The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-07-10

had overcome certain uimcuitlcs IN AZ
ticulation. when there entered with un-
necessary silence stranger
Excuse me, gentlemen, he said.
beg your pardon. said Wentworth,
IL didn't hear You knock
II didn't knock"
'Oh!"
Take chair" said Smile.
IL will stay but few moments. re-
piled the stranger.
Of course neither of the young men
knew all the hundreds OF students at
the University. but they thought the
stranger belonged TO one Of the depart
ments. although it seemed odd that he
should enter without rapping.
Have q cigar" said Wentworth,
pushing the box towards him.
II come on business, said the other,
.'and do not smoke. That Is my skele-
ton. -
"Oh. excuse me-" cried Wentworth.
Il articulatcd John W. myself"
Whom
John W. We call him stodgers
John w. Stodgers."
.Oh. you do"
Yes. For convenience. Don'tsup-
pose that was his name.
1T certainly was not
How do you know?"
Because l tell you the skeleton Is
mine.
Show him our receipts for the body,
John. You don't understand. guess.
that Wentworth and bought the body
and have the receipts. It's not store
skeleton. 1t is Johns upper and my
lower and so we fixed up the bones our
selves.
II wish to see no receipts. You don I
appear to understand me. When Twas
alive that skeleton was the frame work
OF my body"
when you we're alircF'
Certainly
..What are you nou7 You don
mean to pretend that you palm your
self of as = ghost on US.
III YOU have any doubts about tn g
matter. Just throw that ruler at me.
Smile at once took the stranger at
his word and the ruler met no oppo-
sition. but apparently passed through
the spectcr and fell Gathering TO the
floor At that instant the jaw OF the
skeleton fell with its sudden click. and
in the silence that ensued il seemed "a
regard the spirit with a sort Of CLEAN
Of recognition. 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 q knock al
the door.
Come" shouted Smile.
In the gloom they recognized Tom
Fulmer, one Of the students.
Excuse me-" ssid Tom, seeing 3
stranger present and preparing to with
draw.
mo. no. come in, Tom; you're just
the man we want to see.
Tom took the chair offered him.
II don't Just know how to Introduce
you," said Wentworth. Tom. this i
-a-ah gentleman who claims to b'
the original possessor Of this skeleton.
..Ah dispute Is to ownership. eh?'
That tendency" answered Went
worth. HE is. in fact, a. well,
ghost
"A whatp"
1.-The gentleman has been dead TO
some time. put in Smile, the task o
explaining having seemingly got be
yond Wentworth. "And while aliv'
this was his skeleton"
..Oh, come now. Smile, what are yo'
! giving usp'
s.Fact,- said Smile, ''just tossed thi
,, ruler through him. Try IL
Fulmer hesitatcd.
1T will perhaps convince You quicke
! than anything else, and don't incon
ycnicnce me In the least, y said the ap
! partition. Fulmer tossed the ruler, wit
, the same result a. before. He was yer
| hort-sighted and he adjusted his eys
glasses and pecrcd across the table .
, the ghost, who stood impassively as b
; had done from the first.
, II say, Wentworth, just strike ligh'
l will you.
! Wentworth lit the large lamp ths
i stood on top Of the bureau. The gho'
appeared an ordinary-looking mar
! dressed as any man might be. Fulme
with corrugated brow, gazed at hi
. while Smile and Wentworth felt a sol
Of momentary pride Of ownership, as
: their possession Of the skeleton gay
!. them kind Of proprictorship In u
4 spccter.
' The amiable skeleton, which NO
4 shone white ID the bright light seemed