Smyrna times., 1892-06-01

effects to the landlord and start out
afresh and make his way in the world;
but before he went he maliciOusly de-
termined to give Lyle a real fright, for
getting entirely in his selfshness how
much Lyle had already given him in
small loans which he must have never
been repaid. Strange to say, he deter
mined to play the ghost again, but as
he had no desire to be shot he deter
mined to be very cautious about it.
Fortune played into his hands.
Lyle came into the inn that evening
after transacting some business in the
village, and after hanging up his over
coat went into the parlOr, where he
found Farmer Pinno just preparing for
start hOmeward. He was prevailed
on to for few minutes and help to
sample bottle of port. Then Lyle in
his turn was invited to drive home in
farmer PinnO's tax cart and have sup
per at his house. He accepted, moth
ing 10th, and they went out together
and dTove off. In the meantime Grif-
fifth had been very busy. In some way
he had discovered that ever since that
memorable night Lyle carried revol-
yer in his pocket at night, and he
rightly Judged that on day when he
had business in the village and was
likely to be detained he would carry
his revolver with him. The minute
Lyle had hung up his coat Griffith
came out, and searching the pockets
soon found the revolver, and after
some little trouble he succeeded in ex-
! tracing the bullets. He then replaced
. h 4. Ii -
cally blank cartridges, aud then with
drew to his room to prepare himself
for his ghOstly affair He had heard
Farmer PinnO's invitation given and
accepted, and knew that Lyle
would most probably return
about his usual hour He arrayed
himself exactly as poor Jones had
done, with "a dark lantern and sheet.
the only difference being that he
stained the breast of the sheet with
red paint to represent the blood from
! Lyle's revolver shots, and, having made
everything into bundle, he sailed
out. On his arrival at the bridge he
noticed that the parapets on either
side were being repaired, and that
the workmen before leaving had placed
a board over the gap in the walls to be
some sort of protection to belated pas
sers by. He then waited, shivering,
until he heard Lyle's footsteps ap.
preaching, when he took his place
exactly where Jones had been shot
twelve months before. Lyle approach
ed ard looking about him with a half
frightened look. He was brave enough
! but conscience doth make towards of
us all, and he was no exception to
this rule.
As he came on to the bridge Griffith
turned his lantern slide on and re-
mained mOtionless, with bullet
from Lyle's own revolver in each
! hand.
Lyle's heart stopped beating for one
moment, then his hand instinctively
sought his revolver and he forced his
trembling lips to ask, who are you and
! what do you want ?'
The only reply he got was groan,
and an arm waved in the air and then
/ pointed toward the air and then
pointed toward the red patch in the
breast. Speak or / will fire." came
from Lyle, who was fast regaining his
courage. No answer, and he pressed
the trigger. A moching laugh was the
only response, and the ghost threw
something at him that hit him in tie
chest. Now thoroughly alarmed,
Lyle fired two shots in quick success
sion, and might have followed them
up by personal charge on the ghost.
when an unforeseen event took place.
The ghost threw another bullet at
him with better aim, and this hit him
heavily in the eye. Lyle jumped back
with cry of surprise and his head
striking against some of the loose
stones in the wall upset him and he
fell against the plank across the gap,
which, being loose afforded him no
support, and together they went over
on the rocks twenty-five feet below.
Griffith, thoroughly frightened, took
to his heels, and never stopped running
until he found himself safe in his room
in the inn, having enough sense left
him, however, to take off, as he ran,
his disguise and make it up into a
bundle.
After few minutes reflection in his
room he determined to do what he
could to find Lyle. On his arrival at
the bridge he made his way down the
banks with great difficulty and found
Lyle lying in shallow pool perfectly
dead, and he had been stunned by the
fall and then drowned,
The cOrOner's jury returned an open
verdict of found dead" as the de-
ceased's revolver was found lying on
the bridge with three chambers dis
charged, thus looking as if there had
been more in the case than appeared
from the evidence.
Before leaving the village Griffith
cOnfded the whole story to me and
faithfully promised to reform. He en-
listed and was rapidly advanced in the
nOR-pommissiOned ranks, as his ed uca-
tion helped him.
l heard from him occasionally until
one day there came another tale of
Englishmen who were not afraid to
die at dnty's call, and among the rocks
of Afghanistan Griffith lies buried be-
side hundreds more of the Sixty-sixth,
who made such a glorious 0utstand at
Miawand.
My story is now finished.
Ghosts have long been out of fashion,
and this latest attempt at revival was
not so successful that there need be
any fear of them ever coming into
favor.
You've tried DIR. Pierce's Favorite
Prescription have you and you're dis.
appointed. The results are not imme-
diate,
IA 1;J 49,, ..-... II ..