Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1889-09-13

Don't hurt me" Il saiJ IN a terrified
voice.
! had no voice to reply with. I was
choking. but / pulled my captive out on
the lawn and looked at It in the moon
light. The sheet that had been mufled
about the figure fell to the grounds
pretty girl Of 10 was disclosed. | was in
a cold perspiration and shaking as II re-
covering from a shock of electricity. but
when / saw hat / had caught a real
genuine flesh and blood girl and no
ghost began to feel better and presently
was able to talk.
Who are your / asked.
Jennie Baylis."
"What2 The daughter of Joe Baylisg"
eyes, sir"
"What are you doing this for?"
The girl began to cry. She said she
had not meant any harm. She and her
sister had played ghost just to have
some fun. Her sister was usually with
her, but did not como this night, as she
was too busy. She had heard from her
father that a detective was coming to
catch the ghost. but thought he was not
due for a day OF two, and resolved to
make one last appearance ald then give
up the performance till things Gained
down.
"Who are your she asked.
I'm the detective" said.
She looked me over in evident awe and
CONSERVATION, tinged with some surprise
on account of my age.
what are you going to do with meY'
81 shall nave to expose you"
The girl cried again and begged to be
released and allowed TO go home, but
hat did not suit me at all. l said she
was my prisoner and as such I must de-
liver her up to the authorities, and after
- good deal of waiting she suggested that
] had better give her up to her own fa-
ther. Iagreed to that, and picking up
her eheet ! held her arm and took her
with me to her fathers house, about a
mile distant.
Don't you know that you might have
been killed by some of those people you
frightenedT' l asked.
mo, sir, / never thought Of that.
Everybody who saw me ran away"
When we got to the farm house where
Jennie lived it was half past o o'clock.
GNGll uOuJ was III BCA anu Tie nknL1
were all out, but l boldly knocked at the
door. A window opened and a mans
voice said;
"Whose thereF'
me"
who's me?"
"The detective"
you're rather late. Why did you not
wait until tomorrow? Better come
around and see me in the morning."
81 want to see you now. l have the
ghost"
At this the window was closed with a
bang and l heard hurried steps on the
stairs. Tho door opened and old Baylis
stood in the doorway. He was draped
in a very long old fashioned white gown
and wore a tall steeple shaped night cap.
One hand held up a tin candlestick and
the other shaded the light. A circle of
beard sweeping under his chin from ear
to ear made him look very comical. He
looked at me in establishment, and when
g no saw his daughter and the sheet ]
l thought he was going into commissions.
] "You, JennieY" he asked at length.
eyes, father, said Jennie very humbly.
Old Baylis sighed and said, "Come in.
He sent for the neighbors Immediately.
} | don't know what was said at their
J meeting, for l was not admitted to it,
] but old Baylis gave me a letter to the
captain and packed me off on the mid
night train. Next morning / reached
the office early and found all the men
present, waiting for the captain to detail
them. The men grinned ut me and
passed the time of day pleasantly enough.
They all knew where l had been and an
ticipated a wonderful tale of disaster and
defeat, which they were ready to laugh
at, although / was a favorite with them,
having done many a piece of extra work
for every man there.
81 thought l sent you to Fort Wash
| ington, HarryT' said the captain.
Eyes, sir"
made an ass of yourself, l supposeY'
t There's a letter, sir"
While the captain read the letter the
D men guyed me.
This is a very nice letter, Harry
a said the captain. boys, the youngstei
t captured the ghost"
$ did her" said the men.
}, Eyes, sir, he did. The boy is a credit
c to u.s. and then the captain read the let
= ter Of the selectman out loud. At every
P sentence l grew a foot.
-, "Well now, how did you do it," sew
v eral inquired.
/ told the story, and you can be sure
did not refrain from giving myself plenty
!, Of credit. My tale was very highly col
& ored. When it was concluded Long jim
+ Langdon drawled out;
j Harry, tell the honest truth. Wa
you frightened when that match wen
c outT'
"No, of course mott" said I. But l wa
b frightened two years later when ] askeC
+ the ghost to marry me, and thought sh,
was going to say no. However, shI
, idnt.-Philadelphia Times.