "Well," he continued, "at If
regular intervals the apparition appears
upon that fallen tree, arrayed in the
traditional white drapery, and it walks
up and down, sway'ng to and fro and all
the time waving its arms toward the
house. A half hour ago 1T was visible,
but it vanishes as quickly as it appears.
| am not under any powerful hallucina-
ton. l am a rational, a II man, and
what 1 tell you is the earnest truth"
"Ihave witnessed some strange affairs
myself" l rejoined, "but let me ask
you'll you are perfectly sure there is no
trick IN the thing?"
He gave a hollow laugh. Hanging
in the house." he said, "is my repeating
rife. Men will tell you that I am the
best shot in the country, and that is
saying a good deal. lean kill a spar
row and perhaps q butterfly. You OBJ
serve that log is not more than fifty
yards distant, and yet I swear to you I
have repeatedly drawn a dead aim on
the thing as it danced plainly in sight.
I have fired, but still it always stood
shaking its arms wildly in the air. I've
shot dozens of times at it, but I can't kill
it, for it is not human" .
mo one would try the prank for some
motive or otncr?" I questioned. For
instance: suppose they wished to buy
the place cheaply, perhaps this ghost
story might induce you to sell at a sac
%rifice."
"Do you think" he returned quickly,
"that any one who knows Abel Shelly
would care to assume such desperate
chances before his rife? Ohno. There
is nobody who would take that risk.
Besides, I should have killed it long
ago if there was anything to kill. It
always m in the afternoon" con-
tinued Shelly, "but never at night.
You perceive it reverses the accepted
time OF nocturnal visitation"
81 do not consider myself more cour-
ageous than men generally" replied,
"but 1 would be glad if you would mott
fly meif this object appears again dur
ing my stay. Perhaps I may be able
to Investigate more satisfactorily than
you have done.'
every WE'LL" he said, IT will do so.'
l had a sweet sleep that night
and no ghost haunted my dreams, and
it was only when l awakened that I re-
called the conversation of the previous
day. I could not doubt that Nh. Shelly
and his wife were both honest in their
convictions, still I could not bring my
self to accept the supernatural.
dressed and, as was my custom, went
: out to the kennel to visit my friend
GaDtain fpr by tb;u %ima tharo woc q