Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-01-16
CHAPTER \. (Continued.)


II saw possibilities in matters that or
binary man would have dismissed as
commonplace. Above all things. he
saw. in this curious suggestion of
ghostly prcsences in the house. posi-
blities too great to be thought Of light
Iy: three or four times that evening.
while he sat deep in thought. he.
changed the whole plan of that wonder
full first act of hs-seein ing ghostly eff.
fccts, lin.elight. gauzes. and other
things which should make for illusion,
In all probability, he had no distinct
belief in the matter; he merely regard
Ell all he had heard as mere sugges-
ton. to be used for his own purposes.
Nigh. drew on, and the lights gradu-
ally went out in the house: but still
Mi. Taggatt sat brooding over the last
lighted half-inch of candle in the can
'dlestick and planning surprising effects.
Mrs. Taggett had lorg since gone to
bed. and the last outside business which
appealed to Mr.. Tagsett's waking
senses. was the Ginning OF a clock
somewhere outside. giving forth the
hour Of s. Mr.. Taggett woke from his
species of half-doze and started to his
feet. The thought that had come to
him in that dreadful silence of the
place had sent Il sort of cold chill down
his spine: but he did.not think of that.
In the cause of art and realism he was
ibrave.
If I could see for myself what the
place looks like he muttered. THE
lights streaming in: from moon and
stars outside through the windows; the
night wind rustling through broken
win Nd cl,, no
,scuttling behind the wainscot. the fur
-semi-darkness. I will! 1 will" MI.
Taggett clapped himself on the breast.
-'"Then let the critics howl-let them
rave: 1 shall be able to say: This is
mo effort of the mere imagination! All
this have seen-and felt-and
a1eard!'"
Now, Mr.. Taggett felt bound in all
things he did to act the part. whatever
1t might be, to the life. In eating the
most simple meal he set about it with
flourish as though he presided at
state banquet:> poured out table beer
with the air of one filling golden COB
lets with rich wines: ard spread his
legs and his elbows to the best advant-
age. The mere putting on of his
formed with an indescribable air: and
he went to bed in the attitude of man
who expected to be reused from SUM
Der thirty seconds later with the lime
light full on him, the dagger of a hired
assassin at his throat, and a battle all
over the stage in prospect. Thus on
this occasion, knowing that he had. in
sense. to play the ghost, he determined
k1 ri =
There was an old press in the corner
of the room-a press which had about
it suggestion of household linen. He
went to it and cautiously pulled it open.
There he found some carefullyfolded
sheets: taking out one of them, he
shook it out to it's full length, and then
drew it about him. He put it on, in
the fashion of those extraordinary
cioaks Of no known shape, are some
times worn on the stage: with one end
thrown over his left shoulder and a
dong tail trailing behind. Thus equip
ped, he felt that he could meet any re-
spectacle ghost that happened to be
about and look it in the face without
shame or1 confusion.
Lastly. as a precautionary measure,
and in order that he might glide along
IN that silent fashion. most in favor
with the ghostly fraternity. he slipped
eoff his shoes, and stood in his stocking
feet.
'Now am / rea ly. I have thought
that I shall see such things this night
as few men have evar seen. But 1 care
not: I go forth in the sacred cause Of
art; and I know that this will bear
good fruit in the future. I am studying
at first hand
Mr.. Anthony Taggett crept dow.
stairs. stopping. with a quaking heart.
WHENEVER board creaked or whenever
he stumbled against any article Of fur
niturc in the darkness. But all was
still as the grave. At last he gained
the lower floor, and was making for the
door which gave on to The garden with
greater confidence, when he became
aware Of light bobbing along slowly
towards him. In an agony of dread,
he drew back fiat against the wall. with
a ferYent prayer On his lips that what
ever'~was coming might pass him by
and not see him.
But it was not to be: the light came
on. and behind it he saw the figure of
the woman called Jenlilna, whom he
had seen about the house before. Mr..
IaSgett FULLY antlclapted scream,
dropping of the light. a rousing of the
mouse: he braced himself to be pre-
pared for anything.
But instead of that, Jemima stopped
calmly. in front of him. and slowly
waved the candle about, to take him in
from all points Of view; murmured. as
II 10 herself. THAT there Taggett
man" calmly took a corner of the
sheet between Ter finger and thumb
and remarked. in the same tone, "And
one of the ouse's best Sheets" With
that. she dropped the corner of the
sheet and went bobbing along again
slndisturbed, to bed.
"a mcst singular female muttered
Mr.. Taggett. looking after her. II wol:-
der what she'd do if the house caught
fire!"
He softly drew back the bolts of tho
Mig outer door and felt the cold night
s.rind blowing upon him. He had nc
suspicion that there was any special
way into that uninhabited. second
1nouse: he had determined to get out
-fntO the pa rdeu and endaaVOr to find a