The Bossier banner., 1899-11-09
Farmer Tayler's Ghost
Ty Rose L. Colby.

nm TAYLOR and | were represent
] Il ;nc Chicago houses in the west.
v!cb however, carrying different lines
q Goods. Jim was well fixed and ownea
eood farm adjoining Cheyenne, 10
.lity conveniently situated for him as
,carded his field of work, but after the
hath Of his father, who in fit of de-
uondency caused by continued Ill
t.,lth had committed suicide. he left
the farm and moved to Chicago.
II don't know what to do with the
IA place." he said one day, as we sat
4 ! hotel rotunda enjoying an after
Inner chat and some good cigars.
aJohn Brownson, whose land adjoins
Il wants to buy it, but he is not will
in9 to pay even half its actual value.
he has been persistent in his efforts to
ri me to sell, but hate to give the
MACE away, which I would be virtually
doing, if let him have it at the figure
lie offers. Brownson has the name of
hing rather a schemer, and / think
he wants to take the two pieces of
/ xround and lay off a new addition to
Cheyenne, by dividing the land into
town lots"
II l were you, should go and live
a II, or rent il" suggested.
THE fact is,'' he replied, II could
aot get my wife to live in the house,
even though l hired a man and woman
to stay with her, and it is impossible
70 get anyone else to live there, or rent
Il at any price
"Why, what's the matter with it?"
Iasked ..s1..
Jim shifted himself around uneasily
h his chair, and looking somewhat
lheepish, answered:
They say the house is haunted" /
threw myself back in my chair, and
laughed aloud, fairly shouting, the idea
seemed to me SO preposterous-a haunt
ed house in Wyoming town, at the
dawn OF the twentieth century.
Why, Jim, you certainly don't be-
ieve such rot as that l exclaimed,
when ! recovered myself.
I don't know" he replied, shaking
bis head, obviously, strange things
have been seen and heard there, ac-
cording to the testimony of persons
whose truthfulness has never been
questioned. I believe there is an ele-
mtnt of superstition in all human ma
furt, which only requires certain en-
slroEments and conditions to bring it
out While l don't really believe in
ghosts. yet l would not stay alone in
me old house all night for any amount
Of money"
I assure you, JIM broke in, "that
superstition is simply relic of bar
earism, and no one but very ignorant
champ would confess to belief in
ghosts nowadays. I am glad to be able
% assert that there is not grain ot
superstition in my composition, and te
3 prove it to you. I'll agree to sleep il
your house instead of the hotel the mex
time make Cheyenne"
jim eagerly took me up on my propo
..llon. and pledged cigars in profusior
7 succeeded in making good my prom
ises. !, enthused over the prospect O
demonstrating the absurdity of the ru
nors IN circulation, not only pledged
mssef to stay in the house alone, hui
@ sleep in the very room that had beer
sm father's, and which had not beer
disturbed since his tragic death.
"nen lnextarrived in Cheyenne / CAV
sane, the chambermaid of the hotel.
aoliar and asked her to GO over to tn
asyior place and get the front room
night.
Law sakes! You don't ever mean t
Yep there alone" exclaimed Jane
aey do say that ole man Taylor
rampin' round de house de Who'll
night long"
70 you believe that, Jane?" asked
efiously.
"ali, she answered. timorously. g
zap q folks has seen i'm. an dat der
y lront room was his'n. Tn mos
s11 % 60 dere alone by myself i
9 day time"
ven, Jane." said. ''you can take
:. g your friends over there with yo,
as1 you go. for company. l promise
1 ~ ~ Iaylcr I'd sleep there; and, b,
- would not be afraid of old ma
E u he were alive, and I'm sul