The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1886-11-04

it back; it isn't likely to be asked
for again."
But Miss Robinson gave a little
scream, and would have let the bot
tie fall had not the landlord saved it.
"It's-it's the strange smell we no.
ticed just now"
$50 / thought, said tho landlord,
softly, shaking his head. otis a
strange thing
Butthe talk was here broken in
upon by the arrival of a regular Gus
toner. the master carpenter.
mortal tired, he said, in reply to
the landlords inquiry. "Rehearsing
again all day. Awful heavy sets.
But it's to be big 60. The goy'nor,
when he first tho't of doing it, three
months ago, funked it bit. It's
deuced risky, think, in parts, but
they're all certain it'll be a big 60.
By-thh-way, if turns out after all,
its by Old Potter; him that was such
regular customer OF yours
The landlord dropped his pipe
light into the half.filled glass before
him.
"Three menths ago." he said slow.
ly, cit was first thought Off"
Eyes; the gov'nor had had it lying
about for long while. 1t was at
the end of September-it was the
10Th, because the gov'nor and me
were talking of quarter day in the
gov'nor's room, and he said, taking
up the script, L wonder whether
there's any money in this? We must
do something 20 pull 'em in!' -
The landlord went to his desk and
opened book. "The very day he
came back" said he to himself.
X
The story of One-Play Potter's
ghost had got abroad, may be added
did no harm to business. People drop
ped in and brought friends with
them to play the ghost" a ceremony
pleasant withal. Drinks got to be
facetIously designated "co,d ghost
or "ghost hot, with sugar A
ghost, however grues ON ut first, by
familiarity looses much of its terror
yet the customers were less inclined
to be disrespeetful when alone in
in the dimly-llt bar, although it had
been unanimously decided that the
long drawn sigh WAS something
wrong with the gass-pipe, and the
insidious odor Of obsinthe device of
the landlords.
But the night came when Potter s
second play was to be produced.
There had been a great deal Of talk
about it, and there were great ex-
pectatiOns. The landlord was dress
ing himself to 60 to the theater
when he heard scream in the bar,
and running down stairs, found
that Miss Robinson had tainted.
She had heard Potter's ghost laugh.
"Come' say, you know" said the
Landlord, solomnly, "this is too much
of good thing, Porter"
Perhaps Porter's ghost felt asham-
ed of himself. lie was silent.
But the barInaids hal had enough
Of it, and the landlord and Potman
were that night left to their best
when the girls in tremble had fed.
| Ehe landlord resigned himself to his
fate, and donned his everyday coat.
The gass was fully lighted, and he
sat down and waited for custom
| er.
But none came. An hour passed,
and then another hour, but still nc
customer-nene other, should rath-
er say, than the one unseen, but OF
whose presence they we,e neryously
conscious. In life it had been Pot.
ter's habit to humble to himself, to
Sigh, and chuckle. From time to
time this night the ghost did all.
l. was quite clear he was there wait.
| ing for the verdict Of his play.
! About nine o'clock some one who
had been in front came in.
| "Well?" said the landlord inter.
negatively and with an uneasy side
glance towards Potter's corner.
The customer shrugged his shout
ders. ga fearful frost. Never sucl
a guying. They'll not let them gel
through the second act"
The landlords eyes wandered
still more uneasily towards ths
corner. There was no sound. "Per
h,ps," the landlord thought, he
gone to the theater to see for him
self.
When the curtain fell finally in
the middle o. the third act, Their
cine quite rush Of excited an
noisy playgoers. Potter's play bat
proved one of the most memorable o
fiascoes, and the opinions of all as
sembled u I'd the bar were loudl,
exl r.ssei midst screams of laughter
at the recollection of what had dee
said and done.
ALI of a sudden, though, there
/ came strange pause, and across the
faces of all present passed curious
half scared lock, whilst, as If moves
one impulse, each and all looke'
down at his right hand and rubbed i
shudderingly upon his clothes, a
though to git rid of an uncomfort
able creeping sensation that bat
taken possession of the flesh. An,
then long, low, plaitive sigh, tina
was perhaps more a wall of pain
echoed through the house, and faded
away into the chill night air.
Potter's ghost came on earth NJ
more. lie had crept round AM
shaken hands, and was gone 70
f-oo1