The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-10-15
md SO we fixed up the bones our

don't appear to understand me
When was alive that skeleton was
the frame work of my body"
"When you were alive?"
Certainly"
, "What are you now? You don't
mean to pretend that you palm your
self off as ghost on u.s."
''If you have any doubts about
the matter, just throw that ruler at
me-"
Smile at once took the stranger
at his word and the ruler met nc
opposition, but apparently passed
through the specter and fell CHATTER
ing to the floor. At that instant
the jaw of the skeleton fell with it's
sudden click and in the silence that
ensued it seemed to regard the spir-
it with a sort of CLEAN of recogni-
ton. Wentworth walked across
the room and picked up the ruler.
Coming back he snapped the jaws
shut again and sat down.
That's singular, to say the least,
John" said Smile, helplessly.
At this moment there was a knock
at the door.
Come" shouted Smile.
In the gloom they recognized Tom
Fulmer, one of the students.
Excuse me,' said Tom, seeing a
stranger present and preparing to
withdraw.
mo, no, come in, Tom; you're
just the man we want to see"
Tom took the chair offered him.
81 don't just know how to intro
duce you," said Wentworth. "Tom,
this is -a-ah-gentleman who
claims to be the original possessor
of this skeleton"
"Ah-dispute as to the owner
ship, ehY'
"That tendency" answered Went
worth. "He is, in fact, a well, a
ghost"
ga what?''
"The gentleman has been dead
for some time,' put in Smile, the
task of explaining having seemingly
got beyond Wentworth. "And
while alive this was his skeleton"
"Oh, come now, Smile, what are
you giving us?"
"Fact," said Smile. Gust tossed
this ruler through him. Try it."
Fulmer hesitated.
at will perhaps convince you
quicker than anything else and
don't inconvenience me In the least"
said the apparition.
Fulmer tossed the ruler, with the
same result as before. He was very
short sighted and he adjusted his
eyeglasses and peered across the
table at the ghost, who stood i'm
passiYely as he had done from the
first.
81 say, Wentworth, strike a light,
will you"
Wentworth lit the large lamp
that stood on top of the bureau.
The ghost appeared an ordinary
looking man, dressed as any man
might be. Fulmer, with corrugat-
ed brow, gazed at him while Smile
and Wentworth felt sort of own
ership, as if their possession Of the
skeleton gave them a kind of pro-
prietorship in the specter.
The amiable skeleton, which now
shone white in the bright light,
seemed to beam in a benevolent
way on its former owner.
F'Sit down." said Fulmer. 81 haze
to talk to a-person-standing."
The specter sat down.
Now, what use is this skeleton
to your" began the young lawyer,
his professional instinct getting the
better of his amazement.
THAT, if you will pardon me, is
no ones business but my own. l
may say want 1t placed where 1
will know where to find it-or l
may say that don't choose to have
it remain here, the subject of scott
ing and centumely."
"Oh, you're wrong there" said
Wentworth. eve both have the
greatesJ respect for John w. He
is guide, philosopher and friend
as well as instructor"
Just let me handle this case"
said Fulmer, with a backward wave
of his hand, "Now, what shall 1
call your
what you please"
swell, we will say the plaintiff.
Now, plaintiff, in the first place you
would have to prove to the salts
faction of a jury that this is your
skeleton. We deny that it is
yours"
"Of course we do" put in Smile.
''We bought the body and John
wired It,"
81 don't mean that. The defense
takes the ground that this particu-
lar skeleton is not the bones of the
plaintiff, but the bones of John w.
Stodgers, deceased. Now it would
rest with you to prove that this
was your skeleton, and as people
are not in the habit of having a
private mark on their skeletons, l
flatter myself we would have you
right at the beginning of the case"
You are a very young lawyer"
replied the ghost, with a sort of a
post-mortem sheer. eff you exam
inc the teeth of that skeleton you
will find the one on the left lower
side next the back filed with silver,
and, if necessary, can tell your
intelligent jury the sort of cap that
is under the silver to cover the
nerve that once was there"
All the young men looked at j.
w., who, as if enjoying the point
made by it's other self, suddenly
slicked down its jaw and beamed
on Fulmer with it's silent laugh.
Wentworth took up the lamp and
looked at the lower jaw.
Eyes, Fulmer," he said, "that's
So"
"Well, we'll waive that point
we'll waive that point" said the
young lawyer, with Unaffected airi-
ness.
Il think you might as WE'LL" said
the ghost, dryly.
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