The Colfax chronicle., 1890-11-22

utes were consumed in nnd1ng IL
While 1 was cropping about the floor,
and at the moment placed my hand on
the candle, the blast of horn sounded
in the room and apparently within a
few inches of my head. My hand
trembled little as lighted the candle
and looked about me. There was no
apparent cause for the sound OF the
horn. / lighted second candle and
placed it on the table.
Again opened the door and stepped
into the hall, which appeared lighter
than l knew my candle could make it.
1 looked about and saw there was a
light on the floor above. and it was NOV
ing. stood motionless. The light ap-
peared to be coming near the edge OF the
stairway directly over where l was
Then saw what looked like q shooting
star coming toward me, and candle
fell at my feet picked it up. 1t was
like the ordinary candle. Where did 1T
come from? / was determined to know.
With hesitating 1 walked to the land
ing above. Nothing was to be seen. l
went to the door of the room immedi-
ately above the one had left and list
ened. The door opened and / stood
face to face with Fred Doolittle.
"Benl"
sFred!'
SIS that you?'' we both asked.
"What does this mean?" inquired.
That's what want to know said
Fred.
When 1 told him about my coming to
| the house he burst out laughing, and
said: at is too funny. saw the adver-
tisement, went to get the key and was
| told the house was haunted. Like you
1 didn't believe it, so out came to in
vestigate the spirits"
"And here we have been dodging
about, each taking the other for
ghost" l said.
II think we are two rather substan-
tial ghosts" answered Fred, "but-"
He was interrupted by the ringing OF
the bells and the cry Of BLOOD" We
looked at each other.
'What's that?" I asked.
sGhosts sure enough" answered Fred.
Come" l said, s'let US investigate
these noises. If they are made by
spirits of the departed, want to know
it"
Down the stairs we went to the room
l. had left, and, as we entered, the cry
of sBloodr sounded again in our ears.
There" said Fred, pointing to the
mouth of speaking tube in the wall.
sis where the sound came from. Let
us go below and examine the other
end"
When we reached the lower hall we
plainly saw the front door close and
heard key turn in the lock. Fred
opened it again with his key and we
stepped out and listened. We heard
voices around the corner of the porch,
not twenty feet away, and l at once
recognized them as belonging to the
men who talked to me from the window
of the next house. The one who had
aimed the gun said: John, l don't be-
lieve he will buy the house."
II think not" answered John; -
guess old Pinkey will soon sell it to yol
at your own price,"
"If he DON'T" said the other, she won't
sell it to any one. / want the land t.
so uare out my tcu dSTCos oiiu ouA 6OA'Af
to have it. Come, let us raise some
more racket, and then we'll go to bed.
They turned the corner and ran into
Tour arms. In second had John down
while Fred had the other man by thu
throat.
ssWho are you?" asked Fred.
'.Don't choke me-" was the answer
/ "Let me up
mot until you tell who you are, ant
what you are doing here" said Fred, in
determined voice.
81 live next door," hoarsely replied
the half-choked man. my name i
,, Peter Marks"
,, !, ssWhat are you doing here?" l asked
Trying to frighten you, so yor
would not buy the place" answered
John.
We thought the premises were rid o
ghosts, and concluded to let the mel
60, which they were very glad to dc
The house was not haunted after tina
night 1 bought it, and am writin
: these lines within its walls, with M
: little family about me. Fred bought tn
Marks property next door at bargain
: for the owners were glad to get rid @
! it, and leave the neighborhood afte
their failure at playing ghost-Harr
C. Fulton. in Chicago Daily News.