Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-06-12

HOW TOM CAUGHT A GHOST.
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80 ELLVILLE was haunted. 1t had
J0 a ghost of its own. Almost ev-
cry one in the town, from Squire
Thompson to LILLY White, had seen it,
so that 1t WIS useless to dispute it.
The exciteme.t regarding the ghost
was at its heis ut when something more
startling than ghosts was at first whis-
pered, and then boldly talked over, and
that was robbery.
Those who were not burdened with
an abundance of this worlds goods
were frightened, and those who had
plenty were in a panic, and between
its ghost and its losses, quiet Bellvill2
was in a state of alarming excitement.
Joe Benton bad bid Annie Watson
goodnight, and gone whistling toward
home, when suddenly tall, white fig
ure rose out of the ground" he said,
and Joe's valor went into his heels, and
the way he ran must have astonished
the ghost.
Joe was rallied mercilessly, but not
long. for the ghost appeared to his tor
mentors, and their laughter turned to
seeing which could run the fastest
they or the ghost.
The boys took to staying at home
nights, greatly TO the delight of anx-
ious mothers. They were not afraid of
a million ghosts, not they, but they
didn't feel very well, with groan, and
We're going to bed.
Tom Wadleigh was passing his yaca-
ton at Bellville and, as he was 16
years old, he laughed scornfully when
his 10-year-old consin told him of the
ghost. why, Harry" said he. there
isn't any such thing as a ghost. Moth
err says so, and she knows"
mo, she don't" retorted Harry, ''for
I beard DR.. Smith tell cousin Carrie 1t
frightened his horse so he ran away
and smashed his buggy all to pieces -
"Why didn't he find out what it
was?"
"He was going to when 1t scared his
horse"
81 should like to see it," said Tom.
boldly, "has it ever been seen here?"
"No, indeed" gasped Harry; ives.
there it is now, right by the window"
at is the moon shining on the cur
tain" springing out of bed and going
TO the window. How beautifully the
moon Shines"
His heart almost ceased to beat as
he leaned from the window, for right
below him walked the ghost Sparks of
fire Issued from its mouth, and it
doomed up ten feet at least Some said
fifteen or twenty and some that it was
taller than the talleSt trees. but l sus-
pect that they measured it by their
fears. The ghost moved slowly away,
and Tom saw q pair of legs. He was a
shrewd boy, and he lay awake until
morning thinking.
Squire Thompson wGs robbed last
night exclC lined Carrie. as he entered
the breakfast room next morning.
"Why don't they catch the ghost?"
he asked absently.
1.-THE ghost" laughed Carrie. Il
should say the thief
II should say II would be more to
the purpose" said his uncle.
After breakfast Tom wandered down
by the river; climbing a tree he was
soon lost in thought. Presently hear
Ing a cracking of twigs he looked from
his Ieafy screen and saw a man rapidly
approaching After looking cautiously
around, he placed package in tree,
took line and hook from his pocket
and strolled down to Tne river.
Toms curiosity was aroused, and as
the man disappeared he slid down from
his seat and went to the tree. What
was his disappointment IN not finding
any aperture. BeiGg 6etermined not
TO give up. he looked more closely, ran
his hand over the bark and cut here
and there with his knife, and ar length.
to his great joy, found it. Putting in
lis hand he drew forth some dried
caves, then q miscellaneous collection
Of pocketbooks. packages. watches and
1ewelry. He looked at the articles in
amusement.
After celebrating long time he con-