Mexico weekly ledger., 1900-08-02

loved old Judge, for they all loved
the old gentleman. Some went to
his residence to ask what the rideless
horse meant. The family was frighten-
cd and concluded that the Judge must
have been thrown from the horse
when II was frightened by the awful
thunder and lightning Of the storm
just past. Preparations were made ct
once for q party to 60 in quest Of the
Judge.
"Just ct this juncture the Judge
was seen coming up the road, trudg-
ing through the mud, thoroughly
drenched, almost ont OF breath, with
hat In hand and bis white hair stream
ing in the moonlight. The students
ran TO meet him, rejoicing to see him
unhurt. did the old horee run away
with your said one. Are you at all
injured2' said another. Dear mei'
said another, Judge, what could have
happenedf' The Judge said not one
word. The fact is, he would have
greatly preferred to meet his Satanic
Majesty just then than to face these
students. He was forced TO make
some explanation of the untaword
circumstances surrounding him, and
how to do 80 without bringing down
upon himself the laughter of the boys
was worrying him.
"As soon as he got his breath the
Judge said: 'Boys, you all know that
I have denounced ghosts and COLLINS
and all who tell such stories. l don't
believe in such things, but to tell you
the truth, l saw something q while ago
very unusual and quite queer in the
old church down the road yonder;
and II you all will CO.
"'Judge, did you really see aghost2'
broke in a half dozen-'back with me,
we will find out something about IT,
"The Judge went to bis residence
to relieve his family Of their apprs-
tensions as to his safety and change
his clothes.
"'well, I'll be hanged il Pm going
to interview a ghost, real or suppos-
ed said q half dozen students.
"'Suppose 1t lie q ghost,' said one.
What will you say to 1t or do with
it?' said another.
"'I'm going, sure,' said Ned Bull
lock, a long, lank and lean fellow who
had the spirit of a dare devil. sWe
will catch 1t and see it, and q large
number Of the boys gave q hearty
amen to Ned's declaration.
"Ail dispersed to make some sort
Of preparations for the anticipated
capture. Some got pistols, some
guns, others got clubs, etc. and when
the Judge came back at least one hun
dred and Hfty students we're ready to
60 with him to the old church down
the road yonder.'
"sHadn't we better get some lam
terns?' said one, though the moon was
shining bright as day.
"'Yes,' responded Ned Bullock,
we might have to 60 Into some Of
the dark places about the church,
"rhereupon 3 half dozen or more
ran to their rooms to get each q lan-
tern with q tallow candle in It.
GAS they walked along the road In
obedience to that instinct which gov
erns, to some extent, all mankind in
times Of apprehended and unknown
danger, they all punched up close to
the Judge and Ned Bullock, and those
who spoke at all spoke in g subdued
tone.
"Just as they came in sight Of the
Gle church, Ned Bullock, all sglow
with excitement, his tall figure tower
ing above the heads of all, said:
Judge, how shall we make the at
tackP suggest that we form in sin
gle file and surround the old church,
each of US standing about ten feet
from the other so the sthIng'' can't
escape; end II sit" makes the at
tempt, the two nearest to SIT" will
catch "it."
"sOatch O ghostp said Bob Turpin,
9 small, dapper little fellow, In q voice
husky with emotion. They have al
ways told me that you can't catch one
-'ft" will slip through your fingers
And they all looked queerly at each
other and each turned his head to one
side a. much as to say-'Bob's right,
1 don't care to "rassIen with a ghost.
"T never could "rassleiu I am real
sick tonight; / ought to be ct home
In bed now said John Robertson.
Il "tWhy, John, you are as bad as q
baby said Ned Bullock to him.
"t1 wish | was q baby and In q
cradle too,| said John az he turned
away to hide his emotion.
HIt was all Ned Bullock and Judge
Tucker could do to hold the boys IN
line, 30 many evincing . shaklnesl
about the knees and an unWillingnese
to proceed further. At last, however,
they started OF In single file, the
Judge and Ned leading the column.
"They surrounded the old church
completely, and each one stood az
silent as death, all eyes and ears
|. Nothing was zee or heard. The
Judge and Ned Bullock we're standing
opposite the front door, apparently
waiting for something TO happen.
"sJudge,' said Ned, What's next9'
Il at don't know what We can DO,
said the Judge with one eye on the
! church door and the other IN the road
along which he had run 80 wildly en-
. hour or 90 before. Neither offered tc
, 20 with the other, or alone, Into that
reputed abode OF all the ghosts In and
! about Williamsburg. The Judge had
seen it, once and didn't really desire
to see ST again. Ned had never
seen one and now that the time to see
one was at hand, Ned hesitated. Fin.
ally Ned said: Judge, let's cut q
: long pole and With It place two light
cd lanterns In the doorway and In thai
way throw q light into the dog-goned
old church,
aiGOod,' said the Judge, that's 8
fine suggesiion.'
WWith his jack knife Ned Bullock
soon had a slim pole fully twenty feet
long, and with It and his long arms he
placed two lighted lanterns In the
, doorway OF the old church.
ain q few minutes the ghost came
. walking down the aisle of the church
and stood In the doorway between
the lanterns. ST was at once recog-
! nIsed as g harmless inmate Of the
lunatic asylum ct Williamsburg, who
had wandered from the asylum anc