The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-09-20

uOWH uerS OF L III lrc.
The answer was scream, unearthly,
but not ghostly, sounding very much as
| IL 1t came from the throat of mortal
woman. The scream was followed by
the opening of two other windows, and
two more white figures appeared. i
thought it was a very good night for
ghosts; when it occurred to me that l
might have made mistake, particu-
larly when one of the figures leveled q
gun over the window-sill and asked.
"What do you want?"
isn't this Mr. Pinkney's house?" I
said.
mo, it is not" answered the holder
of the gun.
"Then have made mistake" sug-
gested.
"I think you have" said the third
| figure, with a male voice.
"Can you direct me to Mr.. Pinkney's
house?" I asked.
at is there to your right" said the
one with the gun.
Il thought his house was vacant, and
Isaw light there as passed." was my
answer.
"You will find plenty of things there
besides lights" replied the same voice.
"Are there ghosts there?" l asked.
$50 there and you will find out" said
the female voice.
"Are you thinking of buying?' asked
the one with the gun.
eyes," said.
"You are welcome to it, for wouldn't
stay in the house an hour for it," was
the answer, and down went the win
dows.
started toward the haunted house.
The light worried me, for l had surely
seen one. But what do ghosts want
with lights? 1 asked myself and con-
cluded must have made mistake.
Before entering took the precaution to
walk entirely around the house, but
could see no light or any thing else sus-
picious. The key fitted the lock and /
stepped into the hall and listened. Not
sound was heard or the sign of ghost
to be seen. l lighted q candle and
looked about. A feeling of loneliness
came over me and / wished for COM
pany. There seemed to be great many
dark corners, and as | turned my eyes
up the stairway l appeared to be look
ing from the bottom of deep well. l
assembled the stairs, trying to make no
noise, but there was not silent board
to tread on, and creak which startled
me was given out at each STEP L
thought heard a sound, as of the light
ing of match. Then an irresistible
impulse seemed to be hurryIng me on,
though the prospect of dark halls and
open doorways was not inviting / said,
half aloud: Don't be fool" and
walked bravely into the first room l
came to. closed the door quickly and
turned the key.
put the candle on table, and my
self in a chair, and took view of the
room 1t was furnished with chair.
table, bed, door and window. l
walked to the window and looked
through the panes. The trees, stand
ing in their own deep shade, were faint
ly visible. and the nearer ones dimly
lighted by the flame of my lone candle.
AS glanced upward the light was seen
among the leaves high above my win
dow. / moved so as to intercept the
light from my candle, but the upper
branches still shone. What was it? 1
was a window above my head, and COM
ing from it | could see a faint light. L
drew in my head to mediate, and dis
tinctly heard the window above me
open. l closed mine and went to the
door to listen. heard muffled foot
fall on the stairs, and all the
stories / had heard of walking
ghosts flashed through my mind
Step after step the sound came
nearer, and / strained my ears to catch
every noise. Suddenly the loud ringing
of bells was heard through the house,
and the sound of the steps ceased. All
was silent for a moment, and / began to
think l was foolish in coming to the
house. While listening for outside
noises cold chill took possession of my
frame at the sound of voice in the
room, seemingly within few feet of
me. 1t was deep muffied voice, and
in measured accents it said: Blood!
blood! bloodw / admit was unnerved
My revolver was in my hand, but there
was nothing to shoot at. / was about
to open the door, when heard the steps
again. / stopped and looked through
the keyhole. Horrors! distinctly saw
an eye looking into mine, and again the
bells rang.
started back, and stood in the mid
die of the room. There came loud
noise from below, which sounded as if
heavy bodies were falling, and the en-
tire house shook. This was followed by
the sound of hurrying feet in the hall
outside of my door, and again all was
quiet / knew / didn't believe in
ghosts, yet / wished / was at home in
my own comfortable bed. concluded
the house would never suit Ella. Dur
ing the silence gathered my senses.
had come to discover the ghosts,
which L surely could not do by locking
myself in a room; yet had no great de-
sire to wander about the house. Was
my courage failing me? / couldn't ad-
NIT it. / determined on a bold step.
took up my candle and bravely opened
the door. A gust of wind blew out my
light, the bells rang, and the cry of
Blood" sounded through the house. l
jumped into my room and closed the
door. l was in darkness. My candle
had fallen to the floor, and several min
utes were consumed in finding it,
While was cropping about the floor,
and at the moment placed my hand on
eSe candle, the blast of horn sounded
in the room and apparently within
few inches of my head. My hand
tremhlel n little az I liUhtad tha candl Ia