Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-07-20
A GHOST STORY.


northern town, of some Importance as
L manufacturing center, there stood Il
Few years ago q house of considerable
size, which was commonly said to be
haunted.
The last tenant and owner was Squire
Dudley, to whom also belonged many
broad acres in the district. At the age
Of 40 he married a girl of II. Incom-
patibility of temper, it was said. led
10 frequent misunderstanding and
luarrelings; and angry voices, and
sometimes screams, We're heard pro-
ceeding from the dwelling. Two Sons
were born to the couple The elder.
soon after attaining his majority, went
abroad to seek his fortune. Disagree
ments with his father and an incilna-
lion for Il roaming life led to his decls-
on. The younger turned out good
for-nothing scapegrace. Having maze
serious inroads into his fathers re-
sources. and having rendered himself
liable to penal servitude by embezzle-
ment and forgery he fed the nelghbor-
hood and country. Then everything IN
that household went swiftly to rack
and ruin; and one winter, about
Christmas time, Squire Dudley ana MS
wife mysteriously disappeared. After
a brief interval, the creditors took
possession stripped the house OF ITS
contents, leaving only little lumber;
and from that day to the time OF
which I write. rats spiders and the re-
puted ghosts We're its only ocupantS
According to common report no human
foot had crossed it's threshold for at
lea It ten years.
The gossip Of the neghborhood
teemcd With accounts of the awful
sounds that had be2en heard issuing
from the building Groans. shrirks
and piteous walls. unlike any that bad
over &C me from human lips. broke
upon the midnight darkness TIE
bell. that seemed to sob and moan,
had scared many L traveller into rapid
flight
Such was the story narrated to a lit
tie coIy ivial party. in which was in
Guided. seated around the smoking
room fire of the Crown Hotel. Eoller
ton, on the 30 of December. is.
The party consisted of two London
~com;ntrcials. both of them friends of
mine: rich grocer who related the
story: the leading draper Of the town.
ard myself-Tom Smith.
The grocer thoroughly believed in
Ihe spiritual manifestations as he
termed the doing of the ghost. The
other men were slightly skeptical:
AS for myself. l utterly and "mphati
cally pooh-hooed everything attributed
to the Ghost.
We'll. said the grocer, with Il
warmth. ''Ah wouldn't spend !; nceghT
in that hawsome place for a thousand
pun
He had been decidedly nettlcd at the
rid:cule l had thrown on the absurd
Alarms of the people and now leaned
forward in my direction and. with his
hands firmly graspng his knees, said:
-'Noo. Master Smith. and What Il ynl
got TO say: Whats your figure. COON
noo:"
1 am prepared" I answered much TO
the gro"or's CONSERVATION. ito Sp"mI
tomorrow night-ChriStmas ere--in
that house alone. on condition ;hat You
and the other gentlemen guarantee
that the sum of 800 be paid me on
Christmas day
1t is needless TO detail the discussion
that ensued At last Il document was
drawn up and signed by all present to
the effect thatI was to receive the
sum named on carrying out my part
of the agreement ! bargainrl for q
chair, bedstead, bedding and bankers.
a parcel of sandwiches and a flask Of
whisky.
I arranged the bedsteAd in the cor
ner of my chamber. and with the aid
of the piece of skirting board and two
heaps of plaster, made Il rough stand
on which to place The "anllestick.
/ wetted my lips With the contents
OF the flask. made myself comfortable
on the bed and took from my pocket
the best tonic l know Of for low spir-
jts-'Pickwick."
4 fter TWO or three hours realing p!
felt drowsy. ate a sandwich. rrsortcd
h the flask and went off into Il rrOub-
led siuEber.
l awole in a fright. a moaning
and wailng greeted my ears 1t came
during II lull in the wind and sent :;
TENOR through my blood.
A stray raj Studded across the lloor
AMI disappeared down som" ronE"u-
iart hole hope dcvout"dly he was
not "A scout sent from headquarters
to rHronnOierH.
Like IA timid school girl / pulled tAo f.
blankets over my head and tried to
WOO repOSe.
The wind increased to Il titful gale
1T came in sudden terrific blasts. lash /
ing the back of the house, shaking the .
foundation, kissing and grooming
through gaping holes and Il thousand 7
crpvices. Once CT twice the house
seemed 10 rock, and plaster frH to tle +