Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-08-05
NOW FIRST PUsLIsHEo.l
7HRSTORY Or AL0SI SOUL
BY
HUGH COLEMAN DAVIDSON,
Author Of THE Green Hills By the
Sea, "Nos Moment to Spare"
1.-THE Old Adam" &c.
HUGH COLEMAN DAVIDSON,
cOpyrigh,, 1884 bYH. C. Davidsoa.
CHAPTER X-THE BARBER CUTS

- cor and there left her. Afraid thSt ia
y present mood he might drift into
the DFagea sbe would gladly have de-
tained George, but no opportunity for
speaking privately to him arose, and
she cid rot Ike TO run the risk OF vex-
Ing him by mentioning the subject be-
re Grove. The thiRg which she feared
happened. just this once, George said
10 himself, and then never again; IL will
be the last time. For on tie morrow
he meant 10 bring matters 70 a climax
either by leaving Scadden, or IL the DO
lice objected. by letting them arrest
ham. That wss mis- present intention,
but be had not YET had time 10 look IL
fairly in the face.
There was a larger PARTY than usual
that night Ia the bar OF the Dragon, aud
Ia consequence liquor flowed freely and
the talk was bOisterOUs at times,
Georges voice being heard above all the
rest Joe Ki.lsy, OF course, sat in his
customary chair behind the door, but
he did not join In the conversation.
lie kept quite 20 himself, smoking, aud
apparently absorbed ia the newspaper
which he ne held before bis ugly face,
still further disigured by several patch
eS Of plaster.
Among the party was Quine, the bar
Der, a long, lean, lanky- jawed young
man, With prominent eyes, long red
hair, and a growth Of slubbly beard
upon his chin. IL seemed as II BIO whose
business 10 was % shave others never
shaved himself, knowing perhaps the
capabilities OF his own raZorS, Tor sell
dom did a customer leave Quine's shop
without holding 2 handkerchief 20
cheek or eur. Quine was great talker
in fact, 10 was the chief part OF his
stock Northumberland like most great
takers he had little tact
After waiting for . lUll IN the con-
VerSatiOu he said
Its queer thing they're saying abc'N
Cushla0eg. Did any OF you hear tell Of
it?'
Hush, hush, Quloer' exclaimed two
or three at once; while there was q
general turning Of faces towards
George.
There's 40 harm 10 It, said Quiue;
"som9 people are going about saying
there's a ghost at CushIabeg; that's ALL
Whose ghost might 10 Oe?' asked
one
" cant say FOR that at all. Only
they've been hearing things-aye, and
seeing them, tOO-and they're BIT
skeered like, so IL looks as il there was
something in IT."
The bar was large irregular room,
and the landlord being economical OF
gas q the winter months when visitors
were scarce, dimiy lighted. There
were gkpOuy corners Ia il, aud several
Of ,hos |S6o sat before the tire glanced
around ( nervOuSiy. An attempt 90
laughter proved a dismal failure.
SenOgles, the grocer, cleared his
throat, aud said, with great deii6era-
: ttrl.-s-~
Il cant say I've ever seen a ghost
myself but my grand oe
ninety Ayen tomorrow IL she'd been
alive-'Nf- be six-aRd-thirty year since
she died. Well, sirs, my grandmother
used 10 say"
"Oh, boshr cried George, irritated
beyond endurance. for CuShlabeE was
sacred name 70 him. do you believe
this preposterous yarn. Quine?'
Not l." replied the barber. But
his manner was more doubtful.
~ wouldn't be too sure If we're you,
wink at the company generally. sup
pose you 80 TO the house aud have
look at it by moonlight. Mr.. George
here will 90 with You IN you're afraid"
Killeg lowered his paper slightly, and
listened with great Interest.
Quine secuted the idea Of his being
afraid o. a ghost. II be had not been
30 vehement the matter might have
dropped. But the others took it no as
an excellent joke, and In order to de-
fend his reputation for courage, be felt
bound TO assent 90 their ciamOrOus pro-
posal, on condition that George should
accompany him.
"Of course, III 60" declared George,
'Just 10 give the lis to this ridiculous
story"
But when a boisteroHs party, pro-
yided with bups-eye lanterns, turned
out 20 escort them TO CushIa-
beg. he angrily refused 20 have any
thing 20 do with che expedition. Either
he and Quine must 90 by themselves or
they would not 20 az all. IL 10 was
really piece Of fun, be would have DO
share in &c, and indeed would DO altin
his power 20 stop 10; II intended as
serious investigation, then let 10 be go
conducted. There must Oe no skylark-
Ing Of any sort.
81 have a pistol here" said George,
drawing one from his pocket and -four
isuing it in such a reckless way that
they retreated in alarm, "aud N there
is any tooiery Ill use it-by Joye,
will"
A, the sight OF the pistol they looked
q little Queerly az one another. The
laughter and noise has been suddenly
hushed. Although they were reluctant
20 lose their fun, there was 40 longer
8uy disposition 10 press their claims
They stood in a silent group 10 front Of
the Dragon, gazing after George and
Quine as they crossed the mOOnlit mar.
ket place, the latter'S long legs dragging
somaSLat, and mis- face turned back
wardW lw and again.
So wal king side by side, but the bar
Der always little behind, with lanterns
In their hands, they came 20 CuShlabeg.
II is wonderful how soon q deserted
house turns 70 decay. The spirit has
gone. and so the body dies. Grass
springs up ia the paths; lichens gather
on a wall; the leaves fail aud are not
sweN up; then come mischievouS urch-
ms, who chalk hideOus objects on the
doors, and smash the windows, aud the
desOlstioH is complete. All this had
oetalien Cushlabeg since il had passed
into the possession OF Captain Willmott.
by moonlight, with the trees creaking
and grooming overhead, the dead leaves
rUStling on the ground, and strange
shadows fitting around the gables, il
had singUlarly weird and fOrsaken
aspect.
The barber shiyered as he looked at II.
There's no ghost there" be said,
hoarsely. mo ghost would stay in a