New-York tribune., 1886-08-08
THE GROANING GHOST.

sudden and severe check. We were MANY in
family and the expenses OF education were
heavy. II was necessary to retrench. My
fathers place "t buness lay in the heart of the
eity. We had to keep horses, if only to take
myself and my father to and from the City.
The most important articles in our scheme of
retrenchment were our horses and carriages
For all these reasons resolved to move
eastward IT, within easy reach of our place of
business. My brother and myself were COM
missioned to find a suitable house
Time drew on and we were still unsuccessful
We passed from honsc agent to honsc agent ::
We inserted advertisements we answered nd
vertseincnts. But to no purpose. In the
autumn evenings my brother and used to
prowl about the streets and squares hopiur TO
hit upon likely habitatIon. We had given
notice to quit our own house, and matters
were getting pressing. 1t would be perfect
catastrophe If so large a family as ours found
itself homeless. Bnt late one Saturday after
noon We were Investigating a quarter to which
we had not hitherto penetrated. and we came
on the very thing. A simultaneous cxclama-
ton bust from both of us The house stood
al the corner OF quiet sober looking veIy
old ias lioned square. Being the corner house.
1t was larger than the other houses. We had
gained some experience bv this time and we
saw at glance that the place was almost
certain 10 suit ns.
A bill in one of tho numerous windows an
nouncsd that the the house was t" let; APPLY
opened by tidy. gray haired elderly woman.
"Can we look over the house next door ?" I
said. a rather queer look crossed the woman's
face for moment. hnt she answered civily:
aaSrr'ainy: SIR. But II IS rather dark now"
light if tne place is likely TO suit us. Can You
tell us the particulars Y The woman enumer-
ated the rooms and the varons features of the
mansion. All were most suitable.
"And the rent r inquired nerving myself
for disappointment. She named so low a
figure that | uttered an involuntary cxc,ama-
ton.
you see we've had 1T on our hands for some
time." she explained, "and we would offer easy
terms IL "a good tenant"
And when can we look over it 2" asked.
- Is II yOnT own property =
No. sir But We have the letting of it. My
husband wonld SOW Won over tomorrow. sir,
ifyou didn't mind He is always away all day.
and until very late at night"
'ls ho "a house. agent Z
No. sir. He's employed behind the scenes
at one OF the theatres. He is q master car
penter." We Ihankcd her. made an appoint
ment for Sunday morning.. and went home
delighted. AS we turned out of the square, !
said:
"Did you notice how odd that woman looked
when =! ! spoke to her9 What did that look
mean 7"
Surprise" said my brother, who was an
Observant fellow.
II suppose she thought we were too great
swells tor the neighborhood," said 1. laughing.
I al like the look of the place. Quiet,
respectable and ole -fashioncd."
We announced our success Mt home, to the
great relief of every body. Next morning we
Kept our appointment and were recs wed by the
landlord himself. lie was slaid, responsible
looking Man of some sixty years and we were
favOraby impressed with him. He took Us
over the hOnsc. and answered our inquiries
freely and fully. Everything was satisfactory.
l was delighted But my brother, who was OF
ataniions temperament, kept on asking qucs-
tons until got fairly angry First he got on
% 4. nf rain and hen q n
reduced To silence on this head he was most
pcrtinacions on the subject OF damp. AT last
he said:
-Yoa don't ask very high rent IIow's
thatf"
"Why," said the landlord deliberately, and
turning his cap in his hands, "you see this
neighOorho0d Is ont OF fashion now. 1t isn't
what 1t once was We've had this house vacant
for some time, and we're anxious TO let ii. You
can see there's nothing wrong about the place.
lf it were in the West End, you'd pay SIX nr
seven fines the rent" His explanation seemed
perfectly straightforward, and certainly the
hOuse bore the closest scrutiny. Eventually we
closed the bargain.
The next day was lunching at my usual
chop-housc along with two three acGuaint-
ances.
"Sill house hunting, Denton ?" said one of
these.
aNo. thank heaveu."I said. 4We',e got a
house at last. IN - Square"
= Square" echoed he thoughtfnlly
have yuu got r
aNumber 45," said He threw his head
back and bnrst into tit of laughter The
other men laughed too. looked from one &c
the o'her for explanation.
When you've done" said with dignity.
"Why, don't you know slid my friend,
recovering his sraylty; "Numbei 40 -
looking at me. so put on bold front.
AS If every one didn't know That" said !
composcdly. lie was somewhat taken aback,
but returned To the charge.
@Wcll, you'll have plenty of company there,
he SAID. w Nc Shall have y0u appearing IN the
City with fine head of snow,whi'e hair,
acquired in single night. Poor old bov "
-DoD't you be afraid" | retnrted. "Therc
are enough of us to frighten any ghost. We
Shall crowd him out"
Il bet you new hat you don't stop there a
week" sad he.
"Done with you." said | promptly. "As
often as you like. Any one else want to bet T.
No one volunteered, and the subject dropped.
But was extremely uncomfortable. In the
Course of the afternoon | took my brother
aside and told hm
"Phcw - said he. "That explains the low
rent. But it's rather serious. The governor
can't stand anything of the sort lOn know
how nervous he is
@Ycs, know" | said. "And it strikes me
that the best thing do is to move intJ
the honsc ourselves, so that We eau tell INN the
story is II myth, il any one lets it out to him.
Just you and ].
Right" said lie. awe have taken the
house and we can't afford TO lose the money.
Besides, it's such capital place"
The whole family were 10 move in about
three weeks time. We had no difficulty III
finding IA pretcxt for preceding them, AMI 1t
was arranged that some of lhc bedroom fur
nilurc should be- Immediately sent in to Oui
new domcilc. We were going 10 sell most Oi
our furniture in our West End house, ami the
new furniture could he bought Immediately and
placed III Number 4j. So at about 10 O'Clock
one evening, after a substantial dinner IN town,
We let ourselves in to our new abode by means
OF the key and took possession. bright fire,
lit by our landady, was blazing in the kitchen.
We had plentiful supply Of wbiskey and
tobacco and we made Uursclvs comfortable
nd lnupt.irD - md,