Nevada County picayune., 1886-02-03
A WESTERN GHOST STORY.
CINCINNATI ENQUIRER.

parties: There lives few miles out from Burlington, in one of the suburban towns, a merchant called Jones, who every few months goes into the city to replenish his stock of goods. Last May he went to Burlington for that purpose, and arriving late in the afternoon went direct to the hotel he was in the habit of stopping at and registered. He told the clerk that he wanted his old room, Flo. 34 and to have it ready, ss he would not be in until late for he expected to visit the diff ferent stores, select his goods, and finish up so as to take the morning 2 train home. The clerk told him he could have the room, but would have for a bedfellow d methodist preacher, who had already been assigned to that room. He replied that it would make no difference so he would leave the door unlocked He went out making his purchases and came in very late-a few min utes past midnight. The light was turned down pretty low, and he proceeded to undress and get ready for bed. He noticed hi. bedfellow had but a sheet over him. and, al though it was very cold, he conclU- ded that if a methodist preacher i could stand it with a sheet as his covering he could, and so he got in. He was almost asleep when he heard his door open, and looking up saw young man and lady en. ter and take seats on the opposite side of the room. They had hard. ly entered when the young man commenced to make love to the girl in the latest improved fashion, kissing her and telling her that he would die for her, swim rivers and kill men.
 Jones says 1t got so amusing tEat he poked his bedfellow in the ribs to awake him that he might enjoy the fun, thinking it would be as amusing to the preacher as any other mortal. The preacher show ed no signs of awaking, and the love making went on stronger than ever. He punched again and again but failed to awaken his friend. At last the pair got so far along that Jones could stand it no longer, ard alter giving the preach CT a good kick in the side, raised up and pulled the sheet down-his hair stood on end and his face blanched with horror, for there be- side him lay the corpse of a beau. tiful woman with dark hair and wrapped in shroud and silver dollar on each of her eyes.
 When he recovered from the first shock he sprang from the bed, and as he landed on the floor, his face as white as the dead body in the bed and hair on eud, the young man went out of the window, talk ing the glass and sash with him the girl, with a shriek, fell faintine to the floor. Jones grabbed the chair on which were his clothes and started out. As he opened the door he saw his mistake, as the number was 24 instead of of 34. A few steps took him to 34, and en tsring, he made sure that his bed fellow this time was alive. He didn't sloep and rose early and went down to breakfast. Here in the dining room, the whole conver' sation was about the mysterious action of the corpse. Some ono who entered a few minutes after werwards declared the body had never been moved, as the dollars were still on her eyes Others thought the pair had fallen asleep, and the man had dreamed of a ghost, and rushing through the window had frightened the lady. Jones never said word, and this is the first time it has ever been told, and no doubt the mystery will now be cleared up.
 It appears that the body of the dead lady had been placed in No. 24, and the young man and lady were sitting mp with it. At mid night, as is the custom out west, the watchers went down to the the dining room for a lunch which had been spread for them, and during their absence Jones. in his hurry had entered room No. "A instead of 34, and had undressed and got in bed before their return. Whether the girl who was one oi the watchers, ever married the man who had hardly finished hls decla' ration of being ready to die for her