River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-10-04
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! Forced to Play a SpOOk

Observation-Disclosures <1rsttKzctH1
5 Forced to Play a SpOOk s
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A n EXPLANATION of the phan-
~ tom figure which appeared on
West End avenue in the middle of a
night a month ago is worth being
made to set at rest the fears of the
neighborhood's nurse girls and be-
cause it illustrates a new peril of fiat
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 a fiat again. Capt. Lawyer is
an officer in a crack national guard
organization, and his midnight expe-
rience not only shocked his modesty
and injured his dignity, but it brought
on a bad cold and something that
suggested nervous prostration. If it
had not been for these physical Ills
he might possibly have forgotten it
as q bad dream.
The apartment where Capt. Lawyer
sleeps and breakfasts is on the sec
ond floor of a building which boasts
of six stories and all modern conven-
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
a 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, II am interested in some
missions and things like that, you
know which frequently detain me IN
Ill after midnight, and if you will
have the light burning every night
i will put it out"
"All right" said Ferguson, "but it
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 a 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 nightshirt which was sew
eral feet shorter than rainy day
skirt. The entire house seemed
asleep, ana 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 fiat 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
reflections were not pleasant. He
knew that he could not break into his
fiat. Moreover, 1t was quite cool, and
the longer he remained inactive the
more chilly he felt.
There is nothing for me to do
thought the captain, 'but to go down
and ring the janitor's bell. Ferguson
has a duplicate key of my fiat and he
viii 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
truders. 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. 81 nave enjoyed it so
much"
lawfully glad you could come. 1
enjoyed ii so much that / don't like
to say good-by,"
do you always say that?"
Never to any other girl, pom my
word"
SAY good-by and chase out, yoa
BOBBY" thought the captain as he
shivered in the hall above.
The conversation dcgenerated into
a confused 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.
"Mm-m-no, now-oh, please don't, IS
said the lever hall voice. We'll, then.
just once, because you are cousin,
you know"
kissing" thought the captain.
'That's tough luck. Wonder If l had
MT better cough. Ii that chap knew
how cold and uncomfortable l am he
would so home"
More mumtles came from the lower
hall. and at last when the girl said
good night for the hundredth time or
more her escort said:
81 think l will see you safely to your
apartment. Never can tell who is
lurking around halls at this hour, "
and the couple began to climb the
stairs. Capt. Lawyer, not being
handicapped by having clothes. knew
that he could keep his lead, but he
was naturally curious TO know on
which floor the girl lived. At the
ION of the second fight of stairs he
waited. The couple started mp after
him. Higher went the captain, and
behind him slowly came the couple.
When he reached the top floor the
eaptain was aritated - cc-'9n't be
possible that this girl lived on that
floor, She did however. As she
and her escort started on the last
flight Of stairs Capt. Lawyer hesitated
between shouting al them, doing