The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-08-08

Light the gas. George" said NAL
colin.
The waiter oheyed hastily. Hirst, a
ludicrous but pitiable figure in knee
breeches and coat, large wig all awry
and his face a mess of grease paint.
chung to him, trembling.
snow, what's the ,matter?" asked
Malcolm.
"I've seen it!' said Hirst, with
hysterical sob. 80 Lord, I'll never
play the fool again-neverr
"Seen what" asked the others
Him = it = the ghost - anythingY'
said Hirst wildly.
"Rotr said Malcolm uneasily.
81 was coming down the stairs" said
Hirst; ''just capering down as L
thought it ought to do felt a tap
He broke OF suddenly and peered
nervously through the open door into
the passage.
II thought 1 saw it again. he whis-
pered. "Look-at the foot of the stairs.
Can you see anythingY'
mo; there's nothing there" said NAL
colin, whose own voice shook little.
$50 on. You felt tap on your Shout
DER
81 turned round and saw tia little
wicked head and a white dead face
pahv'
"That's what saw in the bar" said
| George. "Horrid it was-devilish."
Hirst shuddered and, still retaining
his nervous grip of Malcolm's sleeve,
dropped into chair.
"Well, it's a most unaccountable
thing" said the dumfounded Malcolm,
turning round to the others. cts the
last time 1 come to this house"
81 leave tomorrow" said George. 81
wouldn't go down to that bar again by
| myself-no, not for ESQ"
cts talking about the thing that's
caused it, 1 expect" said one of the
men. "We've all been talking about
this and having it in our minds. Prac-
tically we've been forming spiritual
istic circle without knowing it."
Dash the old gentleman" said Nal
colin heartily. Upon my soul, I'm
| half afraid to go to bed. It's odd they
should both think they saw some
thing"
81 saw it as plain as 1 see you, sir"
| said George solemnly. "P'raps if you
| keep your eyes turned up the passage
| you'll see it for yourself"
| They followed the direction of his
| finger, but saw nothing, although one
| of them fancied that a head peeped
round the corner of the wall.
who'll come down to the barr" said
| Malcolm, looking round.
'You can go if you like" said one of
the others, with faint laugh "We'H
wait here for you"
The stout traveller walked toward the
| door and took few steps up the pas
sage. Then he stopped. All was quite
silent, and he walked slowly to the
end and looked down fearfully toward
the glass partition which shut off the
| bar. Three times he made as though
| to go to it; then he turned back and,
glancing over his shoulder, came hur-
| riedly back to the room.
did you see it. sirr' whispered
George.
! Don't know" said Malcolm shortly.
Il fancied l saw something, but it
might have been fancy. Pm in the
mood to see anything just now. How
are you feeling now, sir?'
ooh, l feel bit better now" said
Hirst somewhat brusquely as all eyes
were turned upon him. 81 dare say
you think I'm easily scared, but you
didn't see itp'
"Not at ALL" said Malcolm, smiling
family despite himself
'I'm going to bed" said Hirst, MOTTO
ing the smile and resenting it. "Will
you share my room with me, Somers?"
| 81 will, with pleasure" said his
friend, provided you don't mind
sleeping with the gas on full all night"
He rose from his seat and, bidding
the company friendly good night, left
| the room with his crestfallen friend.
The others saw them to the foot of the
stairs and, having heard their door
| close, returned to the coffee room.
| swell, l suppose the bets off," said
the stout commercial, poking the fire
and standing with his legs apart on
the hearth rug, though, as far as
can see, won it. / never saw a man
so scared in all my life. Sort of poetic
justice about it, isn't there?"
''Never mind about poetry or JUS
tice," said one of the listeners "Who's
| going to sleep with me?'
II WILL" said Malcolm affably.
"And suppose we share a room to-
gether, Mr.. Leek," said the third man,
turning to the fourth.
mo, thank you," said the other
briskly. 81 don't believe in ghosts. If
anything comes into my room, shall
shoot it,
''That won't hurt a spirit, Leek,"
said Malcolm decisively.
swell, the noise'll be like company
to me-" said Leek, "and it'll wake the
house too. But if you're nervous, sir"
he added, with grin, to the man who
had suggested sharing his room,
"George'll be only too pleased to sleep