The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-03-20
EBENSBURG Pa. FRIDAY MARCH 30. 1871
bird singing to his mate.

bird singing to his mate.
How long had slept i can not tell,
when suddenly was wide-awale with
the room brilliantly lit and presenting
an appearance totally different TO what
it had done when retired. On a side
board were half-emptied bottles and de-
canters, and at 4 table four men were
seated deeply engrossed over a game At
cards Great as was my astonishment
TO find my apartment thus invaded,
seemed TO lose all personal considera-
tons in watching the feverish anxiety
OF the players, and in wondering what
would happen next.
Suddenly their voices Were raised in
anger, one of the players accused an
other of cheating, and in n moment
there was general uproar- The two
men were struggling desperately to-
gether, glasses We're upset, chairs were
overturned and then caught the glitter
of knife and the CLEAN of a pistol.
The two spectators made no attempt to
separate the combatants, although il
was evident that tragedy was imuai-
neut- The taller of the two freed his
hand from the others grasp, the long
nIurderous looking knife was uplifted,
but as it descended the other raised his
pistol and fired; there was the dull thud
of heavy body falling and then, over
come with horror, 1 lost consciousness
How l attracted their attention l do
not know, but suddenly became aware
that the remaining three were standing
over me calmly discussing my proposed
death; nv blood seemed to freeze in
my veins and into those terrible mo-
IuentS was compressed the agony Of
years Of torture.
she is sound asleep" said one, IAN
anyhow ! never did take kindly to
KILN women"
.'She has seen the deed done," said
the second significantly.
That dead men tell no tales is just
as true and truer of women, said the
third, so | had better make it safe,
laying ~ he spoke q murderous hand
on my throat.
With a desperate effort I broke
through the spell of horror that had
held me; struck ont wildly and en-
ccuntered a soft resisting body, the
lights were eXtinguished as l opened ny
eyes, and nothing remained but the
sound as of some one hurriedly re-
treating.
never knew till that moment what
n vast amount of stored shrieking force
a small woman possesses; mine was
sufficient in an incredibly short time TO
bring to my room the doctor, the
satellite, Jane Sabina and half a
dozen guests, none of whom were re-
marlable for the careful finish of their
dress.
With graphic power that has en-
tircly deserted me, or ! should make
my fortune as a story writer, l related
what had occurred
1T does not matter whether 1 was
asleep or awake in regard 10 what !
sg'c, although of course L was awake;
but ] know l heard something hurry
away, and I know that felt something
when ! struck" l said in CONCLUSION.
pausing only through sheer physical in
ability TO utter another word.
Sabina Jane incoherently remarked
something TO the effect that it was
''just what she'd expected of them
nasty ghostesses'' and then In company
with the majority of my visitors dis
appeared. The doctor looked puzzled
and remained silent, the satellite how
ever spoke; he was never a voluble per
son, but on this occasion he confined
himself to one word
Rats
DO you really think it-they-was
rats?'' gasped, growing ungrammati-
cal in my confusion
Had not felt well assured that the
doctor was deeply impressed by my
ChOstly visitation I should have said
that he smiled, but that Of course was
Impossible ut such moment Some
people I have noticed are afflicted with
muscular tyvitching and when glanced
at him again he was as solemn as a
sphinx; even the satellite put his hand
before his mouth and coughed in a
modest, self-deprecatory way, as if his
feelings were too much for him.
II will bring Mrs. Morris to remain
with you until yon dress" said the
doctor, ''and then you had better tal-e
4 sedative and share her room; to-mor-
row I VIII have a thorough investiEa-
ton made and If find that any one is
trying 10 Perpetuate 4 stupid story by
playing . SIN more stupid practical
joke. ri
At this point the doctors voice sanl.
and although his remarks appeared t.
cain additiona! energy, am under the
-,lnrcssion they were not intended for
- g ears or for publication.
The result Of the investigation showed
shat my nocturnal visitors were rats, a
nall colony of which had evidently en-
'pvcd undisputed possession of q spring
lGttress for a considerable period. Aud
the ghost of Bracing Han was laid,
s-ut the oldest part was the satellites
-ucSsinC it; for such a man il was quite
,e-aarl-a bic. and showed great natural
Derspicacity; the moment he heard nv
tory. when every one else was quite at
sea, he looked at the doctor and said:
.'Rats. Mary Hasbrouck, in brakes
Hfas-aziue