The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-26

Sdhlo running uoWn-stafrS from her own
room whenever she heard the smash oc-
cur, so there could not be the slightest
suspicion OF her being tho mysterious
breaker"
MSweeny was thoroughly puzzled and.
l suspect. began 10 have mingled with
feeling wholesome dread that the spir-
its, the moment he personally appeared
on the scene TO Investigate. would turn
their benevolent attentions 10 him. Mys-
terious beings who could lift pianos like
mere feather weights. and smash win
dows, and spirit away diamonds and gold
out OF double-locked recesses. and go
rapping along walls. and roofs. and floors
or cellars, TIL the whole seemed ready to
totter and collapse, were not what ho
could call comfortable companions. He
continued TO question Mrs. N Ilwraith till
he was sick of the whole case. but tho
more he questioned the greater grew his
terror. Mrs. M llwraith was not exactly
believer In spirits. else she would never
have put aside the advice OF Mrs. Arson
and consulted us; but she had suffered
enough from the mysterious tricks attrib-
uted TO these roguish beings TO make her
half a convert. She candidly confessed
that she would have been happier without
their kind attentions, and that sne would
have much preferred the African TO allow
her TO be sole Judge OF her own actions Ia
buying and wearing the missing jewel:
but there were the facts. and what could
be made OF them? NJ MSweeny, II Ia true,
made a great show OF courage and indig-
nation at the breaking of the windows.
and said 1t was clearly an infringement of
the law, and must be put a stop to at
once; but in his heart am certain he
quaked as abJectly as a child covering
before its own shadow. Accordingly. he
made arrangements at once to go out to
the scene OF the rappings-a great semi
data ~ nod xrfl NJ he ltrofs era-- f.(
those colossal modern buildings which
one would have expected TO be the least
likely In the world to be troubled with
perturbed spirits IL It had been an old
building, as he afterwards remarked to
me, with horrible tradition of a conn
Portable CORY murder or suicide attached
20 II, he could have understood IL all;but
with a nero building got up to sell--a
shoddy affair of sand and bricks, with
thin skin OF showily polished stones-the
experience was new. a detective, how
ever. has no choicc--he must go where
glory waits him: and M'Sweeny arranged
TO visit Mrs. Mllwraith's villa that day.
In the afternoon. accordingly. he walk
ed out 20 the Grange and easily found the
great house, the back windows OF which
at the time looked towards Blackford
Hill without interruption OF any kind.
II was a snowy place, having a coach
house attached, and a big garden and
green behind, separated from that OF the
next house by high paling OF wood.
When M'Sweeny arrived. the master OF
the house was not there. but he was In
troduced 20 the medium, Mrs. Arson, who
did not receive him very graciou5ly, and
held long conversation in a remonstra-
tive whisper with Mrs. Nj M'Ilwraith, evip1
IDENTIFY on the impropriety of calling him
in. Mrs. Arson appeared to be more mis-
tress or the house than the lady who en-
tertained, her. and was good-looking,
neatly-dressed, and apparently accom-
plished woman as well. M
She took NJ MSweeny I'm hand herself. and
soon had him in a beautiful condition OF
terror and superstition, telling him tale
after tale OF the astounding feats OF tho
spirits with herself-one OF which was
nothing less than that OF carrying her up
through two storys of ceilings to a gar
ret far above, without leaving as much
as a pin-hole in her wake. A friend OF
hers had been carried by the spirits sew
eral miles. on wet. rainy night, from
one house TO another without SO much aS
feeling a drop of rain or a puff of wind
certainly a great Improvement In quick
ness and comfort. to say nothing OF
cheapness. upon the commonplace cab
or tramway car. Altogether Mrs. Anson
Impressed - Sweeny with the idea that
she was wonderful woman. and have
20 doubt would have sent him away much
more mystified than when he went out,
had IL not CHANGED that while they were
conVersing the master OF the house ar
rived. The moment his step and voice
were heard In the hall, Mrs. Anson and
the lady OF the house exchanged glances
OF concern; but before they could arrange
any explanation. Mr.. MIlwraith entered
the room. Then the mistress OF the house.
smiling sweetly, advanced towards her
husband, introducing M Sweeny with the
words
This is an old friend OF mine--Mr.
NJ Sweeny--an inquirer anxious to inves-
tigate. and IL possible see something of.
the doings of the spirits In our house."
MSweeny favored her with a woful
glance OF reproschful astonishment. but
was compelled to bow low and take the
eagerly proffered hand of the retired
merchant.
"Oh, I'm not particular though they
don't manifest none" my chum hastened
TO say "rd-yis-Td rather be furder
away when they begin-'cause We see.
they moight--just by accident. OF course
hit me instead OF a wall. or break one OF
my legs instead OF a window. I'm
pacable quiet man, and would be the last
to say word agin any spirits-especially
If they wor good Campbeltown ones. at
three -and-sixpence a bottle"
Mr.. NJ Ilwralth was delighted, and has
teneu 10 say lhat the Splits Al SWeShJ
had so slyly alluded TO would be forth
coming in any quantity. his cellar having
been lately stocked with tho best tnat
money could supply. It was MSweeny's
easy credulity and inuuiring spirit that
took the merchant by storm. and my
chum soon found that II he only believed
every wonder described by his hcst.there
was nothing that~bIr. M'Ilwraith possess
ed that he might not freely command.
AISweeny was forced TO stay and dine
with them; after which, in The course OF
the evening. tho retired merchant took
him down TO his cellar. and showed him
whore the most wonderful manifestations
and rappings had taken place. The cellar
was a dinRy hole in the basement OF tho
building. having a few barrels OF beer and
claret and one Of whiskey at one sids.ard
a number OF bottles Of champagne ana
other wines neatly stacked at the other
Nov then, Mr.. MSwesney. I think I
can suit you" said the elated host. tap
ping suggestively with his knuckles on
one OF the barrels. "Will you havo glass
OF spirits?"
els it ghosts or whiskey ye want me 10
drink" dubiously inquired my chum.
Real Campbeltown whiskey--twc'vs
years old II It's a day. got the barrel