Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-08-26

hIlCT hBHtluB hll thO hi"tShNb h"-
with me and making as thorough ar
examination of the roof as the brieI
Pickering lights would allow, / CROPPED
toward the stairs.
Probably half the distance to the
landing was passed when upon my ear
fell the voice, the unearthly voice, the
weird tones of which had first heard
in my room downstairs.
It could not possibly be heard up in
the attic, when speaking in my cham
Der. So then II must have the faculty
of being able to change from one apart
ment to another just as the whim seized
IT..
Like the voice which had sounded
downstairs, the tones were intermit-
tent; In the present instance they al
ternated with the rappings.
After standing motlonless, with hear"
ing strained to the utmost, I noticed
that Mt no time did the voice and the
rappings sound together.
The few detached words I distin-
gulshed had no possible reference 10
myself; nevertheless the voice seemed
to follow me. / was unwilling to at
tribute the sounds to supernatural
causes, for was not q believer in the
supernatural. 1t might be that the par
ties who hadwalled up the cellar found
some of their plans, whatever they
may have been, upset by my advent,
and had taken this way to frighten me
and cause my departure.
On second thought the idea did not
appear tenable. For If the purpose was
to brighten me, flercer and more ter
rifying demonstration would be used
Was there only one voice which in
some way sounded both in my room and
in the attic, or were there various voices
all over the place, each independent Of
the other?
I hastened downstairs, but when
reached my room no sounds were heard
there.
While in my bedroom, I had no way
of knowing if the voice in the attic was
still sounding.
The remainder of the evening I spent
in rushing from my room to the attic
and back again, and quietly stealing
through the vacant rooms, in the hope
of laying hold of some explanation of
the strange voice. I did hear it again
in the attic, but there was no sound in
my room, though I had Immediately
hastened there.
Finally gave up the quest for the
time, and, thoroughly fatigued, un.
dressed and went to bed.
My head had hardly touched the pill
low when the report of pistol reached
my ear. The sound was muffled, as
though coming from distant apart
ment. Indeed, it seemed to come from
underneath, as had the sound of the
slamming door; but yet not directly be-
meath; it would undoubtedly have
sounded much palmer had the shoot
ing taken place in the walled-up cellar
below my room.
There was no answering shot, and no
more unaccountable noises, though I
hearkened intently.
All through the night 1 lay vainly
trying to find repose, but sleep would
not come. I was resolved to leave no
stone unturned to unravel these mys-
teries. For the events, trivial as they
seemed and as they probably would
prove when explained, were certainly
irritating, and threatened wholly to de,
stroy the rest and peace 1 had expected
to And In Jacksonville.
1t was exasperating that, besides be-
ing burdened with a load of guilt which
rightfully belonged on other shoulders,
I should also be subjected to petty an
noyances which promised to make my
stay in Jacksonville anything but peace
full. True, 1 was my own master. I
could leave the old house on the NOR
row. But to be utterly routed and
driven from the field by few harmless
though ipexplicable happenings was
contrary to my nature. Then, too,
Florence; how could leave the place,
now that I had found my love abiding
here?
When the first rosy tints of dawn
showed in the east, slumber closed my
weary eyes.
AS on the previous morning, Mrs
Snyder was compelled to arouse me for
breakfast. On the present occasion she
announced rather testify that the morn
Ing meal had been waiting for over an
hour.
I could not resist the desire to begin
Investigations Immediately, and there
fore after hastily dressing walked oil
around the house, keeping at such dis
lance from 1t that every part Of the
roof could be seen.
There was o line Of wire running
along the side Of the road, which, as /
Afterward ascertained, belonged to q
telephone circuit embracing half Q
dozen towns and villages in the Vioin-
lty. This wire crossed the roof of the
house, but was not fastened to it in any
way, swinging at least three feet clear
Of the ridge-pole. Within few inches
of the wire was q section of lightning
rod. The air was still, and the wire
hung motioaless, On the previous
night strong breeze had been blow
ing, as remembered from the mourn
ful cndenrea r. nroduccd IN In tina