Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-03-12

even with the counterpane over his head
and | think general belief in the SUI
pernatural agency prevailed, as the
Lamsons babe goodnight to their
friends, locked. barred, bolted and
chained their doors and windows and
went to bed.
81 don't believe" said Mr.. Lamson,
as he deposited his big silver watch, his
leather wallet and his cameo scarf pin
in his left boot and dropped his stock
ings in on top of them-''I don't believe
the most experienced burglar in Sing
Sing could get into this house tonight,
and this is an unnecessary precaution,
but I'll take it."
Thus fortified, he soon fell asleep and
snored sweatly Tor many hours. In
deed, daylight fell through The crescent
shaped apertures in the shutters W hen
he opened his eyes, and was aware that
he was alone in his room.
The bedroom door was wide open. 1t
was singular of Mrs. Lamson to leave it
so, he afterwards remembered think
ing. He dressed himself and went out
into the kitchen. All was silent there;
no fire was yet kindled, and the door
was wide open.
81 suppose Hannah has gone out 10
look for the eggs" he said to himself;
him and he felt actually frightened
Angry at himself for being SO, he hur-
ried out Of doors. calling: "Hannah ~
There was no answer. All was silent.
Hannah !'' he shouted, as he looked
about him, and tried the doors of the
barn and the stable.
The echo from the distant hills an
swered "An-ehr," but there was no 9TH
or response.
Soon Maggie appeared at the kitchen
door, and grandma and Lucy at their
windows.
The children ran down barefooted,
but no one had seen Mrs. Lamson.
In fact, to their CONSERVATION and grief,
they soon discovered that this time the
mysterious robber had purloined a yet
more valuable possession of the house
than any he had before laid hands on.
namely. its mistress. Like the family
Bible, Lucy's watch, the silver spoons,
toe teapot and the portrait of Wash
ington, to say nothing Of the sofa cush-
ion, Mr.. Lamson's hat and coat, and cur
rant jelly, she was gone.
So great was his grief that it was not
until later in the day, when looking tor
some money that was necessary, that
Mr.. Lamson discovered that the silver
watch, the wallet, aud the cameo pin
GlldG he HdQ pUb lHlO LIS I0tb UOOG JOI
safe keeping, were gone also. He had
been running about all day in a pair Of
old shoes, hastily assumed that morn
ing; but when be put his roots on for
the journey, he made the discovery OF
this minor loss.
81 see it all now," he said. They've
got in and took the things, and Hannah
has caught them at 1t. and they've
killed her. All We'll find of your poor
ma, children, will be her dead body"
He threw himself into a chair as he
spoke, and put his arms upon the table,
and hiding his face in them, sobbed
heavily. It was terrible moment.
The news had spread. Relations ar
rived in different stages of consterna-
iion. Every one was shocked, but it
was great opportunity for converse
ton, and the village was dull place.
All the neighbors were shocked, too.
They stood at their doors and gates and
talked about it with eusto. One very
old bachelor uncle, who had always
who took tea, and ate anything
that was offered in the Lamson dining
room. He was usually taciturn, but on
this occasion be, also, desired to talk.
He kept button-holing people, and be-
ginning: "Ha-Ha- Hammer always used
to-to-to-" Then the individual got
himself away by force. There was too
much talking to be done 10 listen to
him.
1t was about 4 O'Clock in the after
noon when the spiritualistic neighbor
arrived.
HE felt It his duty to inform them of
something" he said, ''and he believed
that it would prove of value"
or Nv T
ly:
"Last night" he went on, ST was ~
ing in my bed about l2 O'Clock, should
say, for the moon had riz, when | was
impressed to look out of the window.
The way the spirits took to make me do
it was kind of q creakin' noise. The
moon was shinin' and as [ stuck my
head under the sash l seen a spirit per-
amberlatin' down the road. Twas a
spirit plain as possible; not folks. for
twas in its shroud, with cap on.
"Now I've been takin' lessons to be-
come a SEEM meJum for weeks. A
dollar an hour. That's Nine. Jimiams'
charges. So felt the power had come
and, putting on my Overcoat and slip
pers, | jest stepped out Of the window
and followed.
''The spirit glided on harmoniously,
seemed to be led by angil hands until I
came to the giv-up ice-house on your
old place, where you used to live be-
fore you moved here.
"There it stopped and turned around
and looked at me, end | saw Mrs. Lam
sons face.
81 kinder started, and she gave
screech and vanished into the ground.
| b'Ieeve you'll find her body in that
ice-house, Neighbor Lamson."
cha a-Hanner alters used to-to-to
to-" began the suffering relative,
laying hands on Mr.. Lamson; but he
shook him off, and rushed down the
road. The whole procession followed;
relatives, neighbors and cute detec-
tive, who suspected Mr.. Lamson of
numbering his wife; everybody, in
fact.
cloud of dust followed them along
the road. Watered by the tears of poor