Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1904-04-01

WNW the direction or the Gertrudis
and Santa Maria mines, near
Pinal, Mexico, we brought down from
the States" our various goods and
chattels, and began the attempt to
make ourselves as comfortable as pos
sible in the huge, Spanish-built house
which was the only thing in the way of
an abode that could be secured, for
love or money, in the very inconven-
lent new old town of Pinal.
At first l liked the queer, rambling
old house, with Its wide, heavily pill
Jared corridors, thick walls, high
barred windows and enormous carved
doors. 1t had been built. according to
a half-effaced date, in the year 1903,
and had been the habitat of more than
one famous man in its time. But, even
after our modern furnishings We're put
in, flowers and vines arranged about,
and everything possible done TO bright
ell 1t, the house still had Il dreary,
ghostly air about ii. and one always
had the sensation that some one else
was about-some one unseen, but felt
and altogether there was an inde-
scribable eerie feeling about the place
that did not tend to make one very
cheerful. However, | consoled myself
by remembering that big, old houses
generally make one nervous at first;
also, the rent was surprisingly low for
SO large an establishment, with Its tif-
teen rooms, corridors, and corral. And,
as one can get used to very nearly any
thing in this world by trying hard, |
gradually got over the uneasy feeling
which | had mostly felt. when entirely
alone, and put 1t down to nerves"
There was the slight drawback, how
ever, that we could not keep servants
In spite Of good wages, light work and
short hours, our servants would inva-
riably leave after two to five days
service, refusing, under any circum-
stances, to stop longer. They gave no
reason for this beyond the fact that
the situation was not to their liking
So l could only pay them, and, with
indignant sorrow. view their departing
backs, then fare forth in search of fur
ther criadas, inwardly consigning Mex
lean servants to future which 1t
would be unladylike to put into bald
words
In the midst of these turmols $50
ciety" with big, big s. began slowly
and carefully, to call, and pleasantly
limited, In divers ways, that there was
something wrong about our house.
The leader of Pinal society, Mrs.
Isaacsteln, was the last to call. She
had at first been somewhat dubious
about visiting me. As | have before
said, she led Pinal society (for her
husband was the principal grocer of
the place., and therefore she could not,
as she sweetly explained to me. be too
careful about "beobles she CALLED
ubon."
Waving, however, discussion of this
excellent lady, for indeed she Is IAN
other story" her statement during her
call that our house was said to be
would never be able TO keep a servant
In It, was somewhat dispiriting. In
vain did l inquire particulars. No. she
knew nothing beyond the fact that ser
wants and 'tradespeople" gave the
place bad name; that 1t was certainly
by something and that no one
ever lived long in it.
Here was pretty mess. And, in
deed, as If in confirmation of the wom-
ans prediction, the very next day both
servants left. after they had been with
me four days, and | was on the point
Of beginning to expect better things of
them. | sat down and wept. Then,
disgusted with native servants, | hied
me forth and wired to the Border
for couple of old and well tried Chi
nese servants, determined that | would
not abandon my house, and live In ho-
tells, to please ghosts Mexican servants
or any one else.
In due course the new servants ar
rived. One, a sturdy, taciturn Celes-
tial, rejoicing In the name of Ching,
was to act as porter, caretaker and
general watchdog-the ghost would
have to be lively that could get ahead
Of Ching. Charley, his cousin, was of
the same ilk, being besides q splendid
cook. But l explained matters duly
TO the two, and could have warbled for
10y over their derlsive smiles and
grunts when l tmidly alluded to
ghosts" and hinted that they might
be disturbed by mysterious sights or
sounds.
And now did I begin to be acquaint-