The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-25
THE RIVAL SPECTERS.
BY BENNETT HARAIs.


 (Copright, 1904, by ally story Pub. Col I murdered the man under circumstan- ces of umitigated atrocity. l always like to deal plainly with myself and that Is really the only way to characterize the deed. had not even the excuse of needing the 45 cents that I found on his person, for several successful burglartes lone with arson) had put me pretty well on my feet in financial way. I think that I did it for the novelty of the sen- sation as much as anything. You See' strange as 1t may appear, had never killed a man before and wanted to re- lieve the dull monotomy ot existence. At all events 1 killed him, as l have said, the circumstances were what the world call atrocious.
 As for the woman, really might plead Justification in her case. I told her that she annoyed me with --er inopportunity and that the washing had not been done very well anyway. She called again less than two weeks after that, urging the trivial excuse that her children were starving and her landlord threatened to turn her out of her home if the rent was not paid. Her lack of consideration made me lose my temper, though am naturally an easy-Roing sort of a man, and the stove poker being handy, think -AIaI I can hardly be blamed for my action. It might have been precipitate. but she had herself to thank for it..
 I had entirely forgotten about these little incidents, which occurred several years aEo--before retired from the pro- fession with the handsome competence that enabled me to buy my estate and settle down. l am sure that l had not committed any imprudence in my diet, nor had been brought under what peo- ple call moral influences. My health was normal and my digestion good, so can only conclude that there are more things in heaven and earth than we do dream in our philosophy.
 It happened, as nearly as can guess at the conventional hour-that is, at F D. m. I know that I went bed at my usual time-and my mind is clear that | I wore my orange silk pa1amas; also that I read myself to sleep with Profes- eor Borem's "Evidences of Early Baby Ionic Civilization"-which certainly could not be considered suggestive. woke with a start, with a cold precipitation or my brow and a prickling sensation where | the roots of my hair once were. Was I at first aware of Q sort of luminous haS' | in the room and thought that is was | fire, but 1t began to take shape and form the shape and form of Lne man hac murdered years ago. could see everS feature distinctly, his long white naI and beard and the Hebraic form or nos' that had deluded me with the idea Una he might have money. He was not al white. as ghosts are traditionally suppos
 ed to be, but tinted, as l might say
 There was. in fact the ghost Of colo
 about hin-an intangiDIe brown in m
 coat, a shadowy pepper-and-salt to hi
 trousers, and so on, but aDout his hea
 and throat were streaks and splotches o
 vivid crimson I confess that l suddere
 as saw that crimson. It was horrible
 I have to own that as he pointed lon
 skinny forefinger at me and ,glared
 me with his stony eyes l felt a terro
 seize me and hold me in a grip that al
 most stilled my heart beats. Neyerthe
 less managed to gasp out an inquiry a
 to the purpose of his visit
 He spoke in low sepulachral tones. '
 am come to haunt you" he said; T ar
 come to be with you night by night forT
 now evermore. I am come-Hellow
 My ghost started and turned aroun with a vexed expression to the center C
 the room, where a second luminous haz seemed to gathering. This will neve do," he muttered petulantly, who O earth can have the bad nne liners to intel rupt me in this way?'
 I knew before he did. The haze ha
 not taken shape before I knew that was the apparation of my deceased wasf : erwoman. She, too, had a good deal { : crimson about her and was sufficient } dreadful and her mouth looked as ugl as ever. It Is possible that in spite {
 the pfovocation I would not have kiIle
 her had it not been for that mouth (
 hers. It irritated me and got on m 9 nerves. Without taking any notice
 the previous spook she advanced to m
 bedside and pointed a forefinger at m c really began to regret my harmlei - little homlcides. I had never thought
 would come to this.
 But the old gentleman seemed almo
 as dlscomposed as was. Madam" 1 k said, may ask what you are doiE here?"
 ; T am come to haunt this wretch" sl