The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-12-22

III lIlC plSpdl dllOll VI iAS'
haunted house promised to be inter-
esting.
A Night Investigation.
took long nap that afternoon to
obviate the chance of going to sleep
during the vigil, and promptly at ten
that evening l started, with Clarke, for
the Bartholf mansion.
1t was, as l said, a rambling old
brick dwelling and built in colonial
days by an eccentric Dutchman, con-
corning whom some odd stories still
survived. The neighbors, it seems, had
regarded him as a sort of wizard or
magician.
AS we walked up the uneven path
to the front porch the old pile Of brick
looked in the moonlight like the reg
ular Gime-novel haunted house." and
as Clarke let us in through the great
blackened oak doors the darkness Of
the huge hall seemed to rush forward
to meet us.
We set about our preparations in a
businesslike way. We established our
headquarters for the night in the big
drawing-room to the right Of the hall.
We lighted a half dozen candles, stuck
them in the rusty iron sconces about
the wall, and set about examining the
room. The walls were lined with faded
tapestry; one or two old half-defaced
pictures hung here and there, notably
one of old Jan Bartholf himself, which
eral pieces Of furniture occupied the
bare floor, whose hardwood boards
were warped by dampness and neglect.
We made sure that no hiding place for
lurking mischief makers existed within
the four walls of the apartment. Then.
candle in hand. we made a systematic
detour of the whole dusty, creaking
house.
WELL" said Clarke, as we reached
the top of the wide staircase on our
return toward the ground floor, eff
there'd been a man or even a mouse
concealed anywhere we'd have found
him. Let's go back to the drawing
room, and-why, it's dark down
there!"
We were half way downstairs as he
spoke. On our way up the light of the
candles in the drawing-room sconces
had cast glow across the hall. Now,
except where illuminated by the two
candles in our hands, the whole lower
floor was in dense blackness.
Ghostly Mystery.
What do you think now?" asked
Clarke. made no reply, but ran down
the remaining steps into the drawing
room. The smell Of extinguished can
dies filled the room. All was dark save
where broad patch of moonlight from
the one unshuttered window fell on the
floor. In the very center Of that patch
was an old mahogany rocking chair.
The empty chair was rocking slowly
back and forth.
1t was rocking with quiet, regular
motion, as if some invisible guest were
taking his ease and swaying himself
to sleep.
do you see that?" whispered Clarke
over my shoulder. That's what saw
when came up here in broad day
light"
"It's-it's current of air." I ex-
planned. But even as said it I knew
that no real draught could enter that
closed room with force enough to blow
out six candles and start heavy chair
into motion. Moreover, the air in the
room was dead and motionless.
81 never used to believe in this sort
Of thing any more than you do" said
Clarke, "but who can doubt it now?"
81 can doubt it." answered. Help
me light these candles IN the sconces,
and We'll make another inspection Of
the ROOM"
We lighted the candles. As we set
foot in the room the chair had ceased
rocking. We once moro made the
rounds Of the apartment, patting the
tapestry against the walls with our
hands, looking under each bit of fur
niture, sounding the bricked-up fire.
place, and in other ways making sure
no trick was played on us by human
agency.
"If anybody is putting up this line
of practical Joking" said, che can't
do anything while we're in here. II
it's q ghost"
The sound as Of some one sobbing
and painting for breath came to us,
while l was speaking. 1t seemed to be
in the room, within arms length of us.
That's easily explained" I said, as
Clarke grabbed my arm. 1.-THE wind in
the empty passages Of the house and
the chimney makes"
cts growing dark" interrupted my
companion. -.
I looked up. Only two of the six
candles were burning. Even as I
looked, first one and then another of
those remaining two lights went out
1t was as though some one had passed
along that side of the room and ex-
tinguished them.
We were in total darkness, for had
closed that one open window shutter.
In the dense blackness, as I groped
for a match, could hear that great
rocking chair slowly begin to creak
back and forth.
found a match at last, and struck
1t. We relighted the candles. Then I
turned to look at the rocker. It was
standing motionless.
We stared hopelessly into each 9TH
er's faces. I hope mine wasn't as
scared and white as Clarke's.
"And this is the sort of house you
advise me to bring my bride tot" he
said at last. We've seen enough. I'm
going home"