Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-25
DAILY SHORT STORY
A Doctors Device.
IOrlgInaI. IL

In the DAYS OF Tue IeluSyANdnld OH
strikes 1. then young physician. was
called TO examine 4 man there, Samuel
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 a
ghost came into his room ut 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 1 was going TO ex-
anime him, so 1 wrote that 1 would ar
rive much later than l intended. One
morning | went TO the house without
either the aunt or nephew knowing
that 1 was coming. The door was
opened by the aunt.
Il understand" l said. that this
property is for sale. 1 would like to
buy it if l 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 VII Ou uCCOuHA Vi It's
rise in value.
why don't you have him adiudged
incompetent to manage his affairs and
i guardian appointedE"
That's what were trying to do.
There's doctor coming down from
the city in few days to examine him.
But l don't believe it'll do any good.
sam sees Il ghost every now and then.
There isn't any ghost. Nobody but
Sam sees it. He's all right on other
call n man crazy because he says he
has seen Il 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.'
"Wil he be likely to see it within
the next few days.
Maybe, if he gets excited about any
thing"
III tell you what I'd do if l were
you. I'd tell him that the doctor is
coming to examine him with a view
To putting him~ i'll 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'H give the doc
tor an opportunity 10 talk with him
just after he has seen it,"
The woman made no reply to this,
and, assuring her that / would give a
large sum for the property as soon as
it could be sold, l left her.
The next day but one l was expect
ed TO appear and examine the patient.
The next afternoon i went up on n
hill overlooking Sam Changers farm
and watched. All l saw was Il young
man come to Il window but IL few feet
above the roof of II piazza. After dark
l stole down TO the house and climbed
up Il trelliS to the window. 1t was
summer. ana the window was open.
There was no one in the room. but
light on n table showed me by the pres
encc of clothing, pipes, tobacco and
such things scattered about that it was
u mans room. l waited on the piazza
roof till after . o'clock. when the young
man entered, took of his clothes and
went to bed. He looked nervous and
haggard.
What | WAS after was 10 see him uIl-
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
he pretty sure TO see the ghost.
could hear him tossing in the bed, but
as the lamp was not lighted | could
not see him. l waited till nearly IL
o'clock. when he had quieted down.
and | thought he was asleep. But sud
denly he gave a shrek, and | could
family see him sitting up in bed. doubt
less staring at his vision. | cast my
eyes about the room. and TO the left,
near a door. l saw luminous white
figure. apparently of a woman.
For a moment | was taken aback
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 / gathereu my faculties,
but suddenly under an impulse l
sprang into the window. dashed across
the room and seized its skirts just as
ii 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. >Iy next move was TO pull
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. 1t |
is plain that you are anxious to shut |
him up. doubtless with n view TO be- /
ing appointed his guardian and getting