The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-02-24

sons concerned know to whom the con-
tents belong. there win be no use in
attempting 10 trace or discover the
whereabouts Of that owner, or Of the
avenger of the wrong.
Beyond this there was no trace Of
any description which would lead 10
even following the perpetrator. Not
mark was on the floor of the house,
stable or ground. The latter was hard
and the horses feet had evidently been
covered. He had gone more mysteri-
ously than he had come. His name
had not been mentioned by Garland:
he had simply referred TO him as Hen
ry,' and Mrs. Garland had inferred
from something that had been dropped
IN conversation that he belonged TO
the branch of the family with which
Jacob Garland had quarreled.
Jacob Garland was buried in the
Old graveyard back of the house. The
matter drifted and passed out of mems
minds. Mrs Garland, taking Luenshy
with her. moved away. and the house
was closed and remained unOccupied
for some i've years.
Suddenly Mrs. Garland returned TO
Bronxville and with her came Luen-
shy, apparently no older. Matters went
along in their ordinary course, except
that the neighbors occasionally dropped
IN on Mrs. Garland. and soon strange
stories got about as stories will.
The house was haunted. Old Jacob
Garland, at night when all was still
and dark would be from his grave.
His steps would be heard tapping
along the board walk which led TO the
front DOOR Mrs. Garland showed no
rear, but simply said: 'Luenshy, let
your master in
'Luenshy, with all the. superstition
OF her race, would go to the door and
open it, her head averted, for her
teaching was that one must not look
on the face of a departed spirit
AT another time his steps would be
heard descending the stairs. Luenshy,
let your master out would be uttered
in the calm tones Of Mrs. Garland. and
the negress, as before, with head
turned away, opened and closed the
door on the departing spirit of her
dead master.
After a time Mrs. Garland died. Luz
enshy disappeared. and the house was
once more closed. only this time it bore
sign. For sac or to let Family
after family tried il and gave il up.
Finally my friend, as 1 have said,
bought it and prepared TO rent it.
One. two. three families moved in
and moved out. The last one only
waited one night, but that was the
night of Jacob Garland's spiritual visi-
tatlon, and it apparently suficed.
My friend was in despair. He did
not know which way 10 turn, and when
young blacksmith of powerful frame
and steady nerves offered to stop in
the house and try to lay the ghost by
fair means or foul, his offer was ac-
cepted with delight and gratitude
Ihe blacksmith, taking with him
lantern. unlighted matches and an ak
and shotgun, shut himself into the
house, took his post in small room
on the second floor that commanded
both flights OF stairs, the one to the
third floor and attic and the flight
leading down 10 the hall. Here he
waited patiently as the hours stole by
without a sound.
Suddenly he is aroused by Gentle
step coming from the short attic flight
to the third floor. 1t is the tan of a
shppered heel, as had been described
by the many occupants. 1t turns and
starts down the second flight towsr1
his hiding place. Slowly but steadily it
descends, and cold, creepy sensation
felt for the first time. takes possession
OF our waiting blacksmith
Down, down, down, come the steps
! VIII 1t enter his room? He cannot
move hand or foot, and the steps are
getting nearer and nearer. more and
more distinct, down and yet down, but
he cannot stir The steps pass and
commence on the lower stairs. Now
or never, he pulls himself together by
I a supreme effort and succeeds in
scratching a match.
1t is small thing. but if brings
relief. and he lights his lantern, seizes
ms gun, opens the door and flashes
the light out onto the staircase. For a
| moment he sees nothing. put the stems
continue going down. He throws the
1 light onto the stairs, and there. hair
way down, his astonished eyes light on
what do you think. gentlemen? Moth
ing more or less than an enormous rat
tlesnake slowly making its way toward
/ the open door.
Such was Jacob GarIand's ghost.
and as such you may be sure il was
| quickly laid. The pest was found next
/ morning in the attic and several voune
J ones followed their parent to another
/ world. 1t had lived with its families
/ Tor years up under the caves, descend
! ing only at night it was said, for
water
Now. landlord, fill I'D the glasses
/ again, and let US all drink to Jacob
4 Garland's ghost, and then to bed for
the hour is lar1. TO departed spirits.
Good night, one and all, good night. -
AT breakfast the storm had disap-
/ peared and all nature smiled under the
warm autumn sun. Many were the
Jokes and comments on Jacob Car
4 lands ghost, but Jacob Garland's death
/ remains. and probably will remain for
=. ever uneXnlained