Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-02-17


ing"
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 fright
en- the man all to pieces. It's one of our
perquisites.'
so you're really lonely?"
"Lonelys hardly the word for it. Has
a ghost no feelings?"
1T hits those Johnnies who write
Christmas stories" said the duke.
thoughtfully Il shall never care for one
again."
How you've let the place run to
seed" exclaimed the apparition. give
been looking round it the last few nights,
and it's simply beggarlyl How many
of the bedrooms do you use?'
only sixty five; I've had to have most
of the house shut up"
Il never saw anything like it in my
life-in my death, / mean," added the
lapparition, correcting himself hastily
"By the bye, what curious lamps you
use! How do you get the oil through a
small wire like that?"
Those are electric lights" explained
the duke. They were invented since
you were shot by a COMMON man some
where i'll America. Have a cigar?" He
proffered a diamond studded box.
NO, thanks" said the apparition. 81
have never smoked since my funeral 1t
saddened me greatly.s
Can't do anything for your"
Nothing; except to see about having
the churchyard wall repaired. The
draught there is scandalous. And you
aren't frightened ?"
No; why should l be-" answered the
resigning duke, with blase air. | never
heard of ghosts doing any harm; they
only shove their arms about and howl
and that sort of thing. What their OBJ
ject is | can't imagine
Rather takes the wind out of my
sails-knocks the bottom out of the whole
affair" said his ancestor. "The fact is,
we couldn't do anything more if people
stood their ground. How could a man
who is transparent do much harm?"
See through him too easily" said his
grace, yenturing on a pun Ill a way UNI
usual in the peerage.
We'll. if you refuse to 90 mad or turn
your hair white, it leaves me hardly any
thing to do. I've beer avoided so much
by everyone I've lost all my small talk"
You've got the people in the church
yard. haven't you?"
They're so horribly common. Why,
Giles the chandler is next to our vault
and he's so pushing!'
Il take little interest in the matter"
said his grace, YEARLY. I'm giving up
the place"
Giving it up-after we've had it fiji
teen hundred years! Whatever for?"
Can't keep it up. My rents have
fallen to five hundred thousand, and
have to let it to a rich man."
But that's exactly what | came to tell
You about" exclaimed the deceased duke
II wanted TO show you where those
Bleakleigh deeds are hidden. 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
anve!n
Il 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!"
Were ere they?"
Here said the apparition, touching
a hidden spring in painting on the wall.
Give them to your solicitor in the morn
ing and the thing is done"
But why didn't you tell me before?"
Il tried to, as | said; but one man
went insane with fear and the other
turned mauve and diei shortly afterward
Hardly a compliment TO ones appear
ance-Nhat!"
'Wait-it's too late!" exclaimed the
duke. Its no use--Pve let the estate
for twenty years; tie lease is signed"
Soon IL anage that. I'll haunt the
place for a week or two, do some groan-
ing, wave my arms over few of the
beds, and the rev tenant will be only
too glad tn give the estate up, and pay
yon a lump sum down for breach of
contract. As he's a rich man he's sure to
have an uneasy conscience"
Saved" exclaimed his great-great
grandchild, springing up. You are a
Bleakleigh! They always stood by each
other
''Hush!" said his ancestor.
The church clock struck l.
My time is up" he said; business
hours, you know-see you again-this
day next year"
lie moved away across the 500. guinea
carpet and vanished Rowan in The
Sketch