The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-12-12

from tho little thrill which IL occa-
stoned
Nonsense" he said. 1T was only
the jar Of tho thunder that set II
swingiRK. There's no ghost behind
itn
But ors two companions were oy no
means treasured. and their hair fairly
stood on end when the same door,
having swung wide open, next pro
ceeded In the rame ghostly manner to
shut itself Oscars solution was no
doubt the correct one. hut IL did not
satisfy them
III will rain all night" said WIN,
''ard I'm not going TO stay here. ~
any means
Nor either responded Chess;
I'm going home. rain or no rain.
wouldn't stay here all night for all the
money in the world.
But at that moment the ram came
pouring and the thunder pealing with
greater violence than cr.
Win and Chess stood trembling and
irresoiute. In fact we were ali more
or less awcd by the oommotIon, and
looked wlstfullv In each other S faces
as well ~ the gloom would permit;
then suddenly there was simuliane
ous start. and our hearts jumped TO
our mouth.
"Pooi n came In loud hollow
voice from Somew here, seeming TO fill
all the house.
We felt as II struck by nm electric
bolt Oscar and must have looked
as wild as our two companions
Pood'n repeated the voice; and
then ''pood poodn. pood m came
at regular intervals in the midst of the
rafting rain and the heavy thunder
peals
Now the strange. uncarthly note
seemed TO be over our heads, now
under our feet 50 that really we could
not tell whence IL came.
No one spoke above whisper. and
think that even Oscar was scared;
but he was very thoughtful boy and
very determined, too.
come oh, do come, all You fell
lows pleaded Will Ashley, stealing
toward the door, with Chess closely
following, and out they both plunged
into the thunderstorm.
Why scar and did not keep them
company ! can hardly tell To tins day,
but suppose IL must Lave been from
the pride we felt IN our own courage.
We knew, too, that the fugitives would
report us SO thai our folks would
not think Us lost
II don't know what there is here. -
said Oscar, after they were gone, but
! won't be scared away. The ghost
must be fond of pudding, but as we
haven got any for him he II have to
do without il.
"lou know we have always wanted
90 sleep in haunted house." ! am
swered, "and we are in for it now
Yes replied oscar, but I'm
afraid the sleeping part is going To be
the least of 1t. The ola fellow will
keep MS awake all night calling for
pudding. IL is too dark 10 see any
thing in the cellar or garnet, else we
might hunt around for him
After tluc the rain and thunder
perceptibly slaclSencd. but the ghostly
cries were continued, seeming even
louder than ever as the noise of the
elements became less.
There, hear that. nowl' exclaimed
Oscar, as the hollow note came with a
startling distinctneSs apparently from
beneath the very board we stood on.
1T Is in the cellar, that's just where
il Is, and there must be more than one
ghost at 1t, too | should think"
Then, almost in the same breath, hc
called out, loudly:
Hello, down there! What do you
want with SO much pudding"
There was silence instantly, the last
cry OF "pood n breaking of with "a
half-notc.
In vain we listened fo~ a repetition
OF the uncarthly sounds The rain
presently ceased, and the summer
night lecamc comparatively pleasant
There being no inside way 60 the
cellar, we stepped out doors and peered
under the house, but could discover
nothing in the darkness
All about MS the whip-poor wills were
calling, and little screech owl, that
seemed TO be pcrched upon the ridge.
board OF the old mouse itself, kept upa
shrill. tremulous note that had
dreadfully weird sound.
Our bones ached upon the hard floor,
and we felt that our first night in the
haunted house was a very tedious one.
At last, however, we got asleep, and
IN