Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-11-19
AT THE HAUNTED INN.

had ridden on my bicycle through
the old city of Bath at Z o'clock on
beautiful summers evening, and by the
time / had arrived at the little village
of Box. lying some five miles beyond,
upon the London road, the flush OF the
sunset was dying out of the northern
sky.
/ hailed a rustic looking policeman,
who was leaning upon his walking
stick. and asked whether he could rec
ommend me to a good comfortable hos
tlery.
"Why. YES zur," he answered in the
broad dialect of the west country; ee
couldn't do better than 90 to the For
esters' Arms, just opposite the ola
church. away down yonder.
It was typical old fashioned rural
inn; long. low and struggling. Behind
the counter stood a good looking DuX-
ON young woman, and IN the DdcA-
ground was a man in his shirtsleeVes.
"Can l have a room here Ior Ihe
night?'
well" said she, tomorrow is the
horse show day in Bath and that
makes us rather full. There's one
room. however" she paused.
cone is all that 1 require" said l.
CAY. but YOU might1't care to occupy
this one" she exclaimed.
and why nOt?" said l. rs 1t haunt
ed?"
That's just what it isl cried she
with look of surprise. You've heard
about it?"
Not I. This is the first time was
ever in the village of Box in my life
Has anybody ever seen the ghost?'
"No" she answered, but plenty have
heard it. but if you are prepared TO
sleep in the haunted room we can put
you up"
When I had finished my meal | went
again into the bar and there sat awhile
smoking my pipe and listening TO the
views of the villagers upon seVeral
questions of great national moment
Then i asked to be shown to the ghost
inhabited apartment where l was 10
sleep.
The barman procured a candle and
led me up a narrow winding staircase,
which creaked beneath our tread.
asked him what the age of this house
was. and he replied he believed 1t to be
above a couple of centuries old, ana
that it was slightly famous as having
long since been the resort of a notorious
bighWavman known as Fleecy Joe.
was awakened by subdued roar
ing noise. and opened my eyes upon an
atmosphere of intense darkness. AS
soon rs had in some measure collected
my wits. / realized that a gale OF wind
was blowing outside.
On a sudden I heard a sound as Oh a
faint tapping inside the wall some
where at the back of the bed; feeble,
metallic kind of cl Sking, suclI as might
be made by chipping the masonry with
a small hammer.
I hastily sat O. to listen, not little
startled The nOise ceased at that mo-
men: but in a very short time it re-
commenced. and by hearkening atten-
lively / speedily determined that 1t
proceeded from the direction OF the
CRATE.
Cropping for the candle which 1 had
placed on a chair by my side. struck d
match and got a light The longer
listened the more certain l was that the
noise came from the fireplace.
got quietly out of bed, and holding
the candle In my hand, crept over TO the
CRATE the better to hearken.
The slow. rhythmic click. click, click
reached my ears in perfectly audiDle
note now. and l was satisfied that the
sound came down the chimney.
Stepping upon the bars of the fire
Mace I was enabled to bring my head
ON TO level with openings in the walls.
II held the candle as far back as the
length of my arm would permit to as
certain the extent of the Oritice, and by
so doing carried the light clear of the
draft coming down the chimney, so
that it burnt up steadily
The ehostly noise seemed to me to
proceed from a ledge on my right
held the candle against that part OF
the brick work to try to ascertain the
cause Of this mystery. The wavering
fame fell with dim CLINT upon some
duly bright object, swaying to and fro
AGAINST the rayless surface Of SCOT l
brought he light close. and then to my
unutterable astOnishment I perceived a
stout gold watch chain hanging ever the
edge of the shelf, with a large bunch
of coins and seals attached to the end
Of it. which. as the thing swayed in
the etrong gusts of air coming down
fronHthe top, clinked against the bricks
and created the faint hollow sound OF
tapping. like an imprisoned skeleton
trying to claw his way out with his
b0ny fingers.
took hold of the chain. A small
object of considerable weight was at
tached to that end Of it which was
buried i'm the SCOT. 1t proved to be a
massive gold watch OF very antique
pattern. all blackened and furnished,
but i'm perfect condition, so far as
could make out by the uncertain candle
light.
So here. thought I. is the secret Of the
haunted room i'm the Foresters' Arms.
Some part of the booty. maybe, of the
long departed worthy, Fleecy Joe.
cot hold of poker and began rak-
inc about among the SCOT which COW
cred the ledge. In the receptacle from
which / had taken the watch, l found
nothing. though l scraped and pOked
II. every corner of it; but on the other
hand. after raking around for a while
I felt something lying against the wall
at the back.
discovered that it was small
Ieatbern bag. bulgy with its contents,
and dyed to the hue of the SCOT be-
Meath which it had lain. Satisfied that
here was nothing further for me to
End I dismounted from the CRATE and
ID 1911