The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-26

WIN Nfi mana on DIS lips. i want you
20 come into my room and listen 10 a
sound that / nave been hearing for some
time"
doors creakng." suggested David. az
he began TO dress
Nothing OF the kind" was all she
said; and they stole softly into the next
room and listened.
The chirping OF an insect in the trees
outside was the only sound they heard
for so long a time that David was be-
ginning 70 think what "a laugh ne would
have on his sister, next day
Then all at once II started again. II
was the sound Of a chain, dragging back
and forth across the floor Of the upper
room. Sometimes IT was dragged slowly.
sometimes rapidly; and sometimes IT
seemed 10 fan IN a heap. a strange
sound IL was, I'm the middle Of the night
when everything else was still. Even
the chirp I'm the trees had ceased. and
nothing was now to De heard but that
chain, dragging about the floor Of the
upper room.
wen go and look into H." said Da-
vid. softly. and I'm q moment he had
lighted a lamp and was leading the way
They walked up the stairway. and along
the upper han TO the door Of the unused
room. Something was wrong with the
en-. as / have said.
Something that was not fear thrilled
their hearts as they pushed the door
further ajar. and stood where they could
see every foot Of the vacant floor one
Of their own boxes stood I'm the middle
of the room: but aside from that. nothing
was 10 be seen, and they looked at one
another in silence.
Hold the lamp a minute, Margie." Da-
Vid said. at last. and then he went an
over the room. and looked more particu-
larry at its emptiness and even felt the
walls.
Secret panels you know" he said, with
smile, but IL was very puzzled smile,
indeed.
II can't see what # could have been"
Margaret said, as they went down the
stairs.
NO. I can't see. either. but I'm going
10 see" said David. THAT was a chain,
and chains don't drag around by them
selves, you know. 4 ghost could not drag
a chain, II he we're TO try"
The conventional ghost very often
drags chains" said Margaret, az she
closed the door of her room.
And then she lay awake all night and
listened for the conventional ghost that
dragged a chain. but Il seemed that the
him. for he was not heard again.
The mother had slept through IT all.
and next morning they gave her a vivid
account OF the nights adventure
Perhaps Il was some one In the house"
she said, in alarm. There were no ghosts
within the bounds of possibility. so far as
she was concerned, but burglars were
very possible, indeed.
Then Margaret and David both laughed
more than ever.
What fun Il would be-" said David.
"for Il burglar TO get into this house and
try to find something worth carrying
away"
So they went on 10 the next night, all
three fully determined 20 spend the night
In listening for the ghost, and running
him TO earth IL possible.
But IL was Margaret that heard the
ghost after all. she had been sleeping
and was suddenly startled wide awake,
and there, overhead, was the sound OF
the chain dragging; and just as she was
on the point Of springing out Of bed to
call her brother. the chain seemed to 90
out Of the upper room. She lay sull and
listened; and In q moment she heard 1t
again.
10 was coming down the stars
There was no carpet ON the stairs. and
she could hear the chain drop from step
90 step, until IL had come the whole way
down. There II was. almost at the door
of her room, and something that was
strangely like fear kept her lying still
listening in horrihed silence.
Then Il went along the hail. dragging
close 10 the door. and then further away,
and back and forth FOR awhile; and then
it began dragging back mp the stairs
again Step by Nep-she could hear 10
Of lrfl
by the time 10 had reached the top she re-
membered herself and called David.
Again did the brother and sister make
a tour OF the upper room with the lamp.
Not only that, but they looked into ev-
cry nook and corner Of the upper part Of
the house. and at last came back, baf-
fed They had seen nothing eXtraordl-
nary. and they had not heard sound.
I'm going TO see That ghost tonight"
David said to his sister the next even
ing.
"How?"
I'm going to SIT up an night at the
head OF the stairs Don't say anything
about it TO mother; 1t might make her
uneasy"
So. after the household were all quiet
David slipped into his place az the head
OF the stairs, and sat down 20 his vigil
He had placed a screen az the head OF
the stairway so that IL HID him from
view-as IL a ghost cared for screen
and he established himself behind it, and
prepared TO be as patient as he could.
II seemed TO him that hours so long had
never been devised as those the town
clocks tolled off that night He bore II
until midnight moderately we'll because.
he argued with himself. ~ there were any
ghosts about they would surely walk
then: but they were not in Il humor for
walking. and still the hours rolled ON
without any developments.
lie took the "ndgets." and had nervous
witches an over him; and at last be
could endure it no longer and had lean
cd hts head back against the wall ana
was going bnssfully to sleep, when
lie heard a chain dragging just beyond
the open door OF that unused room 4.
In spite of himself a shiver ran down
his back. There was no installing IT,
At was a real chain, IL he had ever heard
one More than that, it had left the
room. and was coming straight towards
the stairs. The han was dark. and it
was impossible for him TO see anything
although he strained his eyes in the d.
rcction Of the sound And even while
he looked 10 had passed behind the screen
and was going down the stairs. dropping
from step 10 step with q clank.
Halfway down narrow strip Of moon
light from a stair-wlndow lay directly
across the steps. Whatever the thing
was 1t must pass through that patch OF
light: and David leaned forward and
watched
Down IL went from step 20 step; and
presently Il had slipped through the light.
De-