The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1888-04-13

a
panion rose to his feet, wheeled halt
around and whispered:
"LoOk out tor yourself! The Gus
sed thing is coming up out of the
cellar.n
"Keep still-listenv' / replied,
and when the can "tunked" one for
each step the sound ceased. Then
The parlor door slowly and silently
swung to. AS l have told you, |
was dead sure that all these things
were caused by human agency, and
yet I felt creeping of my flesh,
and my forehead was damp with
perspIratiOn. The detective with
me was as brave man as ever took
up a trail, but such was the effect
upon him that his face was as white
as snow, his teeth chattered, and he
clutched me and pleadingly ex
claimed:
elf we stay here another minute
we are both dead meng'
sat down aud drew him down
beside me, aud as l did SO the par.
lOr door opened again, and from
the front hall came groanS and
sighs and dull sounds OF a struggle.
l knew that the wire l had seen
was being worked behind the laths,
but my companion could stand no
more. He seized both lanterns and
started out, aud l had to go along
or be left in the dark. When clear
of the house he made a run for the
highway, and l found him Oh tue
further side of it when | came up.
"What's the matterf ~ asked.
"Good God, man, but my nerves
are all gonew he gasped. l would
not stop IN that house another five
minutes for all the money in the
State!'
| was satisfied that all the noises
had been made by human agency.
Some one had taken possession Of
the,hOuse ,and | had feeling that it
was Kelly. 1t was just in line with
his other sharp tricks. l did not
tell my companion what | suspect
ed nor what l intended to do, but
l had all my plans LAID before MORN
ing. The old house was two aud
halt stories, aud whoever was hid
ing there was likely to bein the gar
ret. 1t was also likely that this gar
ret was reached from the secend stO.
" by a ladder. 1t the person was
Kelly or any other sharp fellOw,the
ladder would be drawn up, or any
one showing his head above the
scuttle would receive rap. If /
got a squad of men and surrounded
The house the occupant might get |
1ff by some unknown way, or find a
hiding place unknown to us. If We
failed to find any one the whole city |
would hold us up to ridicule.
There was no window in the gar
ret at the back end of the house.
It was hardly daylight before ap |
preached it from that direction, en-.
ered the place with great caution,
md hid myself away beneath the
kitchen stairs. l expected the oc-.
,upant of the garret would come
lOwn before noon, but he did not
show up. 1t was a dark and gloomy |
lay in the fall, with frequent rain
squalls, and about 2 O'Clock in the
ltternoOn l crept up the stairs iu !
ny stocking feet, entered room
rear where the garret scuttle was |
ocked, aud began playing the ghost
or some one else's benefit. l had |
brought along mouth organ, and |
sounded aud hung on few lone
Iome notes several times over.
Pretty soon l heard a slight move
nent overhead. Then l took tid-
lie string, made Ohe end fast to
lail, aud when | had hauled taut l
picked the string with my thumb
lail. 1 sent forth complaining
ouuds, and added a few signs
md groans. The sounds above me
'ecame palmer, and l knew that
ONE one was listening to the scut-
le.
l gave him few more notes,
cratched on the wall and floor, and
0 a few minutes o ladder was thrust
own from the scuttle. A few deep
rawn groans on my part brought a
nan down the ladder, and as he
cached the foot oft l cOllared him.
{ was Kelly, He who had played
host on others bad himself fallen
nto the trap. He screamed right
mt at sight Of me, and he did not
ret his nerve back until l had him
utdOors. de fully believed for the
ime that a spirit made the sounds.
'be case was about as l had 6g-
red. BE had planned to come to
be house, aud he Intended to re-
lain there several weeks. he had
fixed cords to the top OF the. par
DIT door to swing il, aRd had ar
anged for all the sounds we heard.
( l felt elsted be felt very shsepish
9 an Offset, and when sentenced to
wO years in state prison for his
rime, be said to me;
"It isn't that vas caught, but
bat 1 vas outWitted aud bambOozl-
d. Why, man, I bad that whole
Ian in my head for months, and
d have bet a hon dred to one that
q get safe Of. Just think what a
pol l was to take mp quarters in a
aunted house, and then let some
ne play the ghost on meP