Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-09-20
A GHOST STORY.

On the outskirts of HolTerton, a large
northern town, Of some Importance as
a manufacturing center, there stood a
| few years ago a house Of considerable
size, which was commonly said to be
haunted.
The last tenant and owner was Squire
Dudley, to whom also belonged many
broad acres In the district. At the age
of 40 he married a girl of II. Incom-
~patibility Of temper, 1t was said, led
to frequent MISUNDERSTANDING and
~Quarrelings; and angry voices, anu
sometimes screams, were heard pro-
ceeding from the dwelling. Two sons
were born to the couple. The elder,
soon after attaining his majority, wen
abroad to seek his fortune. Disagree
ments with his father and an incEna-
ton for a roaming life led to his decis-
ion. The younger turned out a good
for-nothing ~scapegrace. Having made
serious inroads into his fathers re-
s, urces. and having rendered himself
liable to penal servitude by embezzie-
ment and forgery, he fed the neighbor-
hood and country. Then everything In
that household went swiftly 70 rack
and ruin: and one winter, about
Christmas time, Squire Dudley and his
wife mysteri0usly disappeared. AFTER
a brief interval, the creditors TOOK
possession stripped the house OF It's
contents, leaving only a little lumber:
and from that day to the time or
which l write. rats, spiders and the re-
uuted ghosts were its only Occupants.
According to common report no human
foot had crossed it's threshold for at
lea It ten years.
The gossip Of the neignborhood
teemed with accounts Of the awful
sounds that had beeen heard issuing
from the building. Groans, shrieks
and piteous walls, unlike any that had
ever C me from human lips. broke
upon the midnight darkness. The
bell, that seemed to sob and moan,
had scared many 4 traveller into rapid
flight.
Such was the story narrated to a lit
tie c~Cnvivial party, in which ! was in
cluded, seated around the smoking
room fire Of the Crown Hotel, Holler-
ton, on the 23d of December, 1S--.
Lie party COlSlStCu VI wv 1oLuoL
connie rcials. both Of them friends Of
mine; q rich grocer, who related the
story; the leading draper Of the town,
ard m~yself-Tom Smith.
Tho grocer thoroughly believed in
the spiritual manifestations" as he
termed the doing Of the ghost The
other men were slightly skeptical;
as for myself. I utterly and emphati.
cally pooh-hooed everything attributed
to the ghost.
Well" said the grocer, with a
warmth, "Ah wouldn't spend a neeght
in that hawsome place for a thousand
punv'
He had been decidedly nettled at the
ridicule I had thrown on the absurd
alarms Of the people, and now leaned
forward in my direction and, with his
hands firmly grasping his knees, said:
"Nco. Master Smith, and what a you
got to say? What's your figure, COON
noo?"
L am prepared" I answered much to
the grocer's CONSERVATION, ITO spend
tomorrow night-Christmas eve--in
that house alone, on condition that you
and the other gentlemen guarantee
that the sum Of f100 be paid me on
Christmas day"
1t is needless to detail the discussion
that ensued. At last a document was
drawn up and signed by all present to
the effect thatI was to receive the
sum named on carrying out my part
Of the agreement. l bargained for a
chair, bedstead, bedding and blankets.
a parcel of sandwiches and a flask of
whisky.
| arranged the bedstead in the cor
ner of my chamber, and with the aid
of the piece of skirting board and two
heaps of plaster, made a rough stand
on which to place the c%audlestick.
/ wetted my lips with the contents
of the flask, made myself comfortable
on he bed and took from my pocket
the best tonic | know Of for low spir-
its-"Pickwick."
After two or three hours reading I
felt drowsy, ate a sandwich, rcsorted
to the flask, and went off into a troub-
led slu1ber.
L awoke In a fright. A moaning
and wailng greeted my ears. 1t came
during a lull In the wind, and sent a
tremor through my blood.
A stray rat skudded across the floor
ana disappeared down some conven-
lent hole. l hope devoutedly he was
not a scout sent from Headquarters
to reconnoiere.
Like n timid school girl pulled the
blankets over my head and tried to
WOO repose.
The wind increased to a fitfui gale.
1T came in sudden terrific blasts, lash
ing the back of the house. shaking the
foundation, Kissing and grooming
through gaping holes and a thousand
crevices. Once CT twice the house
seemed to rock. and plaster fell to the
floor with a thud began to fear th,t
the whole crazy fabric would c~olIapse
and ] would be buried in the ruins.
Yet l felt ! dare not leave that room.
eve to save my life.
l looked at my watch. 1t was near
~ IL. Just as l took up my pick.
wick" again, the bell rang out three
$50 .a.A