The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-08-30
sHosr sT0RY.
Drummer Sees q China Dog Creep Slow
" Along a Mantelpisce.

the New York Herald, and 1
grumbied considerably, but, de-
termined TO prove myself a number
one drummer, packed my things and
bolted for the land Of Dixie with
enthusiasm. Ny business kept nae
ploaghmg up and down on the Mis-
sissippi river boats between Natchez
and Greenville, and l frequently
found myself enjoying the company
Of the young planters.
We would land in the middle Of a
cotton field the blacklist night that
ever fell, drop a pair of planters, and
as likely as not land on the other side
and pick up a couple. Someone was
always waiting up for his landing
mississippi boats never reach hab-
liable places in daylight, and l
found listening to the southerners'
yarns more desirable than slumber.
l became quite attached to a
young planter who owned consider
able property on the Louisiana side,
and accepted his invitation to visit
him before l returned home. Many
were the hours l sat lazily listening
TO his creepy stories.
He belonged to one Of the old fam
lilies, and lived in the old home
stead, which he swore in the softest
tones was haunted. Doors never
stayed locked, unseen women sobbed
in the dead Of night, and, in fact, all
the regulation things happened.
Murder, sudden death and suicide
had taken place there, and he toldme
about them in such aghastly, impress
sive way that l thought at times |
would go home without my visit.
However, a few days before / was
to turn my face to the east / jumped
from the stage plank one evening in
his cotton rows and strobe across the
fields to the dwelling | could see
peeping above a grove Of cedars a
mile away.
1t was a grand old place, gone to
wreck, as it was, and | became quite
impressed by bhe waste Of years and
last, but not least-of money. My
friend came to meet me before | had
reached the steps, and explained
briefly that a young cousin of his was
dead. He led me into the house, do
ing all in his hospitable nature to
make me feel at ease. We had sup
per alone, and / saw none Of the fam
lily.
As l had supposed, he was to sit up
with the corpse, and though | was
pressed to retire, | was sincere in say
ing that l preferred to keep watch
with my host. About eight o'clock
we began our vigil in the high-ceil-
inged, bare-hoored room with a long
white thing on the bed. Il never in
my life heard such a racket as our
feet made upon the Aoor.) | was
not pleased to learn that the very
room we were in had been the scene
Of tragedy, and many instances of un-
explained happenings were told to
me as the hours slowly passed by.
heard a big clock strike two, when
my companion began to nod. was
c~uriously warm, considering the
pleasant temperature. | took some
letters from my pocket and reaC
them; then | looked up at the man.
te~lpiece--on it was a little white
china dog, Notwithstanding
/ felt something creep in me.
l looked again at the dog. 1t dis
tinctly moved-stopped and thel
started slowly, slowly for the othe.
end of the mantelpiecc. Man as
was, l felt terror in every vein. Will
great effort | spoke to the sleeper
he opened his eyes and stared wher,
l pointed. l had courage enough re
naming to reason with myself
: the dog passes the lamp | am not mis-
= taken"
In a few seconds it did Their
, was a wild rush for the window. Tn
first thing that got into the yard wa
, the sash, then myself, then the plant
er. / don't know what became c
the other fellow, but | hailed a boa
about daylight.
r 1t was two weeks later, and m
feathers were well smoothed down {
home, when a letter came from m
friend Of the south. 1t was a charm
u ing letter, and he added in a pos
scrip: "There was a bat in tn,