River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-07-24
INTERVIEWING A GHOST.
The Strange Case of Smith, the
Reporter.

The following tale might lead 70 other
conclusions Now / have a. much
money as / need. can take adrink when
desire to do so, and only write when
the spirit moves me 20 do so.
ut all came about in a most singular
and unearthly manner, too At that
time l was employed on an afternoon
Tally, and one morning when / showed
up at the city editors desk for instruc-
tions, he sent all the other boys out
first. then. turning TO me. knocked the
ashes from his cigar. and said:
Smith, how is your supply Of nerve
this morning?
IF he had asked me whether or not
had made nv last will and testament
I should not have been any more sur
prised; but 1 managed to keep nv face
from revealing the astOnishment | felt,
and answered:
"'Well, the supply is equal to the de-
mand, so far as ! know
"'How would you like to tackle
ghost tonight for an interview was
the next question asked, as he looked
from the corner of his eye. presumably
20 see how far would jump at the start
ling question
Il did Tot Jump, bit felt my flesh
crawl at the very thought Every re-
porter knows that when he refuses an
assignment his resignation is the next
thing in order. This flashed through
my mind, but although poverty had its
heavy clOven foot on my neck. and
needed every dollar l could make, still
at that particular moment | did not
care so much for losing my position as
did for the thought that / might be
laughed at BY the drawer of the profess
sion. so answered, as calmly as IcOuld:
&" That depends somewhat on what
sort of ghOs- it is / hope l would not
shrink from a ghost of a chance, or pos
sibly from a real, genuine graveyard
ghost; but no doubt, could ,ell more
about that after seeing one
We'll, Smith, we'll give you
chance at the genuine article this zine
went on the editor. News is a little
fat Just now, and we need something TO
freshen up matters. There is haunted
house in the suburbs It has been va
cant for years because of the unsOcia-
bility and exclusiveness Of the present
occupant I desire that you spend to
night in that house. Give a detailed
report OF your visit, a minute picture of
the surroundings. and try to get some
thing from his or her ghOstShip. if such
a thing as ghost exists. You can go
out an hour or two before dark and get
your bearings
with that he turned 20 the work be-
fore him, and for moment ! stood as
one in = stupOr. / thought il Just as
probable that I would turn the river up
stream as that I would see or hear a
ghost, or attempt TO speak to it IL |
should stumble on one; but left the
room with firm resolve TO do as bid
den, let come what would
1T may be imagined that I suffered
from fits and starts during the day.
Sometimes cold perspiration stood out
on my brow in great beads; then again
I would be pIrched and feverish.
IAN hour before shutdown / stood be-
fore the house in which | was to spend
the night had made up my mind TO
write up the place while | waited for
his ghOstship 70 appear, and l firmly
expected - wait all night and leave in
the morning without seeing or hearing
any thing out of the ordinary. That
was in my callow days, so far as ghosts
are concerned.
The premises looked as il they had
once been the comfortable home of some
well-tO-do person. but as | stood there 1
could not help observing that the
'gnawing tooth of time had gotten in
its work. The front gate stood half
open in a disconsClate sort of way. and
in many places the once neat picket
fence in front of he house was down.
and blackened BY alternate rain and
sunshine.
ia was in early fall. and the yard was
overgrOwn with rank weeds The
building was outlined dark and desOlate
against the paling eastern sky. The
window shutters hung listlessIy from
their fastenings, and mOurnfully
ereaked at the slightest breath of wind.
Il made my way toward the front
door in about the same manner that a
culprit walks up to the altar OF jussco
with a good deal of hesitancy and
trepidatiOn
Il placed my hand TO the handle OF
the door and the bolt yielded with a
grating protest \ gentle pressure. and
the creaking hinges sent a myriad Of
echoes bounding and rebounding
throughout every part of the house. !
looked into the hall and saw that every
thing there vas dusty and time-wOrn.
The carpets and rugs, once the best the
market afforded, were old and faded.
Il ventured in and closed the door
Strange 10 say, that every moment all
fear left me- This was another sur
prise ] expected that my knees would
smite together, and that ! would hardly
get out Of there alive. ! pinched my
arm 70 assure myself that had not sue
cumbed and fallen TO the floor. or that
had not been asleep and dreamed it all.
Il invOluntarily placed my hat on a
rickety old hat-rack in the hall. and
then explored the rooms on the ground
floor. All were furnished. but the cush-
ions had moldered from the chairs
that touch Of the hand sent them fly-
ing away in dust. The draperies about
the rooms were as tender as cobwebs.
Il looked az every thing in the psrlor,
library. sitting-rOom. kitchen and cellar,
and then went through the sleeping
rooms above. They all looked as il the
owner had stepped out years before and
never returned Ordinarily this solemn
and grave-lilSe place would have given
me the horrors. as the women express
il but finally l became curious to see
what would happen there when all the
earth slumbered.
Il had provided myself with bulls
eye lantern, and when darkness came
on. fixed myself table in the parlor
and began writing as uncOncernedly as
could be. / started in 20 work the sub
iect for all il was worth. by giving
elaborate details. / concluded 20 write /
up the matter as 1 went along. and hand /
in the copy as soon as reporting at the I.
Office in the morning. The fact is. l /
was fast becoming elated over the fat |
assignment that had been gI-en me. as /
could elaborate on the subject quite 1
extensively without fear of successful !
contradictory remarks from our IS
teemed contemporaries. They wee /
lfraid 70 enter the haunted house ami
sscsrtaiR the facts for themselves, and