The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25
Luke Reynolds Ghost.

A ghost story! What do know of ghosts?
Perhaps nothing personally; but what
about the ghost story told me by NJ. G. Gillette
superintendent of the Savage fifteen or twenty
years ago?
Early in the ffties he was engaged in placer
mining few miles from Laporte with part
ner, whose name, believe. was Luke Reynolds.
They occupied a cabin together, with no neigh
Dor nearer than two or three hundred yards
Their claims had yielded well, and for more
than year they had divided from one to three
ounces of gold daily. Suddenly Reynolds was
called to Ohio by the death of his father, prom
Using to return within three months and leav-
ing Gillette alone in the cabin.
Something more than a month passed, when,
returning from his work little after shutdown
one evening, Gillette was amazed at finding his
partner standing in the open doorway of the
cabin.
"Why, Luke, is this your" he exclaimed, adj
vancing and holding out his hand. Instead of
responding the igure-plainly that of Rey-
nolds and clad in his old mining costume
moved silently backward into the cabin and
remained motonless behind table standing
near the middle OF the room.
There was still enough of daylight left to en-
able Gillette to distinguish objects quite clearly
within and he entered the doorway, stepped
slowly to the table and seated himself on a
bench, without for a moment taking his ewes
from the sad but familiar face intently regard
ing him from the other side. He was not
greatly frightened nor did he lose his presence
of mind but feeling OF awe crept over him as
he continued TO gaze upon face too silent and
motionless to be OF flesh and blood and into
eyes too dull and vacant to be other than the
eyes otdeath. Unable longer TO bear the strain
in silence, he raised to his feet and said:
care you Luke Reynolds? Speakr'
EOr ba for
side as if in distress; then from between i'm
movable lips, as if thrown upward from the
lungs, came these words in hollow and unnat-
ural utterances
81 am Luke Reynolds. whose body, torn from
life in shattered railway car, was yesterday
buried at Defiance, Ohio"
81 cannot doubt it," said Gillette, awe and
fear giving way to curiosity; ''but give me
your hand that may be convinced
A shadowy hand was extended over the
table. Gillette reached for it and grssped the
air.
'I am satisfied, Luke. Now, why are Won
here?"
1t was two or three minutes before an answer
came, and then the words were indistinet and
widely separated. Meanwhile the twilight was
fading and the figure had moved further back
from the table.
81 cannot understand you. Can you not
speak more plainly?" And Gillette moved as
If to decrease the distance between them: but
he was stopped by the wave of misty hand
and the voice was heard again.
eyes; but come no nearer Your touch was
disconcerting. AS the light fades l am stronger
Listenr'
And Gillette did listen-fearlessly listened
with every sense alert; listened as Hamlet
listened to the helmeted shade OF his father.
He was told of a considerable amount of gold
secreted near the cabin, of an Interest in
hotel at Forbestown, of a house and lot in Sac
ramento and other property of less value, all of
which he was requested to secure for the benefit
of widowed mother, whose address was given.
During the strange recital questions were
freely asked and answered by each, and the
length of the interview and its results would
seem to preclude the possibility of fraud or