Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1888-07-12
CHAPTER XIV.


that subtle brain.
CHAPTER XIV.
WHAT THE PORTER SAW.
"rd ought to a known that suthln' was
gon' to happen. l had warnin', but was
so sot up in my own conceit that wouldn't
take it, tell you, Mr.. Norris, faint for
nothin' that ghost comes back to ha'nt the
places what it knew in life, specially II that
place warn't likely to raise comfortable
feelin's, and no one can tell me as Edison
would enjoy these here premises even in
spiritOoal sense"
"Edsonr' Norris looked up quickly from
his work. "What are you talking ABOUT,
Bijah!"
Biiah was the porter of the establishment,
and he was waiting for the new clerk to get
through with his business and 60 home, as
the others had done good hour before.
Biiah cast nervous glance over his
shoulder and his voice dropped to some
thing approaching cadence Of awe as he
made reply
you'll hardly b'lieve what tell you, Mr..
Norris, but it's the ivin' truth that l saw
Edison that night, in the old room there to
the right of you, as plain as / see you now.
was goin' about lockin' up as usual, and
i
door there stood open, and saw Edison in
the lookin' glass over the dressin' table,
Just as used to see him, dozens of times,
as went on my round. | was all struck OF
heap, and stood starin at him and him at
me for nigh onto a minute. 1t was Edison,
and it want him, but the difference
was Just what you'd look for in ghost
wasted and yaller and worn, the spoOkiest
lookin' critter-and while l looked, he went
out of the glass, and the room was as empty
as you see it now. 1 won't deny there was
cold creep down my back when went
into it, eXpectin' hardly know what There
was an old coat hangin' on the wall, and I
took it INTO my head to reason out that that
was what I'd seen, and my imaginin' Ed
sons face to the top of it was what they
call noptical delusion. Wuss luck for poor
Mr.. Lyman, though l reckon he wouldn't
a took much stock in my Spook story II Ia
told it to him. That's what gets me! Why
didn't the ghost show itself to him! Some
good might have come of it then, If it had
scared him out of stayin' round O. nights,
which couldn't see the use of noway," and
Bijah gave his head a dubious shake
at proves to have been a most fortunate
thing. outside of the result to him, Bijah.
Childer left every account straight and
clear The business has been so simplifed
that, inexperienced as | am, / find no diff
Guilty IN understanding it, and there was
even draft of what he intended to do in
regard to all the important interests of
the bank. Mr.. Everleigh was much moved
| by 50 many evidences of his forethought."
| Involuntarily the bank porter's coun-
| tenance frightened.
"So' Well, now, I'm downright glad
that there wasn't any thing of the Edison
business afoot. l misdoubted, somehow,
though l couldn't noway think it of Mr..
Lyman, neither | don't keer now il the
ghosts do walk, and Bijah whistled cheer
lily as he went about his task of clearing up.
Norris, having finished his work, passed
into the room which had been occupied by
Edison when he was cashier there 1t was
a plain apartment, bare enough now, with
hooks on the wall where the clerks hung
their outdoor apparel. The old coat to
which Bjah referred still hung in its place,
and by walking back to the outer room.
Norris convinced himself that the angle Of
reflection would not show it at the spot
where the other had stood when he saw his
vision.
Had Edison himself been there! He could
not doubt it, knowing, as the other did not,
that the defaulter lived but why should he
come there-why war with his companion
in crime, if Lyman Childer had been that
companion: More and more had it been
borne in on Norris that this must be the
explanation Of the case
"You see, there amt place where cat
| could hide" said the porter, coming up
| while these thoughts were passing through
the young mans mind. "That ar detective
%al1 81, .--l.x
side, but it want in here, I'll be bound"
"What is this!" asked Norris, stopping
over small door sunk in the wainscotting.
THAT: That's nothin' but cubby-hole
under the stairs. Don't think even ghost
would want to cuddle in there Bolts
rusted in, reckon; it hain't been open for
| year"
| The bolts gave readily under Bergman's
touch, however, and the door swung noise
lessly back. a pile of old ledgers almost
| filled the space inside, and the dust on
them, quarter of an inch thick. showed no
trace of having been recently disturbed.
"You See." said Bijah. Good Lord |"
1t was only the ringing of the telephone
bell which gave him such start. Norris
answered the call, to receive a message
from Mr.. Everleigh.
VI,tu gOt are Iucre yen WduJ you W
come up to the house at once. Something
| to tell you of importance"
/ There was an indistinguishable growl at
the last, as if the speaker were in no good
humor, and, in truth, the banker seemed
both veXed and troubled when his clerk ap-
peared before him.
"Ingot has resigned he announced. 81
expected TO extend his leave. at some in
convenience to myself. He is thorough
accoun tant, and / will find it hard to re-
place him satisfactorily at a moments no
| tee"
"That is not all that is troubling YOU,
sir9"
No, 1t is not. There is that child's money
| which Lyman put with his into the firm
We are on our feet now. so that it can be
repaid, but her brother gave me to under
stand, even when her marriage was spoken
Of, that he intended to keep the manage
| ment of it until she became of age Ingot
has given me notice that he intends with
drawing it,
An indignant fash came into his hearers
eyes.
Has he the right to do this.''
As her husband he will have Though
Lyman has acted as her guardian. 1 chance
to know that he never took the legal steps
to become so in fact. You see, before this
recent fortune came to them, they owned
nothing but the house they live in, and
there was no one to dispute his authority.