The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-04-26

AO SiuethSo iiiV aho
claimed:
eff we stay here another minute we
are both dead men,
| sat down and drew him down be.
side me. and as did so the parlor door
opened again, and from the front hall
came groans and sighs and dull sounds
of struggle. knew that the wire |
had seen was being worked behind the
laths, but my companion could stand
no more. He seized both lanterns and
started out. and had to go along or
be left in the dark. When clear of the
house he made run for the highway.
and found him on the further side of
it when l came up.
whats the matter?' asked.
''Good God. man. but my nerves are
all gone!" he gasped. II wouldn't
stop in that house another five minutes
for all the money in the State!'
Twas satisfied that all the noises had
been made by human agency. Some
one had taken possession of the house,
and | had a feeling that it was Kelly.
1t was just in the line with his other
sharp tricks. | did not tell my COM
panion what l suspected nor what
intended to do, but l had all my plans
| laid before morning. The old house
was two and half story. and whoever
was hiding there was likely to be in
the garret. 1t was also likely that this
garret was reached from the second
story by ladder. If 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 I got squad
of men and surrounded the house the
occupant might get off by some un-
known way, or find hiding place un-
known to us. If we failed to find any
one the whole city would hold us up to
ridicule.
There was no window in the garret
at the back end of the house. 1t was
hardly daylight before l approached it
from that direction, entered the place
with great caution, and hid myself
away beneath the kitchen stairs. l ex-
pected the occupant of the garret would
come down before noon. but he did not
show up. 1t was dark and gloomy
day in the fall. with frequent rain
squalls, and about two o'clock in the
afternoon crept upstairs in my stock
ing feet, entered room near where the
garret scuttle was located, and hegal
playing the ghost for some one else
benefit. had brought along a mouth
organ, and l sounded and hung on t.
few lonesome notes several time
over. Pretty soon l heard Sigh
movement overhead. Then I took :
fiddle string, made one end fast to
nail, and when had hauled taut
picked the string with my thumb nail
, sent forth complaining sounds. and
added few sighs and groans. Th
sounds above me became palmer. an
knew that some one was listening a
, the scuttle.
Igave him few more notes scratche
! on the wall and floor, and in FEY
: minutes ladder was thrust down fror
: the scuttle. A few deep-drawn groan
on my part brought man down tn
!. ladder, and as he reached the foot of
= | collared him. Itwas Kelly. He wh
= had played ghost on others had himse
= fallen into the trap. He screamed rigf
:. out at sight of me. and he did not g
his nerve back until had him outdoor
? ? He fully believed for the time that
:, spirit made the sounds. The case W;
;. about as l had figured. He had planne
!. to come to the house, and he interdt
to remain there several weeks. He hs
affixed cords to the top Of the parl'
!. door to swing it, and had arranged #
~ all the sounds we heard. If felt elatt
. he felt very sheepish as an offset, al
when sentenced to two years in Sta
Il prison for his crime, he said to me:
:. ut isn't that was caught, but tha
: was outwitted and bamboozled. VIII
~ man, had that whole plan in my he;
!. for months. and I'd have bet hundr
;. to one that I'd get safe off. just thil
. what fool | was to take up quartz
: i'm a haunted house, and then let sor
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