Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-05-05

you take my room, I'll take yours,
and when half past IL strikes I'll put
my work aside and watch for YOU
ghost"
For three nights he worked and
watched and waited, but had nothing
of interest to tell his hostess when
the next day dawned. D..
Mrs. Deering returned to her apart
ments and Atwood to his.
That very night she saw the sprite.
Aunt Phoebe saw it, too, and took to
her bed.
The servants had ceased to take
their nights out. Sycamore was, a
good imitation of a madhouse. Young
Deering wired Chicago for the best
detective that could be had.
"Who has seen this thing?" was the
detectives first question.
Everybody about the place but
Touhey and the author"
The detective examined the ground
and discovered that the dirt had been
spaded up under the big birch. There
was fresh dirt on a spade zeal the
lodge, though Touhey said he had not
used it for a week.
That night the detective sat with
his back to a big tree Immediately in
front of the gardeners lodge, but
Touhey slept like a log until the sun
| came in at his window
That day the detective slept. The
next night he sat in a dark closet at
the end Of a dimly lighted hallway,
at the other end Of which was the en-
trance to Atwood's room.
Near midnight the light went out.
but the door never opened during the
night.
Young Deerirg kept watch in his
mothers room. He owned that he had
nodded, but was positive he had seen
a white object for a brief moment on
the brow of the hill.
Atwood announced that his story
would be completed and in the mail
on the morrow-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's condition was beginning
to alarm her. He was not eating, his
eyes had a stony stare, the color had
left his cheeks. At times he moved
and spoke like n half asleep. His
voice sounded as if it came from a dis.
lance.
Poor boy" said Mrs. Deering, cts
the ghost that's wearing on him."
For his third nights work the de-
tective planned a blockade of the big
birch. Two of the Deering boys and
q couple of their friends were to as
sist him, while the third Deering was
to remain with Mrs. Deering and
Helen. Aunt Phoebe was out of it al
together, keeping her room day and
night.
Promptly at II o'clock the watchers
took their places under the great
trees, completely surrounding the
mysterious birch. The detective, hay
ing placed his men, took up a post be-
tween the pool and the point of the
hill over which the ghost was said ia
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 them
selves when the low-hanging boughs
of the big birch parted and the white
thing STROBE out il full view.
The two women at the window gave
a low cry, clutching at young Deering,
who hushed them. Every man among
the trees stood stone still, awed by the
awful apparition. Only the detective
kept a grip on his courage.
He stepped out from the shadow of
the tulip tree and stood in the ghosts
path. The watchers at the window
held their breath.
Inspired suddenly by the great cour-
age of their leader, the sentinels, one
after the other, left their posts and
hurried to his aid. The detective put
up his hand as if to hold them back.
The little company paused.
The detective stepped to one side and
the white thing passed on, disappear
ing among the trees. The detective,
s%ilhouetted against the star-studded
sky, beckoned, and the other men hur-
ried 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
signalled again and the others followed
him to the front Of the house. The
watchers within Joined them.
Up over the roof of the summer
kitchen came the ghost. Helen hid her
face and s%huddered. Along the cave
trough the white robed object hurried
toward the front of the house.
"Hus-s-h," said the detective, "it's
Atwood. If you wake him he'll fall"
At the end of the roof the ghost sat
down, took hold of the cornice, lowered
himself by one hand and dropped light
ly to the porch roof and stepped in
through an open window to Mr.. At
woods room.
The detective signalled, and they
followed him into the drawing room.
In an hour they were all compare
calm.
The detective, who had been up
reported Mr.. Atwood sleeping
like a tired child. A heap of manu-
script lay upon his table with the word