The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-06-30
Light the gas, George said Mai.

LlSnL the gas, George, SAID Nal.
eplm.
The waiter obeyed hastily. Hirst, a
ludicrous but pitiable figure in knee
breaches and coat, a large wig all awry
and his face mess CT grease paint,
chung to him, trembling.
snow, what's the matter?" asked
Malcolm.
''I've seen it." said Hirst, with a
hysterical Sob 20 Lord, I'll never
play the fool again-never"
"Seen what?" asked the others.
Him = it II the ghost = anythingv'
said Hirst wildly.
"Rot!' said Malcolm uneasily.
81 was coming down the stairs" said
Hirst; ''just capering down as I
thought it ought to do. I felt tap
He broke off suddenly and peered
nervously through the open door into
the passage.
II thought saw it again." he ewhis-
pered. "Look-at the foot of the stairs.
Can you see anything?"
mo; there's nothing there" said NAL
colin, whose own voice shook a little.
"Go on. You felt a tap on your Shout
DER
81 turned round and saw it-a little
wicked head and white dead face
pah!'
"That's what l saw in the bar" said
George. "Horrid it was-devilish.'
Hirst shuddered and, still retaining
his nervous grip of Malcolm's sleeve,
dropped into a chair.
swell, it's most unaccountable
thing" said the dumfounded Malcolm,
turning round to the others. tits the
last time come to this house,
II leave tomorrow" said George. Il
wouldn't go down to that bar again by
myself-no, not for ESQ.,"
cts talking about the thing that's
caused it, I expect" said one of the
men. "We've all been talking about
this and having it in our minds. Prac-
tically we've been forming a spiritual
istic circle without knowing it,
''Dash the old gentlemanw said NAL
colin heartily. upon my soul, I'm
half afraid to go to bed. It's odd they
should both think they saw some
thing"
II saw it as plain as see you, sir"
said George solemnly. "P'raps if you
keep your eyes turned up the passage
you'll see it for YOURSELF
They followed the direction of his
finger, but saw nothing, although one
of them fancied that a head peeped
round the corner Of the wall
who'll come down to the bar?' said
Malcolm, looking round.
'You can go if you like" said one of
the others, with faint laugh. "We'll
wait here for you"
The stout traveller walked toward the
door and took a few steps up the pas
sage. Then he stopped. All was quite
silent. and he walked slowly to the
end and looked down fearfully toward
the glass partition which shut off the
bar. Three times he made as though
to go to it.; then he turned back and,
glancing over his shoulder, came bur.
riedly back to the room.
'Did you see it, STRIP whispered
George.
Don't KNOW" said Malcolm shortly.
II fancied 1 saw something, but it
might have been fancy. I'm in the
mood to see anything just now. How
are you feeling now, sir?"
ooh, feel bit better now" said
Hirst somewhat brusquely as all eyes
were turned upon him. 'T dare say
you think I'm easily scared, but you
didn't see it?''
''Not at ALL" said Malcolm, smiling
family despite himself.
'I'm going to bed" said Hirst, motto
ing the smile and resenting it. 'Will
you share my room with me, Somers %
II will, with pleasure" said his
friend. "provided you don't mind
sleeping with the gas on full all night"
He rose from his seat and, bidding
the company a friendly good night, left
the room with his crestfallen friend.
The others saw them to the foot of the
stairs and, having heard their door
close, returned to the coffee room.
"Well, I suppose the bets off," said
the stout commercial, poking the fire
and standing with his legs apart on
the hearth rug, though, as far as I
can see, won it. I never saw a man
so scared in all my life. Sort of poetic
justice about it, isn't there?"
''Never mind about poetry or JUS
tice,'' said one of the listeners. 'Who's
going to sleep with me?"
II WILL" said Malcolm affably.
"And I suppose we share a room to-
gether, Mr.. Leek," said the third man
turning to the fourth.
mo, thank you." said the other
briskly. Il don't believe in ghosts. II
anything comes into my room, shai
shoot it,
'That won't hurt a spirit, Leek<"
said Malcolm decisively.
"Well. the noise'll be like company
to me-" said Leek, land it'll wake tho
house too. But if you're nervous, sir, -
he added, with grin, to the man who
had suggested sharing his room,
"George'll be only too pleased to sleep
on the doormat inside your room, I