The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-10-26
STILL A DEEP MYSTERY.

In the year 1870 a family named ROBIN
son removed from Medina county, Ohio,
TO = farm near Davenport, Iowa Mr.
Robinson made the purchase before his
family left Ohio, and bought of real es-
tate agent in Davenport. II appeared
that the farm had changed hands several
times within a few years, and that the last
owner had lived on it less than fort
night
There was q good frame house on the
place, the barns and sheds were in good
repair, and the land was certainly rich
and fertile.
Mr. Robinson got the place at what he
called great bargain, and he had few
questions to ask about the former owners
! and why they left.
rs the house had been tenantless for
| several months, there was need Of repairs.
! Robinson hired couple of painters, and
was with them about the place for three
/ days, all taking board at near farm
| house.
On the evening of the first day one Of
| the painters went over to the house after
| pipe he had left. The time was jast af-
| ter sundown. The kitchen door was not
| locked, and be went in that way 10 20 up
stairs, leaving the door wide open. The
! door leading from the kitchen to the eel
lar was shut. The door leading into the
| sitting room WAS open.
! As the painter halted in the kitchen
for Il moment to look at the new paper on
! the walls he heard = sound on the cellar
! stairs which filed him with amazemept.
| 1t was as II some body was walking back
ward down the stairs and dragging some
thing which bumped on every step. This
| noise continued until the bottom step was
reached, aud then there was q dull blow,
Z half cry, and all VS. still.
The painter pulled the door open and
asked who IS there, but all was quiet.
| At this same moment the kitchen door,
which hc lad left wide open, and the sit
ting room door, which he had noticed was
open, both slammed shut. Then, from
some spot lie could not locate, came the
sounds Of so5bing and moaning.
The painter bad the couraEc Of the av-
erage man, but he could not face that
He pulled the back door open and rushed
ont, all desire for IA evenings smoke
having been driven from his mind.
However, on the way back TO the other
house he made up his miEd TO say moth
| ing of his adventure, fearing the ridicule
which Is always justly or unjustly heaped
upon the man who becomes frightened
over what he cannot see. His pale face
and agitatCd manner were subjects for in
quiry, but be excused himself on the
ground OF sickness.
The next morning he wondered If he
had really heard what be thought he had.
The more he thought of it the stronger
became Ills conviction that hewas the vic
tim Of some temporary hallUcination. To
! prove or G!sprOve this lie put up n job on
his conrad. By borrowing his kaife and
leaving il CT the sill of ono of the win
dCws. IIe took nCtice as they quit work
that every door in the lower part Of the
house was shut.
After supper the PAINTER asked fer his
knife, as yvEs expected, and when told
where it had been left he set ont FOR the
house. He entered also by the back door.
The knife was in the sitting room.
As he crossed the kitchen, the sitting
room door, which he saw was shut, was
violently Cpaned. The painter stopped in
! his TRACKS, believing at first that some
tramp was in the house. After half a
/ minute the door shut with q slam and the
cellar door few open. Then came the
sounds which the other had heard, and as
they died away the back door shut TO with
bang.
Tne man, rs he readily acknowledged
few out Of the house with his hair on end
Not being SO fearful of riGicule, he re
turned 10 the other house, called his com.
panion ont, and related his adventure
When they came to compare notes they
agreed that the house was haunted There
was no wind stirring to operate tho doors
I'm that manner, and IL there had been
how could the Eoise on the stairs and the
moars aad sops be explained? II was
agreed % say nothing TO Robinson OF
others, and this compact was Lellto.
The work IN hand was finished the next
day, ard the men went home, Robinson
n the same time leaving for Ohio to bring
on his family.
What occurred after the family reached
tEc farm is CLEANED directly from Robin
sou and his vile, and, in the light of al
circGIas---Ccs, must be taken for truth
IEc E11s-.old goods were teamed out
md - they c7t Iher, late in tie afternoon
tho family were invited TO rcIaain at theii
rci%hhor's over night. This WAS thesams
1aiE-c- --ita T.hom Robinson and tLt
pniuto-s E9E stopped.
Ai-cr supper Robinson, his boy, y wear.
Oh, al a son Of tho farmer, two year.
yc-@Err, went over TO the house to unbo1
arl UETack some Of the goods, taking Z
couple OF candles along. Ii was not yet
dark wEcl they reached the house. nnl
tie boys e.rrted cut to make q tour OF TN,
Pics.
They had been mp stairs aI,o-t five min
utes When t-cy came rushing down il
great excitement, declaring hat they ha,
neara g WEE: - crying. Rch;--a,- laughed
At The iJs-, telling them totO0t more care
fully Eni they would find q cat. The lad
refused 40 i-7yc the room in which he va,
- wS-k, lat lie was busy and paid l.,
rart;cu1-g hc-3 10 them
1t 1-@7 Isi.3summer, and the evening
VS. yTit.eort : breath Of air to move q lea (
i;3tiESou .cd passed into the parlor vi n
aIl sr:-.lu. -L goods, and the boys stood D.,
m open hcI "a th> kitchen, when the eel
lar door s-.4leuIy opened. They Iar
screamlrl; Ilro the parlor, and theirterro
was 80 manifest that Robinson was 70
tho mo;a- U.nervcj. Re was sure tha
the cellar door had been shut for IN hour
and whcu lie walked out and found Tia
door wide open, he was, TO say the least
greatly astonished. 1t might be some on
from the other house playingtheu a trick
He took 4 candle and went down to tn
collar, but II WIS empty of any livin.
: thing He finally concluded that the doc
had not lscca fully shut, and that som
; move mcut OF the BOYS had opened II, an,
rs nothing further occurred he worked 10
m hour, and mt away Laughing at th
boys who kugSed him so closely.
Daring tho next day the house was s
far settled that the family occupied
after supper. Everybody being tired on
a by the days work, they were OH to bed a
: ~ carly hour. There was bedroom q
\ th>Litnca, and IN this the boy slept Their
" w25 another OF tie sitting room, and thi
: was occupied by the parents, while IL
q daughter, = giri Of l., slept up stairs
= Robinson say to it personally that a
tie doors were locked. There was no loc
; on jhc cellar Goor, but he saw that IL vi
= shut. Tac two bedroom doors were ii
ouon, IS also the door between the sittin
Iannl and Kitchen.
Nothing Whatever occurred TO 0ia.-
any ore until about 10 o'cloc!- The h
c was last asleep, AIRS. Isobinsoa snorin
s and Robinson WAS d1-ing Of when Il
Il daughter came running downstairs ~
q - -