Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1904-06-11
A Doctors Device
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Granger, who had inherited farm
near which oil had been struck and
whose brain was supposed to have
been affected by the sudden turn of
his fortune. He heard sounds no one
else could hear, and at intervals
ghost came into his room at night. He
lived with his aunt, who wanted to
have him placed in an asylum.
didn't care to have the patient or
his aunt know that was going to ex-
anime him, so l wrote that | would ar
rive much later than l intended. One
morning l went to the house without
either the aunt or nephew knowing
that l was coming. The door was
opened by the aunt.
81 understand" l said, that this
property is for sale. l would like to
buy 1t if can do so at fair price and
get clear title"
"You can't buy it or get clear title
either. My nephew owns it, and he's
gone daft on account of its sudden
rise III value.
"Why don't you have him adjudged
incompetent to manage his affairs and
a guardian appointed"
That's what we're trying to do.
There's a doctor coming down from
the city in a few days to examine him.
But | don't believe it'll do any good.
Sam sees ghost every now and then.
There isn't any ghost. Nobody but
Sam sees it. He's all right on other
subjects and don't know as you can
call man crazy because he says he
has seen a spirit"
HAS any one been with him when
he has seen the ghost?
Don't know that there has, except
ing me-"
How often does the ghost appear?'
"Oh, once in awhile!'
evil he be likely to see it within
the next few days.?
maybe, if he gets excited about any
thing"
"I'll tell you what I'd do If l were
you. I'd tell him that the doctor Is
coming to examine him with view
to putting him in an asylum. Tell
it to him the day before you expect
the doctor. That will bring on the
paroxysm, and he'll fancy he's seen
the ghost again. That'll give the doc
tor an opportunity to talk with him
just after he has seen it."
The woman made no reply to this,
and, assuring her that l would give u
large sum for the property Gs soon as
it could be sold, left her.
The next day but one l was expect
ed to appear and examine the patient.
The next afternoon l went up on a
hill overlooking Sam Changers farm
and watched. All saw was young
man come to q window but a few feet
above the roof of piazza. After dark
l stole down to the house and climbed
up a trellis to the window. 1t was
summer, and the window was open.
There was no one in the room, but a
light on table showed me by the pres
ence of clothing, pipes, tobacco and
such things scattered about that 1t was
a mans room. l waited on the piazza
roof till after o'clock, when the young
went to bed. He looked nervous and
haggard.
What l was after was to see him un-
der the influence of his vision without
his knowing of my presence. His aunt
had doubtless excited him by telling
him that was coming, and he would
be pretty sure to see the ghost. l
could hear him tossing in the bed, but
as the lamp was not lighted l could
not see him. l waited till nearly II
o'clock, when he had quieted down,
and thought he was asleep. But sud
denly he gave n shrek, and l could
family see him sitting up in bed. doubt
less staring at his vision. l cast my
eyes about the room, and to the left,
near a door, l saw a luminous white
figure, apparently of woman.
For a moment l was taken aback.
l had no idea of anything appearing
except to the young mans excited
brain. Here was something that
could see myself. Then it occurred to
me that the ghosts garments had been
rubbed with phosphorus. The figure
stood a few moments and was turning
to go before l gathered my faculties,
but suddenly under an impulse l
sprang into the window, dashed across
the room and seized its skirts just as
1t had got into the hall. Then with
one arm around buxOm waist l drew
the apparition back into the room,
took out my matchbox and lit the
lamp. My next move was to pull a
piece of white muslin from the APP
partition and expose the head and
shoulders Of the aunt.
"Who are you?" she cried angrily.
I'm the man that wants to buy this
farm, alias the doctor who was to
come here to examine your nephew.
He doesn't need any examination. II
is plain that you are anxious to shut
him up, doubtless with view to be-
ing appointed his guardian and getting
hand on his property"
The young man was astonished that
his ghost was human and at the same
time shocked at what his aunt had
been doing. Then he fell into a rage
with her and despite my efforts to pre-
rent drove her out of the house.
When | returned to the city and re-
hted my experience To some of my
all =.