Nevada County picayune., 1889-05-29


 afternoon, accompanied by the gen tleman with whom 1 had laid the wager and two others, 1 rode out to the haunted mansion to make a reconnaissance in force. When it was first pointed out to me, looming up grandly beautiful from amid a delightful orange grove, 1 beleived my companions were testing, not thinking it possible that so lovely d place had been abandoned for what appeared to me so tritlng cause as superstitious spirit-devitries. Rid ing past it some little distance. we left the carriage, entered the grounds on foot, and approached the building through an avenue of trees. There was an air of descrtion and desolation about the premises that l confess sent a chill through me at the very first. Could there possibly be any truth in the strange report concern ing it's unnatural tenants? Pshaw. what nonsense, The structure itself was large, roomy and grand, with marble steps, huted columns, tessela- ted floors and stone stairs. The doors were open, dusty and decaying
 "a fit abode for painful and gloomy contemplation.
 We explored every portion above ground, but did not descend into the cellars, the doors of which were locked, a fact that struck me as some what singular When my friends got ready to depart l told them they might leave me there-that, Heaven and the Other Place permitting, l should spend the night under that roof-and that, if they felt any in- terest in my fate, they might come for me the next morning at sunrise. They all shook hands with me, con fessed they did not envy me my nights lodging and possible enter tanment. and went away with much lighter spirits than l felt at seeing them take their leave.
 l shall briefly pass over the first part of the night, because nothing remarkable then occurred. 1 had selected front room in the second story for my watch, and, pistol in hand, had stationed myself by one of the windows, whence 1 could make my exit to the ground below, in case of dire necessity. without any serious risk. Here l witnessed the night gradually shut in the scene, and felt the first lOnlineSS of the solemn, heavy hours, as they dragged on toward the smid-watches. Occasionally 1 took bite from my basket and sip from the bottle, more for the purpose of having something to do than because felt the need of food or StimulantS. It was very tedious keeping watch there all alone in the dark, in an empty building, afar from the sound or reach of human voice, and l almost began to wish for ghost of some kind to break the dull, dreary, gloomy monotony.
 At last-somewhere about mid night, l judge-l began to grow very drowsy; and as keeping awake was no part of my agreement or wager, l sat down on the floor, Ia Turk, braced my back against the wall, and soon began to nod and dream, and finally lost myself in sleep.
 How long l slept do not know but in my sleep, none of the sound est, l fancied heard human voices speaking in low, guarded, steady, monotonous tones, that came to the ear like the distant fall of water; yet, when l awoke, which l did by losing my balance and coming down with a h ock k and a jar, the sound of the voices seemed suddenly to cease. Was it fancy; dream or had heard some one or more persons speaking:
 Not being in the least bewldered at suddenly awaking and finding my self in my novel situation, but remembering all that had gone before and why l was there, l now lay still and listened, keeping my eyes wide open, prepared to see and hear whatever sound and sight might be presented to the two senses, and act accordingly,
 Presently l heard what seemed to he whispers, and feet moving eau tiously in the room below, and l Uust admit had some rather