The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-12-13
CHARLIE GIBBS GHOST.

shock ii gave tine boys Of Nowenton
when tbcy heard for tine nrst time mat
the old Shattuck place was hauh'eu.
Charlie Gibbs and ihls father had
driven in from Lacy late ON the previous
evening. and just as they reached
totnt On The road opposite the Shattuck
house they were startled by strange
sounds that seemed TO come from the
fasnless windows OF the Old Duliuins.
Charlie. who was httle' shdIp-ey ga
fellow. whose ideas flowed so last thal
he often found difficulty in expressing
them without stummeIlng. told about
the adventure the next morning as soon
as he reached schOOl-hOuse
Father tied the old mare. he said.
"and We walked Up To the house. JUST
before We reached the porch we heard
acurryns sound ass % some one was
running about inside But when We
stepped into the hall there WASH
thing 90 he sccu-uOt even bat or an
owl. Father walked TO the middle oil
the kitchen. lie was just GONG 10 say
something. when We heard three or TOUR
hard raps on the floor right under us.
Perhaps we didn't jump. Then there
was q sudden screeching, halfway be-
tween "a grOan and laugh. but iather
and I didn't wait 10 see what II was.
We ran as fast as we could for the
road and az every step 10 seemed 10 me
just as if something was trying 10 ret
hold Of the tail of my jacket And once
(here Charles voice sunk 20 whisner)
looked over my shoulder and saw
what did YOU see. Charlie asked
Dave Curtis. IN an awed voice.
"A figure all in white-yes. sir. did,
and Charles sharp little eyes stuck out
with excitement.
There was little else talked about AT
school during the day. The old Shat
tuck house was am admirable place for
Ehosts-ovcry one admitted That. IL
stood near the lonely north road on
bare. wind-swopt knoll. with the nearest
trees "a hundred yards or more back
OF the house. 10 was "a small building.
ceiled inside and out. and having an
old-f1shioned block foundation made OF
short lengths of oak logs. stood on end
An OF It's doors and windows and every
thing else that was movable had long
since been carried away, and when there
was "a storm the wind made dreary
music in IT'S cllDbOardcd sides. The
house itself had not been occupied in
many years, but lcan-tO. which had
once been wood-shcd. was used as a
storage place for spades rakes. hoes,
and other garden implements belonging
60 the man who worked the small clear
ing about the house
There was no particular reason why
the Place should be haunted-at least
so far as the boys knew. Shattuck the
man from whom the place had taken
its name. had been quiet and inOfien-
FlNc-fOO inOncnSiVe, many people
thoucht-and ne had remained on the
Farm. digging its sandy land and trying
10 make living until the mortgage
was forcclOscd. and be was compelled 10
move down TO Lacy. where he found
work in tie livery stable. All these facts
were known 90 every one OF us. and we
couidn understand how any respectable
ghost would seek a lodging I'm the old
house unless indeed, 4 was the ghost OF
that mortgage.
"l ten YOU what we can do" ventured
Nat Price. "fhis IS Friday night and
We can 20 down. "a whole crowd OF Us.
and make can on the old ghost"
You better not exclaimed Charlie
Gibbs shaking his head. i've seen 'em.
and don want anything more TO do
with cm.'
well you needn't 60" answered Nat.
promptly. wen tell YOU what we find
when We come back
II was hliIht. sunshiny summer after
noon-the Kind of afternoon IN which
boy can listen TO the most blood curI-
hue ghost stories without blinking
Elk or eight of us readily agreed to so
with Maj including Charlie Gibbs.
"Im rot afraid OF any ghosts" Nat
Price had declared over and over. eff
/ see one Of Thorn nm just walk up ana
shake hands and ask him If no likes
Al mis- AN Of the boys laughed. Nat
was the hlcgos' boy I'm our school. lie
was both tain and strong, and u good
deal of bully. although good-hearted
enourh hv nature.
II was dark that evening when we
started. Nat led the way. telling us i'm
a loud voice how foolish 10 was TO be
ievc in ghosts, and boastng that ne
had yet TO see tho haunted house
which he didn't dare 20 20 into AT any
time of day or night / remember well
how We smaller boys admired such
bravery. ond wished that We were as
lig and strong and fearless as ne. We
admitted Co ourselves that We We're some
what afreld. although We wouldn't have
said So Tor the world
The shadows lay deep on the north
road as We walked rapidly mp toward
The Shattuck place. The gable end OF
The building came first into view above
Tho roadside bushes and then as we
drew nearer the whole caunt, fOrlorn
old house stood outlined I'm inky black
against tho woonless sky For some rea-
son even Nat wasn't talking as loud
az ne GA at first When We reached Vie
front gtte-or tho remnants Of what had
once been n front gate-we stepped and
listened. Although a faint wind blew
M over The hin. fragrant with tho heavy
ohof or The woods. We could not hear
rafting OF loose single
Where's your ghOsas?" asked Nat
turning 20 Charlie Gibbs
II don't knOw-wait TIL Won r-Vet
20 the house"-chattered Char'ie in re
ply. He WAS evidently badly rr,ehfsned
and that helped TO friehten som. of the
younger boys. Even Nat was a little sub
dued.
Come on" he said. and we followed