The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1891-02-07

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1t is there to your right said the
one with the gun.
| thought his house was vacant,
and l saw light there as | passed.
was my answer.
a You will find plenty of things
there besides lights" replied the same
voice.
Are there ghosts there P'' I asked.
Go there, and you will find out.D
said the female voice.
Are you thinking Of buying ?''
asked the one with the gun.
Yes" / said
You are welcome to it, for
wouldn't stay in the house an hour
for it," was tho answer, and down
went the windows
| started towards the haunted house.
The light worried me, for had surely
seen one But what do ghosts want
with lights ? l asked myself, and cor
eluded ] must have made a mistake.
Before entering / took the precaution
to walk entirely around the house,
but could sec no light or anything
else suspicious. The key fitted the
lock, and stepped into the hall and
listened. Not sound was heard or
the sign OF a ghost to be seen.
u
feeling of loneliness came over me,
and I wished for company. Tbere
seemed to be a great many dark cor
ners; and as | turned my eyes ND The
stairway l appeared to be looking
from the bottom of a deep we'll I
ascended the stairs, trying to make 10
NOISE, but there was not silent board
TO tread on, and a creak which startled
me was given out at each step.
thought | heard a sound, as Of the
lighting of a match. Then m nre-
sistible impulse seemed to be hurry
ing. me on, though the prospect of
dark Railways and open doors was OF
inviting. l said half aloud. "Dor't
be fool" and walked bravely into
the first room came to. ] closed the
door quickly and turned the key.
| put the candle on table and my
self in chair, and took n view of the
room. 1t was furnished with a chair
table, bed, door and window. ]
walked to the window and looked
through the panes The trees, stand
ing in their own deep shade, were
family visible, and the nearer ones
dimly lighted by the flame of my lone
candle. As | glanced upward my
light was seen among the leaves high
aDoVe my window. | moved so as TO
intercept the light from my candle.
but the upper branches still shOne
What was it | raised the sash and
looked out. There was a window
above my head, and coming from it
| could see a faint light. l drew in
my head to mediate, and distinctly
heard the window above me open. |
closed mine and went to the door to
listen. heard a muf1ed football on
the stairs, and all the stories ] had
heard of walking ghosts flashed
through my mind Step after step
the sound came nearer, and / strained
my cars to catch every noise. Sud-
denly the loud ringing of bells was
heard through the house. and the
sound of the steps ceased. All was
silent for moment, and | began to
think | was foolish in coming to the
house. While listening for outside
noises a cold chill took possession of
my frame at the sound Of voice in
the room, seemingly within a few feet
of me. 1t was deep, mulfled voice,
and in measured accents it said :
" Blood ! blood blood y ] admit !
was unnerved. My revolver was an
my hand, but there was nothing 10
shoot at. | was about to omen the
door when | heard the steps AGAIN.
| stopped and looked through the kew
hole. Horrors | distinctly saw an
eye looking into mine, and again the
bells rang.
started back, and stood in the mi /
die Of the room. There came n load
noise from below which sounded as if
heavy bodies were falling, and The
entire house shook. This was :
lowed by the sound Of hurying feet.
in the hall outside Of my door, and
again all was quiet. I knew | didn't
believe IN ghosts, yet ] wished l was
at home in my own comfortable bed.
| concluded the house would never
suit Ella. During the silence I gath
cred my senses. ] had come to dis
cover the ghosts, which surely could
not do by locking myself in O room
yet / had no great desire to wander
about the house. Was my courage
failing me? | couldn't admit it,
determined on bold step. l took up
my candle and bravely opened the
door. A gust of wind blew out my
light, the bells rang, and the CRY of
"blood p sounded through the house.
[ jumped into my room and closed the
door, ! was in darkness. My candle
had fallen to the floor and several
u
While / was cropping about the floor.
and at the moment placed my hand
on the candle, the blast of a horn
sounded in the room and apparently
within a few inches of my head. MY
hand trembled a little as / lighted the
candle and looked about me. There
was no apparent cause for the sound
Of the horn. / lighted a second cam
die and placed it on the table
Again | opened the door and stepped
| into the hall which appeared lighter
/ than / knew my candle could make it,
| | looked about, and saw there wa
| light on the floor above, and it was
| moving. l stood motionless. The
| light appeared to be coming near Che
| edge of the stairway directly. over
| where ! was. Then | saw what looked
like a shooting star coming towards
me, and a candle fell at my feet.
| picked it up. 1t was like the ORDINARY
! candle. Where did it come from?
! ! was determined to know. Without
hesitating / walked to the landing
! above. Nothing was to be seen. !
went TO the door of the room lmmc-
diately above the one / had left. and
listened The door opened and
stood face to face with-Fred Doolit-
tie
Ben I"
Fred %
Is that you ?' we both asked.
What does this mean ?'' inquired.
That's what ! want TO know" said
Fred.
When / told him about my coming
to the house he burst out laughing
and said " II is too funny. / saw
the advertisement went to get the
key. and was told the house was
haunted Like you / didn't believe
it, so out ] came to investigate the
spirits"
And here we have been dodging
about, each taking the other for a
ghost / said.
q think we are two rather sub
- p - A.. an.