Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-05

The servants had ceased to take their
nights out Sycamore was a good imita-
ton of madhouse. Young Deering WiFso
Chicago for the best detective that could be
had
who has seen this thing?" was the de-
tective's first question.
Everybody about the place but Touhey
and the author
The detective examined the ground ana
discovered that the dirt had been spaded
up under the big birch. There was fresh
dirt on a spade near the lodge, though
Touhey said he had not used it for week.
That night the detective sat with his BACK
to big tree Immediately in front of the
gardeners lodge, but Touhey slept Ike
log until the sun came in at his window.
That day the detective slept. The next
night he sat in darn closet at the end OF
a dimly lighted hallway, at the other END
of which was the entrance to Atwood IS
room.
Near midnight the light went out, but the
door never opened during the night.
Young Deering kept watch in his mother
room. He owned that he had nodded, but
was positive he had seen white OBJECT 1or
a brief moment on the brow of the hill.
Atwood announced that his story would
be completed and in the mail on the NOR
row-in time to win the honorarium Mrs.
Deering, who was almost the only person
permitted to see him, heard this with a
great sigh of relief for Atwood condition
was beginning to alarm her. He was n"t
color had left his cheeks. At times ne
moved and spoke like one half asleep. his
voice sounded as If it came from distance.
Poor boy" said Mrs. Deering, its the
ghCst that's wearing ON him."
For his third nights work the detective
planned blockade of the big birch. Two
of the Deering boys and a couple OF theE
friends were to assist him, while the thlro
Deering was to remain with Mrs. Deerins
and Helen. Aunt Phoebe was out o. 1t al
together, keeping her room day and night.
Promptly at II o'clock the watchers took
their places under the great trees, COM
pletely surrounding the mysterious Dlrcn.
The detective having placed mis- men, took
up post between the pool and me point
of the hill over which the ghost WIS SAID
to have passed upon more than one occa
sion. Nobody had ever seen the ghost COM
ing in, but the detective took it for granted
that it would enter by the same trail used
when departing.
They had scarcely stationed themselves
when the low-hanging boughs OF the DIG
birch parted and the white thing STROBE OUT
in full view. The two women at the WIN
dow gave a low cry. clutchlng at young
Deerng, who hushed them. Every man
among the trees stood stone-still, awei by
the awful apparition. Only the detective
kept grip on his courage. He stepped OUT
from the shadow of the tulip tree and stooo
in the ghosts path. The watchers at the
window held their breath. Inspired sud
denly by the great courage of their leader,
the sentinels, one after the other. left their
posts and hurried to his aid. The detec-
tive put up his hand as If to hold them
back.
The little company paused. The detect
i've stepped to one side and the white
thing passed on, disappearing among the
trees The detective, silhouetted against
the star-studded sky, beckoned, and the
other men hurried up to the level of the
lawn. He put up his hand and they all
stopped short. At that moment the white
object, emerging from the shrubs, crossed
an open space and passed out OF view at
the rear of the building. The detective
signaled again and the others followed
him to the front of the house. The watch
ers within joined them. Up over the roof
of the summer kitchen came the ghoSt.
Helen hid her face and shuddered. Along
the eave-trough the white-robed object
hurried toward the front of the house.
"Hus-s-h,'' said the detective, it's At
wood. If you wake him he'll fall" At
the end of the roof the ghost sat down,
by one hand and dropped lightly to the
porch roof and stepped in through an
open window to Mr.. Atwood's room.
The detective signaled and they followed
him into the drawing room.
In an hour they were all comparatively
calm.
The detective, who had been upstairs.
Mr.. Atwood sleeping like tired
child. A heap of manuscript lay upon his
table with the word "Finis' written on
the bottom of the last page.
By this time the family doctor, who had
been called by telephone, arrived
Let him Sleep" said the doctor, when
he heard the story and looked the patient
over.
Just as he was about to leave the room
the doctor noticed the stack of manu-
script, turned it over and read the title
of the tale that Atwood had been living
for fortnight:
The Ghost of a Miser."