Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-12-16

the hall. thought OF burglars and nesi-
tated about going to see. | turned my
light out and sat still. There was faint
light in the hall. All became quiet and
peercd out
There was nothing in sight, and l
slipped down to the further end. Moth
ing there but a door leading to a small
balcony overlooking the garden. Nothing
had been taken, and there was no sign of
midnigh. maraudcrs. | tried the door
and it was locked. | went back to my
den, ard few minutes later / retired.
At breakfast | casually spoke to Mar
ga.et of ghosts She laughed nervously
and said they had been seen in the house
and had been heard, but not for two gen
crations. / asked her if she was afraid.
She said she didn't know, but that she
might be if the ghost came to her. 9th
erwise she was not inclined to give the
matter any thought.
For two on three nights after this,
Margaret and I were at the theater, and
if the ghost roamed then / was not there
to hear. But it came again during the
following week. This time its soft tread
moved up towards Margaret's room. My
first thought was of her, and as soon as
could gather my strength, for ! confess
that was so frightened that | could not
pull myself together at once, | hurried
Up the hall to her door
| called to her softly, once or twice,
and went in. She was not fully awake.
and she asked what was the matter. /
told her l had heard the ghost again, and
it had come to her door. She laughed
then, and became my comforter. Mar
oaret, YOU know was always stronger
than /, and had really more physical
courage than | had.
She sent me back to my room with the
promise that she would lock her door,
and the ghost could not get in | went
away, and as | did so | heard the key
turn i'll the lock. Then | searched the
hall and found nothing. as before.
The next morning at breakfast Mar
2aret teased me so about my ghost that
was ashamed of myself and resolved
not to speak of it again.
Several weeks passed. and at intervals
| would hear the footsteps of the mystic
rious visitor, but / had become accus-
toned to his gho5tship and gave nc heed.
Now and again, after | had heard it
moving along the hall towards Margaret's
room, | would go there just before going
to bed to see if her door was locked. 1t
was always secure, and l smiled at my
fears and went my way.
But as | became careless of the ghost
| began to notice that Margaret was
becoming nervous and was losing color
and spirits. | thoughtlessly chaffed her
as she had teased me, but she showed
such unmistakable signs that it was no
trifling matter, that l resolved to see for
myself what this ghost might be- l said
nothing to her of my purpose, for | knew
it would not improve matters for her to
think | was disturbed.
The next night | had attended a dinner
at the club and did not get in until mid
night, on perhaps an hour later, as one
is apt to do after club dinners. Probably
| had taken more wine than usual. In
any event | felt brave enough to meet
any ghost that walked and l went into
my den to wait for it, if this should be
its night to visit the haunts of men.
waited SO long that dozed. and, waking
with a start. | heard the well known foot
steps. This time they We're going down
the hall in the direction / had pursued
them the first night had heard them.
Gathering my wits as quickly as /
could. | went into the hall, and in the
light, so dim that only th5 merest out
lines were visible | saw tall figure in a
misty gray wrap of the oldcn time
started after it, but before | had taken
half a dozen steps it stopped, turned and
waved me back wanngly. As | have
said | am not brave man, and / came
no nearer. Slowly the ghost turned
again, and in its stately fashion passed
on to the end of the hail.
Instead OF following it. [ hurried to
Margaret's room. She was awake and
very nervous. ! told her | had seen the
ghost. She laughed and said | had been
having too much wine. and it would be
better for me to go to bed and let the
ghost pursue the even tenor of its way.
But / was brave now. seeing that she
was safe and inclined TO tease me. and |
left her, notwithstanding she pleaded
with me not to 60, and went back down
the hall.
Only a very short time had elapsed
since | had seen the ghost. and when l
got TO the door lcaung out to the bal
cony | found it was open | ran to the
front balcony, and in the garden below
saw the figure of a man crouched in
the shadow. In tie road Just beyond
were two policemen. | called to them
TO catch the burglar, and as | dashed
back into the hall to go out the back way
| met Margaret ut the door of the bal
cony.
Go back to your room!' | exclaimed.
The ghost is Il burglar" and hurried on
downstairs. As | went | heard several
pistol shots. Nten | reached the road
the two officers We're standing over a
man lying ON the ground
Hes done for" said one, but he got
two shots at Us pclore he went"
Who is it, | asked, Mortified at the
tragedy before me, and turning away so
As not to see the uead man.
why" rcpned one of the officers.
proudly, its that Tom Brent that run
away. We only heard yesterday that he
was IN town, and while we were spotting
him he slipped in here TO rob the house.
l suppose. Anyhow, he won't rob any
more"