The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1900-11-03
Forced to Play a SpOOk
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A n EXPLANATION of the phan-
IA tom figure which appeared op
West End avenue in the middle of a
night month ago is worth being
made to set at rest the fears of the
neighborhood's nurse girls and be-
cause it illustrates new peril of fat
life in big city. Capt. Charles Law
yer, the hero of it, says that if he lives
until his lease ends in September not
even matrimony will induce him to
live in fat again. Capt. Lawyer is
an officer in crack national guard
organization, and his midnight expe-
rience not only shocked his mpdesty
and injured his dignity, but it brought
on bad cold and something that
suggested nervous prostration. II it
had not been for these physical ills
he might possibly have forgotten it
as a bad dream.
The apartment where Capt. Lawyer
sleeps and breakfasts is on the sec
ond floor of building which boasts
OF six stories and all modern conyen-
fences except an all-night elevator.
The fats rent at a medium price,
which is likely to insure respectable
ity, and few of its tenants have occa-
sion for an elevator after midnight.
The janitor is obliging, and as it is
part of his duty to turn out the
upper hall gaslights at midnight,
Capt. Lawyer told him not to trouble
himself about the light in the second
hall.
"You see, Mr.. Ferguson" said the
captain. 81 am interested in some
missions and things like that, you
know, which frequently detain me un-
til after midnight, and If you will
have the light burning every night
will put it out"
"All right" said Ferguson, "but IL
would be worth my job if the landlord
should come around some morning
and find it burning"
Trust me, Mr.. Ferguson" said the
captain. 81 never deceived janitor."
Thus it happened, just month ago,
that when Capt Lawyer reached his
bedroom after an evening with the
Young Mems Checker Club and Life
Saving association and wound his
cuckoo clock before climbing into bed,
he remembered that he had neglected
to turn out the gas in his hall. The
clock indicated 1890 and all the up
per hall lights were out. Capt. Law
yer wore a nightshirt which was sew
( eral feet shorter than a rainy day
skirt. The entire house seemed
asleep, and without putting on bath
robe he lodged into the hall to turn
out the gas and thus keep faith with
Ferguson.
Just as Lawyer reached the gas jet
the door of his fat swung to with a
click that indicated that the Yale lock
had done its duty 1t was an unfor-
tunate accident. Lawyer felt for his
key ring and his hand landed on the
side of his nightshirt. His subsequent
xefsections were not pleasant. He
knew that he could not break into his
dat. Moreover, it was quite cool, and
the longer he remained inactive the
more chilly he felt.
''There is nothing Tor me to do"
thought the captain, "but to go down
and ring the janitor's bell. Ferguson
has duplicate key of my fat and he
will let me in"
Capt. Lawyer stole down the fight
Of stairs, stopping every two or three
steps to listen, and just as he reached
the bottom he heard several persons
coming up the steps from the street.
Back upstairs he bounded and then
leaned over the rail to size up the in
fruders. They proved to be an un-
Identified young woman and her es-
cort.
Such a lovely evening" he heard
the young woman say as she came
into the hall. ST nave enjoyed it so
much"
lawfully glad you could come.
enjoyed it so much that l don't like
20 say good-by."
''Do you always say that?"
s'Never to any other girl, 'pon my
word"
"Say good-by and chase out, you
BOBBY" thought the captain as he
ehivered in the hall above.
The conversation degenerated into
. oonfused humble for a few minutes,
and the captain ran the risk of house
maids knee as he knelt with his eyes
glued to the rails, ready to sprint in
case the young woman came upstairs.
"M-m-m-no, now-oh, please don't"
said the lower hail voice. "Well, then.
just once, because you are cousin,
you know"
Kissing" thought the captain.
That's tough luck. Wonder if / had
mt better cough. If that chap knew
how cold and uncomfortable I am he
would go home"
More mumhles came from the lower
hall, and at last when the girl said
good night for the hundredth time or
more her escort said:
II think will see you safely to your
apartment. Never can tell who is
1urking around halls at this hour"
md the couple began to climb the
4tairs. Capt. Lawyer, not being
handicapped by having clothes. knew
kat he could keep his lead, but he
IS naturally curious to know on
>ich floor the girl lived. At the
OF the second fight of stairs he
&ted. The couple started up after
Higher went the captain, and
ind him slowly came the couple.
he reached the top floor the
Gtain was agitated. II couldn't be
n "a n i