The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1906-04-05
THE GHOSTS VISIT.
BY HILL ROWAN.

nlgnt In the year when, 1t was ru-
mored ON the countryside, the ances-
trail ghost appeared to the reigning
duke and revealed some dreadful So
cret Of his family.
And the young duke of Bleakleigh
sat waiting for it. With ten-shilling
cigar between his fingers, a 50-guinea
dressing gown wrapped loosely around
him, he lounged on the 200-guinea
sofa and waited.
Not that he was frightened. He was
too much preoccupied for that. For
this was the last night of his owner
ship Of Bleakleigh Towers. All was
lost. The ducal income had shrunk
to mere 100000 year. The $780,.
600 necessary for the annual upkeep OF
the castle-the painting and upholster-
ing essential for the barest comforts
Of life-could no longer be spared.
The stud of motor cars had been cut
down to twenty. Retainers had been
dismissed one by one until but 60 hung
mOurnfully about the estate.
And so it came about that it was his
uCC . ldSI illSHL dl DlSdhlSlSu
What was that?
Above the rising storm and the beat.
ing of the rain, sound Of footsteps
could be heard in the corridor.
The gnost!
1t was! The door slowly opened OF
its own accord and closed again, but
not before it had admitted silent,
shadowy, thin, white figure, which
right through it's body showed the pat.
tern of the wallpaper.
1t moaned.
But a blase, well-educated man OF
the world like the duke of Bleakleigh,
trained every hour Of his life to re-
press his feelings could hardly be eX-
pected to show excitement.
He rose politely, and, adjusting his
cravat, observed:
II imagine presume you're the
in fact, the ghost. It's your night,
isn't it,"
Here the apparition shrieked and
waved its right arm
You always do that, don't you?"
odlu tAC uuht. w laI tliC obJSNS ~ -
is I never could see; still, l suppose
you've got to go through it,
The spirit howled again.
why, you're not frightened" he
exclaimed.
why should be-" asked the duke,
sinking back on the sofa again and re.
lighting his cigar. you haven't done
anything yet. AS for waving your
arms about and shrieking, you can do
that as much as you like. By the way,
l don't know who you are"
Your great great-grandfather !
was shot in that quarrel over cards
with the marquis of Cheate. I've been
waiting for chance like this for
century"
"A chance?"
yes; I've been trying to see one OF
the family about something and l can't
get near them. Socially, ghosts are
absolutely boycotted," he said YEARLY,
as he sank into an easy chair with a
rattle of bones
1T must hurt you rather?'
at does. If man cant haunt his
own castle, ask, where is British law
and justice?"
at would hardly do to have crowd
of ancestors hanging about the place,
would it," argued the duke-"and
moaning"
That's only the murdered ones
It's the only way we have of getting
back on the people who have shot us
A suit Of armor, few chains and you
brighten the man all to pieces. It's
one of our perquisites. And you aren't
frightened"
mo; why should I be-" answered
the reigning duke, with a blase air
I'm giving up the place"
"Giving 1t up-after we've had il
1900 years Whatever for?"
Cant keep it up. My rents have
fallen to 100000 and l have to let it
to a rich man"
"But that's exactly what l came to
tell you about" exclaimed the de.
ceased duke 81 wanted to show you
where those Bleakleigh deeds are hid.
den. If you find them you have an
income again at once"
"The Bleakleigh deeds-I should
think so, Put me on to them at once
look alive!"
81 can hardly do that" put in the
ghost; "but I'll show you where they
are. Five hundred thousand year!
You had come pretty low!"
"Where are they?"
Here" said the apparition, touching
a hidden spring in a painting on the
wall. Give them to your solicitor in
the morning, and the thing is done"
"But why didn't you tell me before?"
81 tried to, as l said; but ono man
went insane with fear and the other
turned mauve and died shortly after
ward. Hardly a compliment to ones
appearance-what?"
"Wait-it's too late!" exclaimed the
duke ITS no use-I've let the estate
for 20 years; the lease is signed"
"Soon manage that. I'll haunt the
place for week or two, do some
groaning, wave my arms over few
OF the beds and the new tenant will
be only too glad to give the estate up
and pay you lump sum down for
breach Of contract. AS he's a rich
man he's sure to have an uneasy con-
science"
Saved" exclaimed his great-grea
grandchild, springing up. "You are a
Bleakleigh! They always stood by