The Red Cloud chief., 1889-11-29
CHAPTER XXI

An it's uoiEhtv strange what koinde ov
folks We Americans are. ouy way. Oi
reckon as ye're so indipilIiut the other
soide the wa,ber that we're not afraid o
the spirits. or the dead, CT the GIvIl lis
SELF
You are right in thai Peggy: We are not
standing II particular fear Of any q bUc
God"
An Oi rutaer guess some ov EN- don't
s.haad IN guakin' fear O. HIM, not by al
overly soight-"
IcouIQ not help smiling az the earnest
ness OF the old h~ousekeeper and the near
ness OF her shrewt guess 10 the facts OF
the case. Bat said: We'll, Will you go
with re. Peggy. 20 ind Sir Rupert in the
central hall some night before go homer
And she promised ne she would.
L happened or a rather sUl,en, Eusty
night that Peggy and l chose 10 investigate
the ghost story. or rather. l chose, for
GARRISON did not choose, a only Tor the
sake OF her promise
Win the recital Of Sir Rupert's roaming
about the central hall dong penance REG
ing in my ears and burning IN my soul ]
waited. il company with Peggy and Arcd,
in the deep silence for the spirit 20 wax
Garrison. ali il q shiver Of fright and ex.
element. declared that l had taken "the
VERY koirGe o. a uoisht or which the
SPIRIT wUd oe uost .0;ke.y TO give Us . fair
show
IG-ew TT wraps about me II The dense
shadows. and CIarksou clUug 70 ne ike a
frightened child as we entered the central
hall, and oU- footsteps echoed hollow and
strangely as we proceeded.
Had i not been for nv ~overrulIng desire
Of experiencing a genuine spirit visit and
nv morbid love Of adventure with the uys-
ter!ous, l should have given Up the project
q. the outset because " the old h~ou>ekeep-
er's increasing tiu-ijity. But l could rot
bring myself to say: lie: Us give II up"
and so We proceeded.
So croucbIug Low D. the lower steps Of
the great oahen staircase we waited pa.
cieutly for some demonstration of Sir Ru-
pert. TIE hall lamps, which had not been
Lighted since the dead master Lay, so cold
and rigid. il the adjoining room. were light
ed. and. burning low. cast uore OF gloom
than cheerfulness around Us The witch
ing hour approached; the shadows hung
heavily folded II the corners, and seemed
20 cling 20 the uoider;ns balustrs6e Ike
dense curtains Of Grape. Peggy was grow
.-= -CS-s S-A- ~
sat- .hiverirg on the edge Of the steps,
w~ni.e-taced and alert.
Ancil leaned against the polished railing
AID listened win the air o: a martyr.
Doubtless they were both martyrs 70
foolish freak. and l. relentins. vas on the
point Of SAYING quits when souechins
arrested ny attention. I was conscious o.
a stea-tay movement il the corridor above
49, . -.,--l =, ~. I FER .~Naprr2Y h=.-Yf
| the manifestation. If such al expression i
allowable. Peggy he'd her breath. and, put
ting her finger cu her Up, siEuiEed: Isl
leuce; llsceu.'
Asoucj IS Of sone one walking WEAKLY
about with muEej step caueto our ears a
Intervals. and l faucIei Sir Rupert va:
rescinC between marches. d continued
for some uO1
Back and forth through the CorrIGcl
went the weary. painful march OF unseel
feet. with the moments OF resi- saDCwichet
in at regular intervals.
a very mettocical ghost l said u
Pe---. Hush she whispered, and l shu
Up Ike a Clam
Then a weary sigh foated down the lout
staircase. and I felt rather uncomfortable
10 think the pot was t~hickening so fas. il
favor O: Sir Rupert
Surely M theory was II danger alread,
Of being exploded by the persistent spirit
But while we listened the manifestation
grew fainter and fainter, as il disguised
with the fruitless tramp, tramp. and th'
sound OF footsteps had cied out altoeetde,
when the soft. iucisrIucc tread as Of SOM
one in their scockinged feet was piAini.
heard on the landing just above rs. and
rancied a sort Of muruureI ~whIsperin!
seemed very near Us
This was uore than Peggy AID Ancil Ia.
contracted for and their precipitace flsh
was something wonderful TO behold The.
rushed from the foot OF the staircase acruS
to the side entrance through which "
came in: there they paused in the opeI
doorway, Peggy beckoaiug frauticaily 70
me- TO follow. I followed her. seeing thA
such a terror had seized them And il
fact l. myself, began to feel creepy Ant
imagined I could hear the ~repeutact coz
fessioa OF tAe hapless old man II nv wake
Pausia4 at the passsge-wsy, I inscanu,
regained my self-possesS.cn and signifies
nv intention Of returning 20 the foot Of th
ST ircase. Pesgyreuorstraeed, and nnali,
said that IL I must line hans with tn
SpAI.I Wy LIS ~ oAOuSs - SAS wv
not return.
"Au right. Peggy" said; wait for q
here. Will yout"
AN faith OF Will If the nasthur don't b
fur gittin' Arthur me too aIrnestly." sh
replied. shIvering with fear aud excitement
Twas in for the whole manifestation. an
il I should pause now frou some sIueauis
notion Of danger / should always regresm,
having done 50.
The open passage-wsy made avery col
draueht. connecting the outdoor curren
Of raw night Air with the @ formed in th
stairway, and 7 felt rather uncomfortable
50 wrapping ny loose cloak about my chill
form l reeraced my steps, and leanin'
against . column midway Of the ball ! W1il
Cd further d~evelopmentR
"Pshawr' I said. feeling ashamed Of 90
ioRiorious retreat, and began taking mySel
% task. mentally, Tor . doing, when Ii
mdisGinct footballs came on downstairs