Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-09-27
THE GROANING GHOST.

-Uertruue Aiger.
! THE GROANING GHOST.
Some fve-and-LhIrty years ago, when
was a young man, my fathers business
experienced a sudden and severe check.
We were many in family and the ex-
penses of education were heavy. 1t was
necessary to retrench. My fathers place
of business lay in the heart of the city.
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 we
resolved to move eastward 10 within easy
reach Of our place of business. My
brother and myself were commissioned
TO find a suitable house.
Time drew on and we were still unsuc-
cessful.
We passed from house agent to house
agent; we inserted advertisements; we
answered advertisements But to no pur-
pose. In the autumn evenings my brother
( and used to prowl about the streets
and squares, hoping to hit upon likely
habitation. We had given notice to quit
our own house, and matters were getting
pressing. u would be a perfect catas-
trophe if so large a family as ours found
itself homeless. But late on Saturday
afternoon we were investigating quar-
ter 10 which we had not hitherto pene-
trated, and we came on the very thing.
simultaneous exclamation burst from
both of us. The house stood at the cor
ner of a quiet, sober-looking, very old
fashioned square. Being the corner
house. il was larger than the other
houses. We had gained some ex-
perience by this time, and We saw
at a glance that the place was almost
certain to suit us.
/ A bill in one of the numerous windows
announced that the house was to let:
apply next door" We applied. The
] door was opened by tidy, gray-haired
elderly woman.
"Can we look over the house next door,?
l said. A rather queer look crossed the
wOman's face for a moment, but she an
/ swered civilly:
Certainly, sir. But it is rather dark
now"
Z $50 it is" said l. ave may come in
daylight il the place is likely to suit us.
/ Can you tell US the particulars" The
woman enumerated the rooms and the
various features of the mansion. All were
most suitable.
And the rent" inquired, nerving my
ielf for disappointment. She named so
low a figure that uttered an involuntary
exclamation.
"You see we've had it on our hands for
some time, she explained, "and we would
offer easy terms TO u good tenant"
And when can we look over ity"
Q l-al l. -
mo, sir. But we have the letting Of it.
My husband would show you over to-
morrow, sir, if you didn't mind He is
always away all day and until very late
at night
is he a house agent
"No, sir. He's employed behind the
scenes at one of the theatres. He is a
master carpenter" We thanked her,
made an appointment for Sunday morn
ing, and went home delighted. As we
turned out of the square, said:
Did you notice now odd that woman
looked when l spoke TO herr What did
that look mesn'"
Surprise" said my brother, who was
al obseryant fellow.
Il suppose she thought we were too
great swells for the neighborhood," said
laughing.
Cad | like the look of the place
Quiet, respectable and old fashioned"
We announced our success at home, to
the great relief OF everybody. Next
morning We kept our appointment and
were received by the landlord himself.
He was a staid, responsible looking man
of some GO years and we were favorably
impressed with him. He took US over
the house, and answered our questions
freely and fully. Everything wss salts
factory. was delighted. But my
brother, who was of a cautious tempera-
ment, kept on asking questions until got
fairly angry. First he got on TO the mat
ter OF drains, and when he had been re
duoed to silence on this head, he was
most pertinacious on the subject of damp
At last he said:
You don't ask very high rent How's
thats
why" said the landlord deliberately,
and turning his cap in his hands, you
see this neighborhood is out of fashion
now. 1t isn't what it once was. We've
had this house vacant for some time, and
we're anxious to let it. You can see
there's nothing wrong about the place
If II were in the West End, you'd pay six
or seven times the rent" His eNplana-
ton seemed perfectly straightforward,
and certainly the house bore the closest
scrutiny. Eventually we close the
bargain.
The next day / was lunching at my
usual chop house along with two or three
acquaintances.
still house hunting Denton7" said one
of these
mo, thank heaven, said. We've got
house at last In-Square."
Square, echoed he thoughtfully.
"Why, Square is the -. Which
number have you got?"
Number 45," l said He threw his
head b2ck and burst into fit of flaughter.
The ether men laughed too. l looked
from one tc the other for explanation.
WREN you've DONE" said l with
dignity,
Why, don't you know" said my friend,
recovering his gravity. Number 45 -
Square, is haunted?" l saw the other
men looking at me, SO Iput on bold
front.
"As if every one didn't know that" said
composedly. He was somewhat taken
aback, but returned to the charge.
Well, you'll have plenty of company
there" he said. "We shall have you ap-
pedTlnB III lnc city WIN hhe Heetu VI
snow-white hair, acquired in single
night Poor old boy~
Don't you be afraid, " retorted. "There
are enough of us to frighten any ghost
We shall crowd him out"
Il bet you a new hat you don't stop
there a week." said he.
"Done with you," said promptly. "As
often as you like. Amy one else want to
bettn
No one volunteered, and the subject
dropped. But l was extremely uncom-
Portable. In the course of the afternoon
l took my brother aside and told him.
"Phewl" said he. That explaines the
low rent But it's rather serious. The
governor can't stand anything of the sort
You know how nervous he is.
Yes, know" l said. And it strikes
me that the best thing we can do is TO
r,o<a into tho housa ourselves On that Wa