Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-02-04

fThis Herr Englander here, he has
heard enough and is brave, but let him
face test we will give him if he be a
brave Englander, and we shall see.'
$50 one night in the Restaurant Klop.
part, in the milk market-I remember
well that night. Ach, mein Herr, is that
door fast2 Sol / remember that night.
was fred with courage, and I said,
when they spoke of the ghost, that I
would face it, come what might.
"a grin of incredulity passed over the
countenances of my listeners, and they
puffed away at their pipes in contemptu-
GUS silence. At last big boned Krantz
Eubscher, the butcher, made me a bet
that would not sleep for one night in
the old house in the Lederstrasse alone.
"'Done! / cried, and the money was
staked; not much, a few silbergroschen,
and was pledged to an adventure.
SIT struck me afterward that a great
number of the ghost stories had myself
read turned upon some unused house or
room and an undertaking to sleep there;
but further than this, as you will see,
my case mad little resemblance to any
other spectral adventure. Nor did this
render my case less real or less terrify-
ing.
"'What sort of ghost is it? asked
'sell me just that, SO that may know
what kind Of an appearance am about
to face.' 'Ach neinr they said, smein
Herr must just see him as he is, and en-
joy him as he will
$50 the night was fixed upon and the
key Of the ancient house procured. A
mattress and some candles, and also a
pistol at my request, were taken into the
biggest and best room, that one Just
over the doorway. A good bottle of
Zeltinger and supper for me were got
ready, and roaring fire of big logs was
built up in the afternoon in the fireplace
there.
''The people living in the Lederstrasse
were much astonished and good deal
interested at the unwonted glare in the
windows of the haunted house, and,
when they were informed of the reason
of the illumination, expressed a good
deal of pity for the mad Englishman
whose craze had tempted him to brave
the ghost of the locality.
''Night came--a dark night it was in
November, with windy gusts every now
and again sweeping down the street and
among the crazy old chimneys. There
was pale, gibbous moon that showed
itself at intervals from between the drift
ing clouds, in very weird and uncanny
fashion. Just the night for a ghost
story said to myself, and thought, as
felt little thrill come over me, Shall
pay the small bet and have done with
the matter? Shall I cry off and smoke
my pipe at home and turn into my bed
at my usual hour in peace? MOI I de-
cided, after a bit of consideration, I will
60 through with my undertaking now,
come what may, and show these Ger
mans what an Englishman can do, and
will do, at need.
$50 made all my preparations for my
adventure, and about ten o'clock entered
the house with two or three friends, who
had resolved to accompany me in order
that they might see me comfortably dis
posed of.
"The crazy old stairs crealzed good
deal as we went up them, but the room
looked exceedingly cozy, for the great
logs were smoldering in the chimney,
and cast out an agreeable heat. In all
the corners and hanging from the beams
were many dingy cobwebs, the work of
generations Of spiders, undeterred from
their work by the houses evil reputation.
Save these cobwebs, my mattress, acouple
of chairs and small round table, upon
which stood my supper and the good
bottle of Eeltinger, the room was unfur-
nished.
GAS further aid to courage had pro-
vided myself with a flask Of eau de vie,
and of course had my pipe.
"My friends, having cast an approving
glance around the room, sat down smok-
ing for a few minutes, then babe me
guten abend and CUTE nacht, and left me
to my meditations.
az listened to their haavv boots as