Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1892-09-01
CALLED BY A GHOST.
Wanted, slr-a patient

sional career when patients were scarce;
and though was in the act OF sitting
down to my chop. l hurried instantly
into my surgery.
entered briskly; but no sooner did
1 catch sight of the figure standing
leaning against the counter than l
started back with a strange feeling of
horror.
Never shall I forget the ghastiness
of that face the white horror stamped
upon every feature-the agony which
seemed to sink the very eyes beneath
the contracted brows it was awful to
me to behold, accustomed as was TO
scenes of terror.
You seek advice l began, with
some hesitation.
No; 1 am not ILL.,
You require them
Hush! he interrupted, approaching
more nearly and dropping his already
low murmur to mere whisper. Il be.
lieve you are not rich. Would you be
willing to earn Il thousand pounds?
I should be thankful, If I could do
so honestly I replied with dignity.
What is the service required Of me ?
A peculiar look of intense horror
passed oyer the white face before me,
but the blue black lips answered firmly,
to attend deathbed..'.
"A thousand pounds to attend a
deathbed Where am l to 90, and who
is it?'
Nine
TIE voice Ia which this was said
sounded so hollow and distant that in
voluntarily ! shrank back.
Yours What nonsense 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 am my
self yet l know that before the clock
tolls the first hour after midnight l
shall be a dead man
But
He shuddered slightly ; but stretch,
ing out his hard commandingly,
motloned me to be silent. 1 am but
too we'll informed of what affirm, he
said quietly i have received a myster-
lous summons from the dead. No NOR.
tai aid can avail me. do not come
either to seek your advice or to argue
the matter with you, but simply to buy
your services. l offer you $1,000 to
pass the night In my chamber and wit
ness the scene which takes place.
The words, strange as they were,
were spoken calmly enough, but an ex-
preston of such wild horror again
passed over the strangers face that
in spite of the immense fee | hesitated
to answer.
He placed before me a parchment
document, and following the indication
of that white, muscular hand | read the
words, "And to Mr.: Frederick Read, of
IA High Street. Alton, / bequeath the
sum of 81 900 for certain services rem
dered to me"
I haye had that will drawn up WITH
IN twenty four hours, and l signed it an
hour ago in the presence of competant
witnesses. l am prepared, you See.
Now do yoa 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 commua-
ieating with the house.
1t was a dark, icy cold night, and
somehow the courage and determination
which the ght Of my own name IN
connection with thousand pounds had
given me tagged considerable as T
found myself hurried along through the
silent darkness by man whose death
bed was about tc attend.
lie was grimly silent, but as his hand
touched NINE, in spite Of the frost, it
felt like burning coal.
On we went--bramp, tramp, through
the snow-on, on, on, till even | grew
weary. and at length on my appalled,
ear struck the chimes Of a church clock.
while close. at hand distinguishes! the
snowy hilloeks OF a church yard.
Eleven. groaned the doomed man.
Gracious God but two hours more and
that ghost messenger will bring the
summons. Come, come; for mercys
sake, let us hasten 7
There wis bat 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 stealthilv
assembled the private staircase to a
splendldly furnished apartment.
All was intensely silent, however,
through the house. My companion