St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-06-11

and discovered that the dirt had beer
spaded up under the big birch. There
was fresh dirt on spade near thu
lodge, though Touhey said he had no
used it for a week
That night the detective sat will
his back to a big tree Immediately il
front of the gardeners lodge, bu
Touhey slept like log until the SUI
came in at his window.
That day the detective slept. Thu
next night he sat in dark closet a
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 Deering kept watch in his
mothers room. He owned that he had
nodded, but was positive he had seer
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 great sigh of relief
for Atwood's condition was beginning
to alarm her. He was not eating, his
eyes had stony stare, the color had
left his cheeks. At times he moved
and spoke like one half asleep. His
voice sounded as II it came from a dis
lance.
poor boy" said Mrs. Deering, "it's
the ghost that's wearing on him.
For his third nights work the de-
tective planned blockade of the big
birch. Two of the Deering boys and
a 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 IL o'clock the watchers
took their places under the great
trees. completely surrounding the
mysterious birch. The detective, hav-
ing placed his men, took up post be-
tween the pool and the point of ths
hill over which the ghost was said to
have passed upon more than one occa-
sion.
Nobody had ever seen the ghost COM
ing in, but the detective took 1t 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 in 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 grip on his courage.
He stepped out from the shadow of
the tulip tree and stood in tine ghosts
path. The watchers at tho window
held their breath. l-.-
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,
silhouetted against the sta~-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.
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
within joined them.
Up over the roof of the summer
kitchen came the ghost. Helen hid her
face and shuddered Along the cave
trough the white robed object hurried
toward the front of the house.
''Hus-s-h," said the detective, its
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
lively calm.
The detective, who had been up
stairs, reported Mr. Atwood sleeping
like a tired child A heap Of manu-
script lay upon his table with the word
tFinis'' written on the bottom of the
last page.
BY this time the family doctor, who
had been called by telephone, arrived.
LET him Sleep" said the doctor,
when he had heard the story AMI
looked the patient over.
Just as he was about to leave the
room the doctor noticed the stack of
turned it over and read the
title of the tale that Atwood had been
living for fortnight-"The Ghost Of .
Y. Sun.
Not What She Expected.
An English lord was recently dining
with a family in New York. The hos
tess little girl sat opposite the lori
and stared solemnly.
Are you an English l:srd, really and
truly, sir?" she said at last.
EYES," he answered laughing, real