Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-08-09

Spirits are always around at night, and
l shall rap very softly at first, then
louder than q bass drum, SO that you
will know that it is 1, George Cowee,
and no matter what 1t is, you must
hasten here to Johns house and tell
him. l am sure that If he believes 1t
he will at once be converted to your
views"
Just then IN old clock upon the kitch-
en- shelf struck ten, and the young man
added:
"Al, John, that you may also know
that l have passed away, l will ring
that clock. 1 will ring it for an hour.
and wake you and your wife up and
keep you awake the whole time"
George Cowee was only Testing, and he
smiled as he babe the old men good-by.
The next day lie went West.
Weeks and months went by, and
nothing was heard from him.
1t was nov the beginning of May.
AS there was much horseshoeing to
be done in the springtime, Tim was
kept very. busy. John Davis was also
hard ut work. On Tuesday, May 4,
John had plowed all day, and when
night came he was unusually tired, anu
went early to bed.
In the middle of the night he and his
wife We're awakened by the striking OF
the clock in the kitchen. They thought
it vas 10 o'clock. but the clock did not
stop when it had struck twelve, bur
struck on and on.
"What in thunder ails that clock?"
he exclaimed. and he got up and went
into the kitchen. He shook the old
clock, but it would not stop ringing.
He took it down from the shelf and
laid 1T on its back upon the kitchen
table, but he could not stop it from
striking. 1t rang fully an hour, until
John was tempted to throw it out into
the yard; then it ceased as suddenly
as it began, and was as quiet as a
mouse.
THE old clock is worn out" John
said. II must get another one," and
he returned to his bed and slept.
1t vas hardly daylight when he
heard a team driving into his yard.
Going to the door he beheld his old
friend Tim. Tim was all excitement
and his voice trembled as he called out
to John from his buggy:
Ibid your clock ring in the night
last night?"
"Well-yes," John answered; "but
how did you know thaty"
Tim cried:
Don't you remember George Cowee,
and what he told us about his spirit
manifesting itself to us? If you don't
l do, and l am sure George Cowee is
dead!w
NONSENSE" John cried; "the young
rascal is probably alive and kicking"
Nonsense or no nonsense" Tim said.
81 believe he is dead, for all night
could not sleep. About IL o'clock. when
1 was thinking about the spirits, there
came a rap upon the headboard of my
bed, family at first, and then when |
asked ii it was George Cowee's spirit,
such a Humping and humping you
never heard. 1t was louder than a bass
drum. AS soon as daylight l made
haste to come to YOU"
"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed John; "you
had the nightmare, sure enough" he
said. But Tim sadly shook his head.
He knew it was the Spirits"
Come down to my shop this after
noon, and we will talk about it, Tim
said as he drove AWAY.
That afternoon John went down to
the shop.
Not because l want to talk about
ghosts" he said, but to have Tim put
a new shoe on my mare"
AS Tim worked on the mares foot
they fell to talking, and naturally the
conversation drifted to the strange
events of the previous night.
Before they had finished talking
about the rappings on Tins head.
board Mr.. Maxon, the station agent,
came into the shop, and he held in his
hand q folded paper.
II saw your wagon out here, Nj.
Davis" he said, land l thought if you
were going right home l could get YOU
to deliver his message that has just
come for Deacon Cowee."
Certainly l will deliver it," John an.
swered, and the agent handed him the
paper and departed.
AS soon as he was out Of the sho,,
both old men drew near each other and
looked at the telegram addressed to
Deacon Cowee, and this is what it read;
Denver, Col, May g..
"Your nephew, George Cowee, was
killed in a railroad accident here last
night"
Both old men stared into the fire
silent, sad, thoughtful.-Waverley.
Sits Retort silenced Him.