The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-11-26
A MYSTERIOUS HAND.
A NEWSPAPER MANS STORY OF A
GuOsTLY VISITOR.
a STRANGE COMPACT AND IT'S
STR lNaE FuLFiLLMENT RECENT
IL IL HALrfMunE.

II
~ - BATHROOMS.
A strange compact made between
two Baltimore newspaper men had a
strange fulfillment recently Pat ii
down to what You will, imagination,
dream, or whatever seesrie Influence
you can, it remainsa strange fact. The
,..; 49, Rad bean insenarable companions
for years, and one night, perhaps IN.
der the influence, of Il little too much
malt in liquid form, agreed that who
ever died first. il il were possible,
would communicate with the other nj
ter death. rtsmay be said, that both
were infidols, or more properly speak
ing, agnosties. The problem Of life
hereafter had been often discussed be-
tween them, and their non.belief per-
haps had much to do with the compact
that was made.
Three years ago the elder died and
was buried. The survivor, recalling
the compact. waited and watched for
some sign from his friend beyond the
grave. that would prove the immortali-
ty Of. the soul but none came. Time
sped on, and the friend had ceased to
be aught but a memory, recalled but
seldom, when the fulfillment Of the
compact came with 4 distinction that
left no uncertain impression. But let
the survivor tell it in his own words.
II had done hard days work, and
although was tired when ! reached
home, it was 2 o'clock in the morning.
yet did not feel sleepy. ] picked up
La book and began reading read
some time, when began to feel as il
there was some one III the room that
creepy sort Of feeling that one exper-
fences alone ut night and when every
thing Is still. Suddenly thought Of
the compact had made with Dave
--. 1t flashed through my mind like
an electric shock and just at that in
slant felt hand on my shoulder. !
started, looked around and saw-noth-
ling. Imagination, thought !, when
again came q grasp Of my shoulder by
an invisible hand. Now ! don't be-
lieve in ghosts nor anything Of that
sort, but | could see nothing about
me, and yet there was the grasp Of a
mans hand on my shoulder.
Twas not skeleton hand, not
cold or clammyo or anything like that
but just natural feeling hand, and
placed on my shoulder in precisely
such manner as~Dave had habit Of
doing. Cansit be thought !, and as
if in answer to my question, the hand
Heightened its grasp, once, twice and
then relaxed. You'll never know what
agony j suffered there.s | knew our
compact was being kept, and | thought
all my ideas. Of life were wrong and
that there was hereafter.
/ !. AS the thought passed through my
mind there came again that same
Tightening Of the unseen hand. | tried
to speak, to cry aloud, but could not,
and then the wild thought went
through my brain | can only converse
with this invisible force through tile
tmind. I felt no fear now, for knew
my dead friend was trying to let me
know as much Of life's mystery as his
spirit could. framed question in
my mind, but before my brain could
give it coherency, again there was
that triple clasp.
4 Then, the feeling described left
me. Twas dreaming 4 Perhaps, but
when first experienced that feeling
the clock ON the mantel-piece struck
the half hour, and heard the seconds
tick away, as loud as church bell.
When it left me, glanced at the
clock, and barely two minutes had
elapsed. I've tried to think 4 fell
asleep, but cannot. At all events,
whatever il may have been ! have
abandoned my former views. and
firmly believe that Dave spoke to me
from the grave
Il -4--Av-. .------
H ~ CALL AND SEE