The Bessemer indicator., 1893-04-15
MUSIC AT MIDNIGHT.
"GErTiNG OLD BEETHOVEN
DOWN FINE"
\ Mysterious serenade-Jonathan Uses
Gun on IL Ghostiy vlsitant with
startling Enect-It Was
Not Son Jacob.

"Gosh" and Jonathan rubbed his
eyes and sat up in bed Gosh
what's got into Sarah Jane to be
humping away on that old nerve
twitcher Mt this time OF night.
I'll"
"Twang! Twang! Thump it ia
thump! Bang" interrupted the
piano, as though dozen imps were
waltzing up and down its keyboard.
jonathan" and Selma planted u
trembling hand between her hus-
bands shoulder blades, Jonathan,
that amt Sarah Jane playing. It's
midnight's holy hour and ghosts"
Ghosts be-fiddlesticks. Selma,
don't you suppose know my own
daughters style of thumping9" and
with an impatient jerk Jonathan
slipped his brooches on and stood
upright "Ghostsi 1t takes real bone
and muscle to make that sort of
racket. Listen!'
"Rattle to bang! Thumpit ia thump!
Twang lang twang! Bang" like
bed am broke loose came rush of
sounds from the piano.
"She must be getting old Beethoven
down fine" muttered Jonathan, as he
scratched match on the seat OF his
! pants and lighted the tallow candle
which stood on chair at the head OF
the bed but | can't stand this sort
OF thing. even If tits midnight's holy
hour. I'll stop it right here and
now and. with the tallow candle in
his right hand and hard, set look
ht In of
parlor.
"Jonathan" and Selma bobbed out
of bed and seized her husband by the
arm, that amt Sarah Jane playing,
tell you. It's something or some
body else You'd better take your
gun"
Jonathan gave n snort of disgust;
but, nevertheless. paused long
enough to extract from under his
pillow large, old fashioned five-shot
revolver. Then. with the revolver
in one hand. the candle in the other,
and Selma following close behind
he again started for the parlor, where
the piano still continued TO make
night hideous wifi its unearthly
thumpings.
| JuSL us ne lulu HIS uuHu ou tHt
knob of the parlor door there was u
rush OF hurrying feet from behind,
and Sarah Jane, seizing him by the
shoulder, whispered excitedly: "Oh
| pop. what can it be?"
"Gosh! 1t amt your and in his
alarm Jonathan's arm twitched SO
that the old revolver, which he had
cooked just before reaching the door.
went off with deafenng rom; so
did the end OF Jonathan's big toe.
| Jonathan was MD.
III it's that little imp. Jake, III
thrash him till he can't stand. III
here, Selma, take the candle and III
see what that internal racket means. :
Jonathan handed his wife the light
and, with great show of courage,
threw open the parlor door; but he
didn't step over the thrcshold-at
least, not just then.
Straight across the room from the
door stood the piano. ltwas playing
as madly as ever. but not u human
being was near it. The case was
closed. and there was no visible
means by which the music might be-
produced.
Jonathan's HAIR began to rise, and
his chin whiskers stood out straight
and stiff, like red shoe-brush
"Music, and uot mortal hand touch
ing the keys! Goshm and his lowe
jaw began to fall.
.It's ghosts" Selma whispered
while her hand. which held the candl,
over Jonathnn's shoulder, tremblet
so that drop of hot tallow fell upo:
his bare neck.
The tallow seemed to stimulat
Jonathan's courage, for he suddenl
lifted his revolver. and "bang! bang
bang! bang" four times rang out TIL