Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1885-07-09

II articulated John w. myself
"Whomp
'Joha W. We call him stodgers.
John w. Stodgers."
"Oh, you do. !"
"Yes. For convenience. Don't sup
pose that was his name"
1T certainly was not"
"How do you knowP"
Because | 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 a store
skeleton. Il is Johns upper and my
lower and so we fixed up the bones our
Selves"
II wish 70 see no receipts. You don't
appear TO understand me. When | was
alive that skeleton was the frame work
Of my body"
when you were aliveT'
Certainly"
~"What are you nor? You don't
mean to pretend that you palm your
self of as a ghost on us" j"
'lf 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 no oppo-
sition, but apparently passed through
the specter and fell clattering TO the
floor. At that instant the jaw of the
skeleton fell with its sudden click, and
in the silence that ensued Il seemed to
regard the spirit with 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 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 with
draw.
mo, no, come in, Tom; you're just
the man we want to see. y
Tom took the chair offered him.
Il don't just know how to Introduce
you, said Wentworth. Tom. this is
-a-ah gentleman who ella ms 10 be
the original possessor of this skeleton.
M -alcHuNt ~ W hNutAenips tus
That tendency answered Went
worth. 'He is, in fact, a well, q
ghost"
"A whatp"
"The gentleman has been dead for
some time, ~ put in Smile, the task Of
explaining having seemingly got be-
yond Wentworth. "And while alive
this was his skeleton"
"Oh, come now, Smile. what are you
giving usP"
Fact" said Smile, "just tossed this
ruler through him. Try il. -
Fulmer hesitated.
''lt will perhaps convince YOU quicker
than anything else, and don't incon-
venience me in the least, said the ap-
partition. Fulmer tossed the ruler, with
the same result as before. He was very
short-sighted and he adjusted his eye
glasses and peered across the table at
the ghost, who stood impassiyely rs he
had done from the first
81 say, Wentworth, just strike light,
will you"
Wentworth lit the large lamp that
stood on top of the bureau. The ghost
appeared an ordinary-looking man,
hANooNA - AhN AAiAhN hNs Il
with corrugated brow, gael at him
while Smile and Wentworth felt n sort
of momentary pride OF ownership, as il
their possession of the skeleton gave
them kind of proprietorship 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.
"Sit down." said Fulmer, 81 hate to
talk to a-person-standing"
The specter sat down.
"Now, what use Is this skeleton to
you?' began the young lawyer, his pro-
fessional instinct getting the better of
his amazement.
THAT, If you will pardon me, is no
ones business but my own. may say
want it placed where | will know where
TO find it-or l may say that | don't
choose 10 have ii remain here, the sub
ject Of scoiiing and conlumely."
''Oh, you're wrong there, ;" said Went
worth. I'VE both have the greatest
respect for John W. He is a guide,
philosopher and friend-as well as in
structOr.
Just let me handle this case" said
Fulmer, with a backward wave of his
hand. ''Now what shall call you?"
What you please.
"Well, we will say the plaintiff. Now,
plaintiff. in the first place you would
have to prove 10 the satisfaction of "A
jury that this is your skeleton. We
deny that 1t is yours"
''Of course we do" put in Smile.
I'VE bought the body and John wired
it."
II don't mean that The defense
takes the ground that this particular
skeleton is not the bones OF the plain
tiff, but the bones of John w. StOdgers,
deceased. Now il would rest with you
TO prove that this was your skeleton.
and as people are not in the hab of
having private mark on their skele-
tons, ilatter myself we would have
you right at the beginning of the case"
You are very young lawyer re-
pliod the ghost with sort OF a post
mOrtem sneer. Iii you examine the
teeth Of that skeleton you will find the
one on the left lower side next the
back filed With silver, and, il necessary,
/ can te your inte ligent 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
its other self, suddenly clicked down It's
jaw and beamed on Fulmer with its
silent laugh. Wentworth took up the
lamp and looked at the lower jaw.
'Yes. Fulmer," he said, that's so. ="
"Wcll. we'll waive that point--we'll
waive that point" said the young law
yer. with Unaffected airiness.
II think you might as well. +" said
the ghost, dryly.
but the real nub Of the case would
be in this; Can a man once dead lay
claim 10 any part Of the property he
owned while alive? / don recOllect
any parallel case 10 yours exactly, but /
have some knowledge Of the statutes OF
MichiOan ~ this mOdegfiv ssand | think