Deming headlight., 1897-05-14
THE PHANTOM TOE.


I lam nos n supcrstltIoua man, far from
n, but dcapite ali my efforts 10 tho con.
lrnry could not help thinking, directly
had taken survey Of my chamber. Tint
should never quit II without going through
a Ktrnngs adventure. There was some.
thing in its immonso slxe hcavlnsss nnd
gloom that seemed to nnnlhllnto at one
blow al my rcsolute skepticism as regards
supernatural vlsisntl0nB. IL appeared 10
mo totally impossible TO gOinto that room
and difbciicve IN Rhohts.
Tho fact "a, had ineautlouHly partakrn
at supper of that favorlte Dutch dish,
anncrlrnut, ana suppose II had dlsngrcrd
With me ana put strange fanclcs into my
head. DO this ~ II mas, I only know TINT
after parting with my friend Tor tho night
I gradually worked myself up into auch q
state II fldgeiiucss that AZ last I wafn't
turo whether hadn't toc0nis ghost my
self
"supposlng." ruminntcd /. 'kuppoalng
tho landlord himself thonld bc q pfastlrnl
robbcr and should have taken tho lock and
bolt from on this door for tho purpose OF
entering hcro ms the dand OF tbs night, alb
strnctlng oil my property, and perhaps
numbering mel thought tho dog had
very unithruat air about him." Now, had
never hDd any such Idea until that mo.
ment. for my host was fvt tall Dutclmen
arc fash stupid looking fcllnw, who
don't believe had sense enough 70 under.
stand whit n robbery or murder mrant
but somehow OF other, whenever We have
anything really 10 annoy us land II Ger.
talniy was not pleasant 20 90 20 bod IN n
stfnnga place without being able 20 faStrn
ono'a duurl, wo arc sure t0negrnynl6 II by
suualtlila ftF rltlletntsna ~ f.ttW
10, On the present occasion. IN tho midst
pf thousand dianRrounblu fcvurlcs, rome
Of tho most WILD nhsurilty, jumped very
glooinily into bed, having frst put cat ny
candle Tor total darkness was Tar prcfera.
bio % its nickeflng, ghnstly linht. Which
transformed rnthcr than revealed ohiecfs),
And soon feii asleep. perfectly tired out
with my days riding
How long lay asleep don't know, but
I SUDDENLY nwoko from q dlsngrccnblo
dream u cutfhrnhth, ghosts and long,
winding passages IN a haunted Inn. An
indnscrlbahic feeling, Euuh ~ I never bn'
fore experienced, hung upon me, iteocined
az II ovefy ncrvo IN my body had hun.
drcd spirits tickling Il, and this was &C.
companlrd by "a great q heat that, In.
wnfdly cursina mlno lysse'o eauorkraut and
wondering how the Dutuhmcn could en-.
dnre such poison, was forced 10 slt up IN
bed 20 cool mysoli. Tho whole oi tho room
was pfoioundly dark, excepting no onn
plnce, whore the moonlight falling through
b rrcyicu IN the shutters, thrns STRAIGHT
lire ~ about m inch OF 10 thick upon Tho
honr-eleaF, sharp and intensely brilliant
AealnAt the dnGknoaa. leave you 20 con.
ceivc my horror whom, upon looking at
this anld lino u light, saw thfra a naked
human too--nothlna more.
Fur tho hfrt instant thought the vision
mnst ha soma effect Of moonlight, then
that ! was ouiy hnli awake and uould not
50 distinctly. 30 rubbrd my cyca two OF
three tiincs aud looked sguin. st,li there
vac the ncouraod lhlnK-plein, distinct,
ln,uosnhlo---n,svblollko IN ita nseduoss
and rleldIly. but Ia ersH'hinH else hoEit
bly, human.
am not an easily frightened man. No
ono who has Travelled 80 much nlld aeon 90
much and lem EXPOSED ~ 90 many dam
eork as I can bo, but thcrn waa something
ro nyftcrloua and unusual IN tho appear.
nnce oi this single too that for short tmo
! could not think whnt to ho o. 70 dil
nothing but stare % u Ia state uf utter
bhWlldtfmnnt.
a. length, howeyor. 10 tho toe ana not
vanish undCr my steady gnSc, I ihoufht ]
tniehl os we'll ehorao ny nflirt and NJ