The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1904-04-29

yHTHEN my husband took over the
wv direction of the GeTtrudi~ and
santa Maria mines. near Pinal. We
brought down from "the states our
various goods and chattels. and be-
gan an attempt TO make ourselves as
comfortable, as possible in the huge.
Spanish built house. which was the
only thing in the way of an abode
that could be secured. for love or
money. in the very inconvenient new
old town Of pinal
AT first. | liked the queer. rambling
old house. with its wide. heavily pill
Jared corridors, thick walls high
barred windows and enormous carved
doors II had been built according TO
a half-enaced date, IN the year 1903
and had been the habitat of more than
one famous man in IFS time But even
after our modern furnishings were put
In flowers and vines arranged about
and everything possible done 10 bright
en- IT, the house still had a dreary
Eh0stly air about il. and one always
had the sensation that some one else
was abOut-some one unseen. but felt
and altogether there was an indie
scrbable eerie feeling about the place
that did not tend 10 make one very
cheerful However | consoied myself
by remembering that big. old houses
generally make one nervous al first,
also, the rent was surprisingly low for
so large an establishment with its +
rooms. corridors and corral And. as
one can get used 70 very nearly any
thing in this world by trying hard
gradually got over tho uneasy feel
ing which had mostly felt when en-
tirely alone and put il down tC
nerves"
There was the slight draw back
however. that We could not keep serv-
ants. In spite Of good wages light
work and short hours. our servants
would invariably leave after two tC
FIVE days service. refusing. under any
circumstances. to stop longer They
gave no reason for this. beyond tho
fact that the situation was not to their
liking So could only pay them and
with indignant sorrow. view their de.
parting backs. then fare forth il
search OF further criadas. inwardll
consigning Mexican servants TO a IN
ture which il would be unladylike tC
put into bald words
In the midst OF these turmoils. so
ciety" with a big. big 81 began. 81 "
~ and carefully. to call. and pleasantly
"a hnt "a
something wrong about our house.
The leader OF Pinal society. Mrs
Isaacstein. was the last TO call Sh'
had al first been somewhat dubious
about visiting MS. As | have befor'
said. she led" Pinal society (for he
husband was the principal grocer o
the place.. and therefore she coul'
not. as she sweetly explained 10 me
be too careful about boobies sh'
CALLED ubon. 4"
Waving. however. discussion Of thi
excellent lady. for indeed she is ian
other story" her statement during he
call that our house was said 20 b
haunted BY evil spirits. and that vi
would never be able TO keep a servan
In IL, was somewhat dispiriting. i
vain did | inquire particulars. No
she knew nothing beyond the fac
that servants and "tradespeople' CAV
the place a bad name. that II was Ger
tainly troubled by something and tina
no one ever lived long in ii.
Here was a pretty mess, And. In
deed. as If in confirmation OF the won
ans prediction. the very next day bot
servants left. after they had been wit
me four days. and was on the poin
OF beginning to expect better things 9
them. sat down and wept Their
disgusted with native servants. ! HE
me forth and wired 10 the border
for couple OF old and well-tried Chi
nese servants. determined that ! woul
not abandon my house and live in he
tells to please ghosts. Mexican servant
or any one else.
In due course the new servants az
rived. one. sturdy. taciturn Celes
tial, rejoicing in the name of Chins
was TO act as porter, careiaker an
general watch dog-thc ghost woul
have to be lively that could get ahea
OF Ching. Charley. his cousin. was
the same ilk. being besides snlendi
cook. But explained matters duly
the two, and could have warblcd fc
Joy over their derisiye smiles an
rrunts when | timidly alluded
ghosts" and limited that they migf
be disturbed by mysterious sights
sounds