The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-05
ONE SAUSALITO SPOOK,
The Apparition Which Dis
turbed the Rest of a
Prominent Citizen.
How w. H. Harrison Discovered
the Danger of Meddling With Old
Cemetery Pickets.

W. H. Harrison of Sausalito, the coal
merchant and journalist, took drive
over the hills north OF town on New Years
day. Passing the old cemetery Mr.. Har-
rlson remembered that he had lost picket
from his front fence line, and that one of
those aged pickets at the cemetery
would about fit, and with coat of paint
would look just as good as new. He is
gentleman of prompt action, so to trans
fer the picket to his buggy was the work OF
a moment. And then he drove home sat-
isfied that the first day of the new year
had not passed without profit.
Mr. Harrison is light sleeper, and at II
o'clock was awakened by the striking Of
the midnight hour from the clock on his
mantelpiece. He reached forth to draw
the coverlet over his shoulders and COM
pose himself again to slumber when the
consciousness of a strange presence in the
room startled him. He opened his eyes
and was considerably alarmed to see the
cemetery picket standing erect at the post
of his bed.
"Why, Pm Coos Bay lu mper If it
not the cemetery picket" exclaimed Mr..
Harrison, rubbing his eyes.
You bet your sweet life it is" rejoined
the picket, which to Mr.. Harrison's horror
had assumed human proportions and was
grinning at him in most CHASTITY fashion.
Say, you're not alive" gasped the Coal
King, sitting up in his bed and shivering
with terror.
Just as much as you are at the present
moment, Billy" grimly replied the picket.
"But you're old lumber, now, you know
you are" argued Mr.. Harrison, persua-
sively.
Here the picket grew profane and swore
so terribly that the expert in anthracite
put his fingers in his ears.
who are you, anyhow, and what are
you doing here in the dead of night2''
blutingly demanded Mr.. Harrison.
MAY Satan roast you in your own sift-
ings," shrieked the picket. who brought
me here, any how, and behind the slowest
old horse, too, that ever wore shoes? Who
am l, Ell? Why, | was the boatswain of
the Russian brig Petrovski but now l am
simply picket, see?'
II knew there were some Russian sailors
buried on that hillside, but, assure you,
l had no intention of disturbing you,"
said Mr.. Harrison soothingly.
"Oh, never mind the disturbing" re-
torted the picket; 'that hillside is pretty
windy place, and l will be much more
comfortable in your front yard"
''I'll be hanged if you will" muttered
Mr.. Harrison.
the picket, musingly. II like flowers and
chickens. 1t was the dream of my life to
own q chicken-ranch when | was at sea-
And say, don't drive me in too hard, Billy,
SO | can't get up every night and have "a
social chat with you. l can spin you lots
of good yarns, l can"
The cold perspiration started on Mr.
Harrison's lofty forehead at the idea of
seance every night with a ghostly boat
swain embodied in redwood picket. But
he concluded best to conclliate his unwel-
come visitor.
"Weil, we'll see about it," he said, pleas
antly. Nothing would please me better,
assure you. But don't you think you'd
better turn in now. I've got to be at bust
ness early in the morning, you know"
The picket scowled viciously at the sug-
gestion.
II am just beginning to enjoy myself
Billy it said, severely. keep a civil
tongue in your head, or by the main brace
pennant II hop into that bed and lam the
dickens out of you"
Here to Mr.. Harrison's inexpressible re-
lief tap came TO the door and voice out
! side said: why, William, who are you
talking tor"
Before he could reply the picket, with
parting glance of the most threatening i'm
port, launched itself out OF window Mr..
Harrison sprang from his couch and
steadied his nerves. That morning, ere
the wintry sun had gilded the lofty hills,
he drove rapidly up the road, and the
picket and heavy maui lay side by side
IN the bottom of his buggy. 1t IS now
sunk so deep in the earth in it's old place
at the cemetery that nothing less powerful
than derrick or shears will dislodge it.