The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-09-08

servant opened with cheerful smile.
"All right, sir, and very comfortable"
"Oh!' said I, rather disappointed; shave
you not seen nor heard anything remark
able ?"
"Well, sir, must own have heard
something queer"
'What ?-what ?"
''The sound of feet pattering behind me;
and once or twice small noises like whispers
close at my ear; nothing more"
"You are not at all frightened ?"
az? Not a bit of it, sir" And the
man. bold look treasured me on one point,
namely, that, happen what might, he would
not desert me.
We we're in the hall, the street door
closed, and my attention was now drawn to
my dog. He had at first run in eagerly
enough, but had sneaked back to the door,
and was scratching and whining to get out.
After 1 had patted him on the head and
encouraged him gently, the dog seemed to
reconcile himself to the situation, and fol-
lowed me and F. through the house,
but keeping close at my heels instead of
hurrying inquisitively in advance, which
was his usual and normal habit in all
strange places. We first visited the sub
terranean apartments, the kitchen and other
offices, and especially the cellars, in which
last were two or three bottles Of wine still
left in a bin covered with cobwebs, and
evidently, by their appearance, undisturbed
for many years. 1t was clear that the
ghosts were not -bibbers.
For the rest, we discovered nothing of
interest There was gloomy little back
yard with very high walls. The stones of
this yard were very damp; and what with
the damp, and what with the dust and
smoke CRIME on the pavement, our feet left
slight impression where we passed.
And now appeared the first strange phe-
nomenon witnessed by myself in this strange
abode. | saw, just before me, the print of
foot suddenly form itself, as it were. 1
stopped, caught hold of my servant, and
pointed to it. In advance of that footprint
suddenly dropped another. We both saw
it. advanced quickly to the place; the
footprint kept advancing before me; small
footprint, the foot of child; the impression
was too faint thoroughly to distinguish the
shape, but it seemed to us both that it was
the print of naked foot. This phenom-
enon ceased when he arrived at the opposite
wall, nor did it repeat itself when we re-
turned. We remounted the stairs and
entered the rooms on the ground foor-a
dining parlor, small back parlor and a still
smaller third room, that had probably been
appropriated to a footman-all still as death.
We then visited the drawing rooms, which
seemed fresh and new. In the front room
| seated myself in an arm chair. p
placed on the table the candlestick with
which he had lighted us. L told him TO
shut the door. As he turned to do so a
chair opposite to me moved from the wall
quickly and noiselessly, and dropped itself
about a yard from my own chair, immedi-
ately fronting it.
"Why, this is better than the turning
tables" said /, with half laugh; and as l
laughed my dog put back his head and
howled,
F., coming back, had not observed
the movement of the chair. He employed
himself now in stilling the dog. | con-
tinued to gaze on the chair, and fancied l
saw on it a pale, blue, misty outline of
human figure; but an outline so indistinct
that l could only distrust my own vision.
The dog was now quiet.
PUT back the chair opposite to me"
said to p ''ppt it back to the wall"
F. obeyed. "Was that you, sir ?"
said he, turning abruptly
"I-what ?"
"Why, something struck me. felt it
sharply on the shoulder, just here
eNo," said I; "we have jugglers present,
and though we may pot discover their
tricks, we shall catch them before they
brighten US.
We did not stay long in the drawing
rooms; in fact, they felt so damp and SO
chilly that was glad to get to the fire up
stairs. We locked the doors of the drawing
rooms--a pFeeaution which, should OBJ
serve, we had taken with all the rooms we
had searched below. The bedroom my
servant had selected for me was the best on
the floor; large one, with two windows
froatipg the street. The four posted bed,
which took up no iaconsiderable space, was
opposite to the fire, which burned clear and
bright; door in the wall to the left, be-
tween the bed and the window, communi-
Gated with the room which my servant APP
propfiated to himself This last was a
small room with sofa bed, apd had no
communication with the landing place; no
other door but that which conducted to the
bedroom was to occupy. On either side
Of my fireplace was cupboard, without
locks, flush to the wall, and covered with
the same dull brown paper. We examined
these cupboards; only hooks to suspend
female dresses-nothing else. We sounded
the walls; evidently solid-the outer walls
of the building. Having finished the sur
vey of these apartments, warmed myself a
few moments and lighted my cigar, l thep,
still accompanied by p, went forth to
complete my reconnaissance In the land
ing place there was another door; it was
closed firmly. "Sir," said my servant, in
surprise, ~ unlocked this door with all the