The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-10-31
The Ghosts WIN.

Tho Chost's VIII.
"The first will ever made. said
the lawyer, "wns tor a ghost, pour
ing himself out glass Of water. ~
ad just received ncws that Mr..
Busch, wealthy old gentleman, was
dead, when in lie walked"
"Can you mike one q short will
that will stand" he asked In a husky
voice.
II can" ] said.
"Well, want to leave everything
possess to Allan Busch, my sister
Ada's only child. Go to work, for
must return to the house," sinking
into chair. 81 don't want my 9TH
or nephew, Potter. to have n cent"
/ hurried Thorough the will and then
called in my neighbor, the barber,
and his apprentice to witness it.
They signed with trembling fingers,
for they had heard the news, too, OF
the old mans death.
Il NulSh ~ uCIobS lu0 llclu6 W
his house, not fnr behind.
The porch lay white in the moon
light, and as the old man was about
to open the door some one pulled it
IRON the inside and out walked Pot
ter, within grin upon his weazen face.
1t changed rs lie saw the old man to
a look Of abect terror. He shrank
aside, clasped both hands over his
eyes, uttered a terrible cry and flew
down the path, stumbling in his con-
fusion, and falling fiat upon his face
among the petunias. Hooked back
toward old Mr.. Busch. He wasgone.
The next morning we all heard the
news. Old MIR. Busch had breathed
his last ut Z o'clock. Iconiess was
startled, but TINT was no ghostly
arm that leant ON mine when walk
ell up the path with Mr.. Busch the
night before. and could not agree
with my neighbor, the hairdresser,
who declared that it might have been
IN appearance"
Lawyer Thursby had IL will in his
keeping that left everything to Pot
ter, but the date of mine was u safe.
guard. They tried to prove the old
gentleman OF unsound mind, but
were merely laughed ut. My neigh
Dor conicssing that he was not sure
but that Mr.. Buscll's ghost made the
will that he signed, but swearing to
the night cap and dressing gown MS
facts in silk and linen caused much
laughter, but the property went to
the nephew. lie was generous and
made u present to Potter which pre-
vented him from suffering anything,
and he was better heir to the old
property than Potter would have
been. He made mo legal manager of
his estate and we became great
friends. My friend, the hairdresser,
however, had II certain trouble on his
mind, which he confided to me.
at did not come up in court, said
lie "but did you notice Mr.. Busch's
face when he signed that will that
night? Close shaved, not spot on
it, not even blue"
"ies," said l, 81 did,"
81 shaved him after he was dend,
Mr.. Van Buskirk," said the hair
dresser. in hollow voice. 81 was
called in to do it about midnie lit,
and he had n beard about an inch
long. 1t had been growing ever since
lie was taken down"
elf were you, Mr.. Farren," said,
l would not mention that to any
one, or permit Samuel to do SO.
know il to he fact, but it is not
fashionable to believe in ghosts"
"a year ago." continued Mr.. Van
Buskirk, taking some more port, "a
year ago Allan Busch died. lie lived
too high-a gay, wild lite-though he
was u good fellow to the last. He
never married. The day before he
passed away lie sent for me.
II sln'n't he alive tomorrow" he
said. "and Iwant you to know the
truth"
MY Uncle Busch died Mt G;3O.
came down to see him on the 5 o'clocl;
trmin, and went up to his room with
out being seen. No one was there.
He was awake and going inst.
"'AlIan, said lie, you have come
to sec me-
"'Yes. UNCLE said I. 4 only heard
you were i'll yesterday
"'lf you had only come sooner, AL
Ian, said he. I've been n fool.
want to change my will. Potter isl
sneak. He's anxious to have me die.
want you to have my money now,
Ada's only son.
"'No matter about the will, said
/. NO matter about the money,
can live by my profession"
"'l've been n prisoner said the old
man, Il have not been allowed to see
my friends. The doctor is IL tool o
Potter's' IL am neglected, Allan,
I've been alone two hours, and want
some water tlreadlully.'
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 and
crcpt down stairs; but as l passed
the dining-room | saw Potter and
the doctor stufiing themselves ant
laughing; and then and there, what
with contempt of them, and II wisl
to see my uncle's last wish carried
out, MS well as the natural longing
for money that seemed mine by right
l hit upon II plan. Twas I'm actor
as you know, and my line was 'olt
men, Moreover. I'm very like my
uncle. went back to his room, gave
him one more kiss-lle was nlrcad,
cold-took his gown and cap ant
slippers from the wardrobe, mad
myself up. and came to you. Yol
know the rest. Pve nobody to leav,
the money to. Potter is dead. Yol
are n ricn man yourself I'd hnv
been the heir in course of tim
probably, at any rate. Sup
pose we give the money to the or
phans Mt the asylum. Nobody ha
II legal right to it,
"l'll make n will for YOU to that e
ect" said I; and SO l did.
cyan Buskirk," said he, after til
will was executed, "you don t owe m
u grudgc for having been fooled, i,
you?"
Allan Busch" l answered, wa
fooled; 1 don't deny it, but guesse
it in n week, and I've felt sure oft 70
II good many years. I'll keep these
cret. Get we'll, old friend"
But lie died, and the orphans hav
the property, and Mr., Fnrren sti
believes that he and his apprentice
!