Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-07-30
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5 DORCHESTER !: !;
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q NAAOOA JACOBS e
r. Copyright, 1909, by w. w. Jacobs. !:
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Copyright, 1902. by w. w. Jacobs.
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Il Copyright 1907 by W. W. JACOBS q
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GYY1T wanted n few nights to
Xxi Christmas, festival for
ks2s5 which the small market town
(SsgSJ of dorchester making en-
tensive preparations. The narrow
streets, which had been thronged with
people, We're now almost deserted, the
cheap Jack from London, with the
remnant of breath left him after his
evenings exertions, was making fee
BILE attempts to blow out his naphtha
lamp, and the last shops open We're
rapidly closing for the night.
In the comfortable coffee room of
the old Boar's Head half dozen
guests, principally commercial travel
ers, sat talking by the light of the fire.
The talk had drifted from trade to
politics, from politics to religion and
so by easy stages to the supernatural.
Those ghost stories, never known to
fail before, had fallen fiat; there was
too much noise outside, too much light
within. The fourth story was told by
an old hand with more success. The
streets were quieter, and he had turn
ed the gas out. In the Pickering light
of the fire as it shone on the glasses
and danced with shadows on the walls
the story proved SO enthralling that
George, the waiter, whose presence
had been forgotten, created very dis
agreeable sensation by suddenly start
ing up from dark corner and gliding
silently from the room.
"That's what call good story"
said one of the men, slipping his hot
whisky. "Of course, it's an old idea
that spirits like to get into the COM
pany Of human beings. A man told me
once that he travelled down the Great
Western with ghost and hadn't the
slightest suspicion of it until the in
spector came for tickets. My friend
said the way that ghost tried to keep
up appearances by feeling for it in all
its pockets and looking on the flool
was quite touching. Ultimately it gave
it up and with faint grOan vanished
through the ventilator."
"That'll do, Hirst," said another man
"It's not a subject for jesting," sait
little old gentleman who had been al
attentive listener. give never seen al
apparition myself, but know peopl
who nave, and consider that the,
form n very interesting link between
us and the after life. There's ghOs
story connected with this house, yo
know"
i "Never heard of it," said anothe
speaker, land I've been here som
years now"
i "It dates back a long time now,
said the old gentleman. you've hear
about Jerry Bundler, GEORGE"
| "Well, I've just heard odds and ends
sir" said the old waiter, "but neve
put much count to 'em. There was on
chap ere what said he saw it, and til
| gov'ner sacked him prompt"
"Aly father was native of thi
town." said the old gentleman, can
knew the story WELL He was truth
full man and steady churchgoer, bu
I've heard him declare that once in hi
life he saw the apparition of Jerr
Bundler in this house."
"And who was this Bundler?' il
CURED voice.
"a London thief, pickpocket, higl
wayman, anything he could turn hi
dishonest hand to-" replied the oil
gentleman, "and he was run to cart
in this house one Christmas week som
eighty years ago. He took his las
supper in this very room, and after Ii
had gone to bed couple of Bow stree
runners, who had followed him fror
London, but lost the scent bit wen
up stairs with the landlord and trie
the door. 1t was stout oak and fast, S
one went into the yard and by mean
of short ladder got on to the windo,
sill while the other stayed outside til
door. Those below in the yard say
the man crouching on the sill, an
then there was q sudden crash G
glass, and with a cry he fell in a hea
on the stones at their feet. Then i
the moonlight they saw the white fac
of the piclpocket peeping over the sill
and while some stayed in the yard oil
ers ran into the house and helped til
other man to break the door in. 1t wa
difficult to obtain an entrance eve
then, for the door was barred wit
heavy furniture, but they got in ;
last, and the first thing that met the
eyes was the body of Jerry danglin
from the top Of the bed by his ow
handkerchief.
(Which bedroom was it," asked tw
Or three voices together.
The narrator shook his head. "Ths
can't tell you. But the story goe
that Jerry still haunts this house, an
my father used to declare positivel
that the last time he slept here IL
ghost of Jerry Bundler lowered itse
from the top Of his bed and tried
strangle him."
"That'll do" said an uneasy voic
II wish you'd thought to ask your f,
Their which bedroom it was"
"What for?" inquired the old gentl
man.
"Well, / should take care not
sleep in it; that's ALL" said the voie
shortly.
"There's nothing to fear" said IL
other 81 don't believe for momcl
that ghosts could really hurt one. l
fact, my father used to confess that
was only the unpleasantness of IL
thing that upset him and that for u
practical purposes Jerry's finger
might have been made of cotton wo,
/ III tho Il