The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-08-14
CALLED BY A GHOST,
"Wanted, sir-a patient"


down to my chop, 1 hurried instantly
into my surgery.
entered briskly; but no sooner did
catch sight Of the figure standing lean.
ing against the counter than | started
BACK with strange feeling of horror
Never shall forget the ghastliness of
that face-the white horror stamped up
on every feature-the agony which
seemed to sink the very eyes beneath
the contracted brows; it was awful to
me to behold, accustomed as l was to
scenes of terror
"You seek advice" 1 began, with
some hesitation.
mo; am not ill.,"
s'1ou require them
"Hushr he interrupted, approaching
more nearly and dropping his already
low murlnur to Il mere whisper. II be-
lieve you are not rich. Would You be
willing to earn thousand pounds"
II should he thankful, if l could do
so honestly l replied with dignity.
what is the service required of me.'
peculiar look of intense horror
passed over the white face before me-
but the blue-black lips answered firmly
"To attend deathbed."
ga thousand pounds to attend death
bed! Where am 1 to so. thcn-whose
is itg'
mime"
The voice in which this was said
sounded so hollow and distant that in
voluntarily l shrank back Yours!
What nonsense! You are not dying
man. You are pale, but you appear
perfectly healthy. YOU
"Hush" he interrupted; Il know all
this. You cannot be more convinced
. of my physical health than l am myself;
yet know that before the clock tolls
the first hour after midnight shall he a
dead man."
"But"-
he shuddered slightly; bnt stretching
out his hand comnandingly, motioned
me to be silent. II am but too we'll i'll
formed of what l AFFIRM" he said ouiet
ly; 81 have received Il mysterious sum-
mons from the dead. No mortal aid
can avail me. do not come either to
seek your advice or to argue the matter
with you, but simply to buy your serv
ices | offer you 81, 900 to pass the
night i'll my chamber and witness the
scene which takes place"
The words, strange as they were, were
spoken calmly enough but an expires
sion OF such wild horror again passed
over the strangers face that in spite of
the immense fee l hesitated to answer.
He placed before me parchment
document, and following the indication
of that white, muscular hand read the
words, And to Mr.. Frederick Read, of
14 High street, Alton, bequeath the
sum of Ct 900 for certain services rem
dered to me-
II have had that will drawn up with
In the last twenty-four hours, and
signed it an hour ago in the presence of
competent witnesses. l am prepared,
you see. Now do you accept my offer or
not.'
My answer was to walk across the
room and take down my hat, and then
lock the door Of the surgery commune
eating with the house.
1T was dark, icy cold night, and
somehow the courage and determination
which the sight of my own name in con-
nection with n thousand pounds had
given me tagged considerable as found
myself hurried along through the silent
darkness by man whose deathbed l
was about to attend
He was grimly silent, but as his hand
touched mine, in spite of the frost, it
felt like n burning coal
On we went-tramp, tramp, through
the snow-on, on, till even grew weary,
and at length on my appalled, ear struck
the chimes of a church clock, while close
at hand | distinguished the snowy hill
locks Of a churchyard.
Eleven" groaned the doomed man.
Gracious God! but two hours more
and that ghost messenger will bring the
summons. Come, come; for mercy's
sake, let us hasten"
There was but short road separating
us now from wall which surrounded
large mansion, and along this we has
tened until we reached small door.
Passing through this we stealthily as
cended the private staircase to splen-
didly furnished apartment.
All was intensely silent, however,
through the house. My companion
glanced at the clock on the mantel-
shelf and sank into large chair by the
side of the fire with a shudder. 'Onlv
an hour and half longer" he nut
tered. "Great heaven! thought had
more fortitude This horror humans
me-"
put my hand on his wrist, for there
was now fever in his sunken eyes
which checked the superstitious chill
which had been gathering over me and
made inc hope that after all my first
suspicion was correct and that my pa
tient was but the victim of some fearful
halucination, and, watching my oppor-
tunity, slipped il sleeping powder which