The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-04-21

up the hill.
He returned to the hotel in time for |
supper and found a curious throns !
waiting for him. To all questions he
replied nothing. telling the people to
have patience. Even this little hope
seemed to cheer every one I'D. and
thy felt better han they a in many
weeks. They a begun to despair
that the ghost would ever be laid,
and, though they thought they might
get used to it in time, still it was like
ly to be an inconvenience for quite a
period.
When it was dark the professor went
to his room and came back presently
There was a suspicious bulge to his
right hip pocket, but no one said any
thing about it.
Professor Ascot started off. followed
by a crowd of men, all of whom, how
ever, remained near Bert Bailey's
house, refusing to go any further. So
the investigator proceeded alone.
For ar hour the waiting crowd stood
silent in the arkne
There tis!" exclaimed Enos Rasher.
suddenly.
The Others looked, and there, sure
enough, was the ghost. 1t lowered
high in the air, with outstretched arms,
a figure of blush flame, Pickering and
blazing. A form of terrible fire, visible
half a mile away. 1t appeared to be
about twice as large as a man.
Il guess the professor'n have all he
bargained for commented Abe Crown
| heart.
There was a silence for a moment,
while the watchers saw the ghost slow
ly nov along toward the road.
Suddenly the fitness was broken by
| q raI-olrar shot folIou-a1 h, tuo roaro
Then it was observed that the ghost
quickly turned n ran up the hill. A
silver of red flame from the revolver
followed it, and then came the sound
of another shot. The spirit was seen
to stop and stagger. 1t tried to main
tain an upright position during a fierce
struggle.
9TH professors fghtin' it," ex-
claimed Enos, and the excitement
among the watchers was intense. The
next instant the ghost fell to the earth.
"By the Great Dutch Cheese. tn per-
f~essor's downed it." cried Porter.
The group Of men waited, not know
ing what would happen next. The
spirit was now only a blush, burning
Pickering spot on the side of the hill,
seemingly consuming itself with it's
own fire. The silence which now pre-
vailed strained the nerves of the wait
ing men almost. to the breaking point.
They scarcely breathed. All were Won
dering what had become of the ghost
hunter.
Then out in the darkness. came. the
sound Of footsteps on the road
Thar comes tn oerfessor." said
Enos.
ON some un's 18th him. added Por-
ter. HE must be bringin' in the ghost"
In another minute two figures were
dimly observed emerging from the
blackness. n one was hat Of Profess
sor Ascot. who had tight hold Of an
other man.
Gentlemen, the Cardiff ghost" an
nounced the man of science. Enos,
Porter and the others peered at the
captive.
"Silas Wayden!" exclaimed half a
dozen.
1.-THE same" answered the owner of
the name, "and 1 must say your ghost
layer here is an expert"
To the scores of questions for an ex-
PLANTATION Professor Ascot returned
evasive replies, until he reached the
hotel. There he turned the prisoner
owe to Constable Amidown.
II do not know on what charge you
can hold him, unless 1t might be get
ting money under false pretenses,'
said the professor.
"HoW's that?" asked Enos.
"Well." the g~host-hunter went on,
The has been digging sulphur on Mr.
Enberry Took's land, and selling it
He confessed to me. Of course he did
it under the pretense that he was a
ghost, and so he obtained money un-
der false pretenses.
You see, gentlemen" proceeded the
professor, "as soon as I went to the
place n smelled sulphur I knew J
must be on the right track"
why, that was the sulphur spring
on Enberry'S land We shifted" explain.
ed Enos, cts bin thar fer ear"
Exactly" said the professor, 'ant
where there is sulphur water there
must be sulphur. 1 investigated ant
found a fine deposit on the hillside
from which a considerable quantity
nad been taken.
Then suspected the truth. tina
some one, not entitled to it, had made
the discovery, and had invented thu
SIoSI " hSSp CuI louS peOpIe away
Am 1 correct?" he asked of the prison.
er.
Right you arc, professor" sait
Silas. He did not seem worried abour
his arrest. He was a man of peculiar
talents and we'll known l the locality
as g person about whom curious sto.
ries had been told, none pointing t.
his honesty.
EPI1t r-Io+ ~ ~Loct0,s orI-nE
Enos.
Simply a big scarecrow Of wood
coated with sulphur answered the
professor. Your friend here woulG
carry it on a long pole. after setting
fire to the sulphur. and so would
frighten travellers. He got too near the
doctors carriage and scorched it. After
displaying the ghost he would hurry
hack dig ont soma Cl1lnhur and "a RI