Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1902-06-04

SIepL- uruisver, ----.
useo up from an unusually hard bit Of
work. I was dimly conscious in the
morning of remembering that my
horse had been restless during the
night, and <of having accounted for it
by flies. The next. day was pretty
warm even for. May, and the night
failed to acquire its accustomed cool
ness. kept awake long while.
Then 1 noticed an increased restless
ness in the pony, and while wondering
what could do for her comfort, some
one began stalking in deliberate
fashion across the partly boarded
floor. I expected to hear voice, but
my unknown visitor held his tongue,
but maintained a mark-time sort Of
pacing to and fro.
'T jumped up without much attempt
at silence, ran to the door and flung it
open. The moonlight was sufficient to
show an empty room, save for the
quaking mare. The street door was
securely barred, and l closed the win
dow shutters, although it seemed i'm
possible. that any one could make a
speedy exit by them. Then l went to
: bed again, speculatiug on the where
fore. of the intrusion, but. soon fell
asleep.
However, on the following night
the same monotonous and Slightly ha-
RAISING pit-pat was resumed. The
ghost did not keep schedule time, that
is the conventional midnight, but had
great faculty of perceiving the mo-
ment of my falling asleep. arose
cautiously, pistol in hand, and stood
listening by the door. Stamp, stump
"a somewhat irregular light and ire
gular step was certainly sounding from
the other side. I could hear the mare
dribbling out her breath as she trem-
bled. When the footsteps seemed just
opposite the door l burst in.
But the pony was all alone. The
moonlight streamed in the windows,
for it had been too sitting to close
the shutters. Daisy kept her head
turned with frightened eyes toward
corner of the room, but there was moth
ing there. Somehow l felt 10th to lin
ger, and after soothing the trembling
pony, went back to my room and shut
the'door carefully. Then lit the lamp
and reed and thought and dozcd till
sleep psoyercame me altogether.
"Feliciano, the lieutenant opposite,
said with shrug of his delicate shoul
>aers that no one stayed in that casa
very long. He wouldn't stay five min
utes-after dark. So 1 invited one of
the boys to the theatre and to stay
with me all night. We had hardly
blown out the light before the walking
began. Donovan started up.
"'Who's your restless neighbor, Lith-
gow?'
"I don't know. Maybe two of us
can find out I answered in a whisper.
you pull open the door and I'll jump
in
But Donovan wanted the honor Of
jumping in, and readily consented.
We listened till Donovan whispered.
Now let me at him!' and in he sprang.
"By George! 1 heard him right
there. Lithgow, you're got harnt.
There's been bloody murther! Let me
, out!'
1--WE didn't sleep much the rest of
the night, because Donovan insisted on
relating hair-raising ghost stores I
chaffed him into coming again. We
made ourselves comfortable in the
room with the horse. A game of eu-
chre passed the time until II o'clock,
and perhaps we took several swigs of
Dutch courage. We blew out the light
end lay down. I know felt consider
able suspense, reclining there right on
the ghosts stamping ground, and DON
ovan was breathing heavily.
"The suspense lasted long enough to
make us little sceptical of our appari-
tion. Donovan turned over with re-
Iieyed grunt, and 1 relaxed myself for
slumber. Suddenly Daisy gave little
snort and we were wide awake. The
stump, stump, of the ghosts footsteps
sounded resonantly through the room.
Donovan groaned; l could not restrain
a cold sweat. The step seemed at the
very bedside. The moon had gained
the zenith and left the room in shad-
ow.G II sat up.
"D'ye see it,? said Donovan, hoarse-
ly.
Cali I could distinguish was Daisy,
with head turned toward the corner
. she had indicated in her alarm the
. night before. Indeed now that my at
tention was directed the sound did
seem to come from there. threw the
small club I had viciously toward that
quarter Something intercepted its
flight before it reached the wall. and it
clattered to the floor in company with
something else.
'T struck a light and Donovan
Jumped up.
by sGeorge!' ne said. The ghost
has dropped his walking stick!'
"He gingerly picked up light bam-
boo pole about nine feet long. Stimuli
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