The Holly chieftain., 1901-06-14

and alaspsd above her breast Her
face was vhite g death-and from the
figAt temple Assp crimson strata ran
down toward the chin. The contrast
betvssn the paitdr OF her faes and the
bright blood staiA were shastly in the
extrsns. On her left hand stood a
stalwsrt black man, clad IN asufnx
robes Of the pursst white. Ms Cow
ley's best dressing gown had been
pressed into this service, and about his
swarthy brow was foaAsl turban,
consisting Of several yards Of India
muslin. on which she set great store.
In his hands 10 held a rusted dagger,
which Rose had hunted up in her ex-
ploring tours through the house. His
height seemed almost terrific, i cir
cumstance soon explained when she
showed the false soles and heels hs
had managed to afix to his boots.
His air stern and menacing; and, al
together the pair, were by no means
the most pleasant visitants that could
be imagined to the gentleman sitting
alone over his toddy in haunted
house.
.shall we do. aunt" exclaimed Mr..
Cowley. as she entered
DO! You are perfectly dreadful:
Who dressed you like that?"
y Rose"
"And where ON earth could she hayo
got such dreadful ideas from? You
never saw ghost, child?"
mo, mamma: but have read about
them often enough: and papa says
book knowledge Is not of the slightest
use to US. unless we can apply 1t to
real life. hope he will be pleased
with my application tonight"
You are saucy girl, Rose" said
her mother, still cycling the appari-
tions with some apprehension. 81
wonder, now, what he will say to you!
If 1t was me. should go into at the
moment you opened the door"
my uncle is made OF sterner stuff
Still. hope we shall give him start.
One don't want to take all this trouble
in dressing for nothing"
Shall you go down to him. or let
him meet you on the stairs?" asked
Catharine. 5
"Oh, we will go down; we shall be
seen to much more advantage in a
room" %
Besides. he has threatened to pinch
your nose with the tongs. and he can
not do it II he is on the staircase when
he sees you," added Rose
THAT Is a consideration" replied
Mr.. Cowley. Nov, will you ladies be-
take yourselves to bed? 1t is nearly
kalf-past twelve-the very hour when
two orthodox ghosts would be most
likely to set out upon their travels.
Goodnight, aunt; we will send him
up to you in very short space of
time" u& e ~
The ladies retreated Mrs. Cowley
in order that she might not be sus-
pected of any completely in the plot.
II by any means 1t should be discov-
cred. undressed and retired to bed as
usual. But Rose and Cstharine sat
down beside their chamber door and
waited the result Of their operations
with great impatience.
Meanwhile. Mr. Cowley, sitting over
his cigar below, little dreamed how
his nearest and dearest were conspir-
ing ruthlessly against his peace O..
mind. The ghostly cradle was silent
at last: his cigar was fne one, and
his toddy was grateful to the taste.
Sitting here, monarch of all he sur
veyed. he thought over the events Of
his visit to the agent, and the promise
which he had drawn from him about
the drains.
"A clever dodge that" he mused
approvingly to himself Nothing can
be easier than to set the men at work
among the pipes in the cellar. and to
take them on till they are under the
pantry. and be hanged to 1t! I'll stop
that noise or my name isn't Cowley!
People shall not have It to say that
after laughing at every one else for
the belief In ghosts. went to get
frightened at one myself! Ghosts, In
deed! Suppose there actually is one
about the premises; Of course. the
poor thing cannot rest In his grave
till something he's got or omitted 10
do on earth, has been done for him.
Very we'll! What could be easier than
to say. to the troubled spirit. Make
yourself quite easy; will attend to
1t at once! Don't stay, out Of your
grave moment longer, for fear that
you should take cold. my dear SIR
OF course. any sensible ghost. being
addressed in such a sensible manner,
would Immediately return tn hie oravo
and stay there. That II what l call