Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-08-09
A BERKSHIRE GHOST STORY
IMoTHY DOLE. or "old Tin

associates, was u sASae oAu Nv"
erful blacksmith in quiet little village
among the Berkshire Hills.
Tim was an honest, hard working,
kind-hearted man, and a great favorite
with all the country people for miles
around, In spite of his being morbidly
superstitious and firm believer In spir-
it rapping, haunted houses and ghosts.
Tins dearest friend, farmer John
Davis, or Honest John," as he was
everywhere known, was always Gliding
Timothy about his belief, or, as John
would put it, his "foolishness."
Still, whenever they had an hour to
spare. they were sure to get together,
and the talk always turned to GHOSTS"
and spirit rappings."
All through the winter months they
were much together. 1t was Tins de-
light to close his shop early and drive
to his friends house and spend the long
wintry evenings by the fire in the farm
house kitchen, expounding his favorite
views on spiritualism.
Although John Davis professed to be
an unbeliever in spiritualism, and was
known as Honest john" he could
vouch for more bloodcurdling ghost
stories and thrilling adventures than
any other man about the country; and
Tim was an earnest listener.
One Of their most horrible tales, hor-
rible for 'true story" was about a
haunted house, of course, haunted by
a headless ghost The old house still
stood in the neighborhood, but no living
being could occupy it, for whenever the
housewife attempted to prepare the
morning meal there always appeared
beside the kitchen stove man without
a head, but with SCARED and bloody
neck. 1t was most horrible! There was
only one cause for such a ghost-mur-
der
Years ago, the story ran, terrible
crime had been committed there; most
brutal murder it was, too. A simple,
honest peddler, who merely sought a
nights repose beneath that humble
roof, had been beheaded with an ak
while awaiting his breakfast. Then the
fend who did the awful deed escaped
by stealing a horse from the barn be
hind the house.
The years had come and gone, and
the murderer had not been found, and
to this very day no one had yet been
able to live in that house, or even use
the barn. The horses stabbed in that
barn, no matter how securely fastened
would become united during the night
by some mysterious hand, and scampel
wildly away, even when strong ropes oil
heavy iron chains were used.
John Davis had never fastened 8
horse there himself, but his father, who
had been very religious and just man
had often tried to do SO. in years gone
by, without avail.
Even Johns own mother, who ha(
been a noble Christian woman, hat
actually seen the headless man sittin,
beside the fire in that old haunted
house upon two different occasions, anC
although John said he did not believ,
the tale himself he always added, whe1
telling it
"And fathers word was as good a
Bible truth" and Everybody knew
that mother could not lier'
And Tim believed it all, and woul.
hardly have yentured home at night /
he had not had his horse with him t,
keep him company.
Now it happened that as these two oil,
men would often meet and tell thei
tales, they sometimes had listener,
young man who loved humor, and occa
sionaIly dropped in to hear their stories
His name was George Cowee. He wa
slender youth with much learning an,
refinement. He was nephew of Dea
con Cowee, wealthy farmer living
short distance from the Davis place,
He always agreed with Tim, but h
had no more faith in ''Tim's views
than John himself, but he liked Tim
and he liked to hear him talk. It wa
very amusing.
The night before Christmas he hau
pened into Johns kitchen, and there b
found Tim who, as usual, was tellin
about "the dead coming back" an,
Communicating with their friends b
rapping on tin pans" and as usual job,
loudly declared 1t was all sbosh" an
nonsense"
Tim had just been down to the cit,
where he had attended full-fedpe
spiritual meeting, and he was stronge
in his belief than ever, and had man
wonderful things to relate.
When George Cowee arose to go ths
night he said to them:
81 am going away to-morrow-ou
West" Then he added mischieyousl,
slyiy winking at John, "Tim, If 1 al
killed before I return / will let 20
know it through the spirit 1 will ra
on the headboard Of your bed at nigh
Spirits are always around at night, an
l shall rap very softly at first, the
louder than a bass drum, so that 70
will know that it is 1, George Cove
and no matter what it is, you mus
hasten here to Johns house and te
him. / am sure that if he believes
he will at once be converted to yor
views"
Just then an old clock upon the kitcl
en- shelf struck ten, and the young ma
added:
"Ah. John. that you may also kno'