Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1891-11-03
TIE MATCH WENT OUT.

and was just wild of course, to be sent
out on case. Every time the captain
got new job | would slide up 20 him
and say; "Capn, you'd better let me go
ont on that" and he would answer with
aquizzical grin: mot this time, Harry.
Wait till the next case"
Along in December of that year there
was great rush Of business at our office
We had fifteen detectives, all old, expert
enced hands, and they were on the jump
night and day. We could not handle the
business that was coming in. and tho
captain was wishing we had some more
men. remember as well as can be sit
ting in my chair by the door and the
captain calling out in fun from his pri-
vate office: Il guess we'll have to let
you take the next case, Harry"
Hardly had he said the words when
the door opened and raw old country
man entered. He proved TO be Joe Bay
liz, a Montgomery county justice Of the
peace, and he wanted the captain to send
man down with him TO attend to a
ghost who was cutting didoes at Fort
Washington. The captain told him he
would send a man as soon as he had ono
at his disposal. Tho old fellow left and
Jumped 70 my feet.
Captain" l said, "send me on that
case"
The captain leaned back in his chair
and looked at mo hard. "See here.
Harry" ho said, suppose were to send
you. what would you do;'
/ outlined an elaborate plan of cam
paign against the ghost. He let me
finish and then said:
YOU'D make confounded ass OF your
self now, wouldn't you? You'd make
us the laughing stock Of the town. Now
listen. In the first place, always bear
this in niind-there is no such thing as O
ghost. II | send you TO Fort Washing
ton, 10 there with that idea in your
head. There is no such thing as a ghost
II you see tho ghost and get near enough,
jump for II. Don't be afraid, it won't
hurt you; just jump for it., 1t will turn
out to DO a human being-no doubt Of
that. Now, I'll lety GO and try your
hand. Don't make fool of yourself. If
you see the ghost and think you can't
handle it, lie low and follow it and SEQ
who it is"
The captain gave mo money and away
went. l felt pretty brave, for it was
bright daylight then, but there were
times when wished myself well out OF
the thing. ] got to Fort Washington
about 3 o'clock, and inquired the way to
the haunted house from the station agent
found it on u hill about half milo
from the town, and looked it over with
interest and apprehension. 1t was an
old white frame mansion standing in
park like grounds with plenty of out
houses about it, Some countrymen whom
met told me that the ghost was in tho
habit Of standing on the top of the broad
stsne wall that skirted the roadway.
There was an outhousc so situated that
any ono concealed in it could overlook
the whole stretch OF wall from end to
end, and l made up my mind that this
was the place for me to get into before
the ghost made its appearance. Then I
went back 70 tho hotel, took my supper
and chatted with the walters and few
lounsers about the ghost. learned that
ID first appeared about three weeks before
my arrival.
A man named McTanish, an ignorant
farm hand, was the first person to en-
counter it. He was coming to the town
ssene night from the grist mill with sack
Of meal on his back and paused for q
minute in front OF the old house to set
the bag down on n stump and rest his
shoulder. He heard noise behind him,
and turning round, saw standing on the
wall figure he afterward said was thir-
teen feet high at least. He did not stop
20 observe the figure very carefully,
though, but ran as hard az he knew how
down the road. Next night party of
men saw the ghost and they also rca.
They said the ghost made after them,
breathing fro and birthstone and acting
in n peculiarly weird and unholy man
ner. After that the house was avoided
at night, but several strong parties of
men, including the selectmen Of the
town, saw the ghost from respectful
distance. 1t approached them in each
case and in each case they took To their
heels
About dusk / stole down to the de-
serted house and twas dark when got
there. slid along the wall TO the out
house, crept cautiously IN and shut the
door again. Hardly had shut tho door
when knew that there was come other
porson in that outhouse | felt sure
there was somebody close by my elbow.
Iwas trembling like leaf, but | man
aged to pull match from my pocket and
strike it. l held it up. IL showed me
big white mufiled figure not two feet
away. Then tho match went out.
Wa ccaredl
Well, now, should say so. There are
some people who laugh at the idea of
mans hair standing on end. They say
1t il a physical impossibility, but know
better. fcould feel my hair rise right
up and lift my hat and my flesh crcpt.
But | had no time TO think. jumped.
had to jump. | shut my eyes and
grabbed for the ghost. was SO fright
sned seemed to lose conGciousness for q
moment, but grabbed something and
beld on. When the first shock passed |
felt the ghost tugging and pulling to get
sway from me. II seemed as badly
frightened as I was ana its n4n1s were
soft and warm.
Don't hurt me-" 1t said in terrified
voice.