New Ulm review., 1901-04-10
2
5 The Phantom Book keeper. s
s BY Charles A. sweetland. &
8
Fl n ITEIOUGH not in the same old
n way" I am still the book15eeD-

At one tilne-it does not seem so
very long ago there appeared to be
some danger of losing my position,
and being succeeded by a ghost. For
tunately for me, | captured the
''spooll" or rather was captured by it,
and a permanent stop was put upon
its mysterious actions.
This is how it occurred:
I had been working quite hard and
was not feeling my best when the
first visitation occurred One morn
ing l was too i'll with splitting
headache and bad cold) to go down
town, so I succeeded in .bribing the
13-year-old son of my landlady to
send off two telephone messages, one
TO inform the firm of my inability to
perform my usual duties and the
other to my physician.
| was in bed two days. Upon the
third day I reported to the store with
the unpleasant anticipation of the ex-
ira work which [ would find neces-
sary to perform in order to catch up
with the constant grind of business.
Imagine my surprise to find that
someone had been at my books and
that all Of the two previous days bust
ness was properly entered, and all
of the posting done up to date.
Brewster, who has kept my books
up while l was OFF," j asked of the
bill clerk.
81 have not noticed a soul touch
them" replied Brewster; "Mr. Pres
ton made some entries OF cash re-
eeived upon slips, and hung them on
your file; that is ALL
looked around carefully, [ could
find no slips.
! asked the stenographer if he had
noticed anyone at my books. He
said, to his certain knowledge, the
books had not been out of the safe
during either of the two days of my
absence.
l was properly puzzled.
[ looked over, went over, and
checked over until [ was dizzy, hop
ing perhaps to find clew to my as
sistant, but everything was right as
trivet. The handwriting of the va
rious entries was new to ME. I COM
pared it carefully with that of every
person employed in the house, but
could not find one which was, in any
measure, like it. did not speak to
either of the firm, as L could not tell
how they would relish the idea of
third party (and unknown party, at
that,) having access to my books.
[ confess [ was worried However,
my work was done, and well done, so
could not, with Justice, complain.
1t was on the third day after this
occurrence that something happened
which added to my mystification
About three o'clock one afternoon
there was suddenly a number of sharp
raps heard emanating from my desk
They could be heard distinctly in any
part of the office.
Whats in your desk, Stanhope,
spool?" cried Brewster
/ answered negatively, with a
laugh, but, remembering the peculiar
occurrence of which I had been able
to obtain no explanation, but of which
had kept my own counsel, was
really not quite so positive.
[ made up my mind to discover, if
possible, in what natural manner my
books had been kept for me during
my absence, as I was very 10th to be-
lieve that there was anything super
natural about it,
The rapping continued, from time
TO time, for several days. I searched
for the cause, but at that time, failed
to discover it. In order to test s'his
ghostship'' more fully, / asked for
leave of absence to visit some relatives
in 1t neighboring state. 1t was freely
granted, SO / left the city Saturday
night. and did not return until the
next Thursday evening.
You may be sure that the first
thing | did, upon my appearance at
the office Friday morning, was to
look over my books, to ascertain
whether or notrmy strange helper had
kept ;ousy. AS before l found every
entry properly made, and all of the
posting up to date.
I was more bewildered than ever.
| thought seriously of asking years
vacation, letting the phantom" do
my work, but was afraid if put SO
much labor upon ''his highness'' he
might insist upon drawing my salary
as well, an alternative | could not
contemplate with equanimity.
All of my inquiries failed to throw
any light upon the subject. No one
in the Office or store had seen a hand
upon my books during my absence.
and yet the work was done, and beau
tifully done. What could it mean?
The mysterious rappings occurred
at intervals, as if to remind me that
my spirit comrade was with me, ever.
Oh, how [ sympathized with him,
when | took this view of it. Bad
enough, Heaven knows, to be obliged
to keep books during life, but after
one has shaken off this mortal coil
and expects better things, ugh! / de-
termined to solve the tantalizing mys-
terry, if possible, as it was robbing me
Of sleep, and causing crows feet, and
gray hairs, if I could believe my
friends AS everyone 1lnited in ASSERT