The morning call., 1890-10-27
THE GHOSTS WILL.


Skke, lawyer, was for a ghost" pouring
G4eS himself out glass of water. II
had just received news that Mr.. Busch,
wealthy old gentleman, was dead, when in
he walked"
"Can you make one a short will that win
stand?" he asked in husky voice.
/" / CAM said.
We'll, l want to leave everything 1 pos
sess TO Allan Busch, my sister Ada's only
child. Go to work, for l must return to the
house." sinking into a chair. 81 don't
want my other nephew, Potter, to have q
cent
hurried through the will and then called
in my neghbor, the barber, and his appren-
tice to witness it. They signed with treul-
bling fingers, for they had heard the news,
too of the old mans death.
Watched him go across the fields to his
house. not far behind.
The porch lay white in the moonlight, and
as the old man was about to open the door
some one pulled it from the inside and
out walked Potter, with grin upon his
weazen face. 1T changed as he saw the old
man to look Of abject terror. He shruDk
aside, clasped both hands over his eyes,
uttered a terrible cry and flew down the
path, stumbling in his confusion, aud fall
ing fiat upon his face among the petunias. l
looked back again toward OLD Mr.. Busch.
He was gone.
Old Mr. Busch had breathed his last at
o'clock. / confess l was startled, but that
was no ghOstly arm that leaned on mine
when l walked up the path with Mr.. Busch
the night before, and | could not agree with
my neighbor, the ir-dresser, who declared
that it might have been an appearance"
Lawyer Thursby had will in his keeping
that left everything TO Potter, but the date
of mine was its safeguard: They tried to
prove the old gentleman of unsound mind,
but were merely laughed at. My neighbor
confessing that he was not sure but that
Mr.. Busch's ghost made the will that he
signed, but swearing TO the nightcap and
dressing gown as facts in silk and linen
caused much laughter but the property went
to the nephew. He was generous and made
present to Potter which prevented him
from suffering anything, and he was bet
ter heir to the old property than Potter
would have BEEN He made me legal man
ager of his estate and we became great
friends. My friend, the hair-dresser, how
ever, had certain trouble on his mind,
which he cOntided to me-
ut did not come up in court" said he;
'but did you notice Mr.. Busch's face when
he signed that will that night? Close-shayed,
not spot on it. not even blue"
YES" said /, 81 did,
81 shaved him after he was dead Mr.. Van
Buskirk." said the hair-dresser, in a hollow
voice. Il was called in to do it about mid
night, and he had beard about an inch
long. 1t had been growing ever since he
was taken down."
"If were you, Mr.. Farren," said, 81
would not mention that to any one, or per-
nit Samuel TO do SO. / know it TO be fact,
but it is not fashionable TO believe in
ghosts"
"A year ago." continued Mr.. Van Bus
kirk, taking some more port, "a year ago
Allan Busch died. He lived too high-a gay,
wild lifc-though he was a good fellow TO
the last. He never married The day be-
fore he passed away he sent for me-.
Il sha'n't be alive tomorrow, he SAID,
'and want you to know the truth
MY uncle died at $3.50. l came down to
see him on the o'clock train, and wentup
to his room without being seen. No one
was there. He was awake and going fast.
Allan, said he, you have come to see
me-
Yves, uncle said 1. 4 only heard you
were i'll yesterday
"If you had only come sooner, Allan
said he. I've been fool. | want to change
my will. Potter is a sneak. He's anxious
to have me die. / want you 10 have my
money now, Ada's only son.
mo matter about the will, said l. No
matter about the money, can live by my
profession
1--we been a prisoner said the old man.
| have not been allowed to see my friends.
The doctor is a tool Of P0tter's. II am
| neglected. Allan, Eve been alone two
| hours, and want some water dreadfully.
81 gave him the water, and he put his
hand on my arm and kissed me. He died
| that way. Nobody came near us, and l
| kissed him again aud erept down stairs, but
| as passed the dining room | saw Potter and
| the doctor Stuifing themselves and laughing;
| and then and there, what with contempt for
| them and q wish to see my uncle's last wish
| carried out, as well as the natural longing
fzrt al Il,
! upon plan. L was an actor, as you know,
and my line was odd men,. Moreover, Pm
very like my uncle. / went back to his
room, gave him one more kiss-he was already
| cookbook his gown and cap and slippers
came to you. You know the rest. I've
nobody to leave my money to. Potter is
dead. You are a rich man yourself. I'd
| have been the heir in course of time, prob
ably, at any late. Suppose we give this
money to the orphans at the asylum-nobody
| has legal right to it."
''I'll make will for you TO that effect"
said 1 and so l did.
Ivan Buskirk," said he, after the will was
executed, 'you don't owe me a grudge for
having been fooled, do you?"
ALLAN Busch" answered. 81 was fooled:
/ don't deny it, but guessed it in n week,
and Eve felt sure Of it for good many
years. I'll keep the secret. Get well, old
friend"
But he died, and the orphans have the
| property, and Mr.. Farren still believes that
he and his apprentice witnessed the will of
Mr.. Busch's ghost.
|