Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-09-30
DAILY STORY
AN APPARITION.


| them, Lieutenant Ian Paul. Il hadn't
seen him since we were graduated ut
the Point six years ago. l didn't
know he was with this army. sup
posed he was with General Taylor.
We were roommates at the academy
and used to have lots of talks after
taps. Harding was full of queer ideas.
Before we parted we had made an
agreement, common with youngster
chums, that whichever of the two died
first was to appear if possible to the
other"
81 wonder how a fellow would take
such visitation as that" remarked
one of the party.
Harding would take it coOlly
enough" put in another. HE isn't
afraid of the devil
$50 long as he didn't believe it su-
perhuman. But supposing him to be
convinced that it wasp
Paul, you might try him some time.
You'd have Il fine chance, considering
your agreement with him"
I'D have to get killed first or he'd
have to think I'd been killed." added
Paul carelessly, and the subject was
dropped.
At the capture of the City of Mexico
Lieutenant Paul was reported killed.
He had simply got detached during
some hard fighting and was taken pris-
oner, but before he could be sent to
the rear the tide of battle turned, and
he was left to his own sweet will.
Being within the Mexican lines, he
needed to watch his chance to rejoin
the American army. He was success
full and about 0 in the evening appear
ed before some of his brother officers,
much to their establishment.
This would be good opportunity
for you to appear in spirit form to
Harding" suggested one Of them.
Hes sure you're dead"
$50 it would" said Paul. II believe
I'll try it."
The others. pleased at the prospect
of some amusement, concealed Lieu
tenant Paul till midnight, when. hay
ing chalked his face, tangled his hair
and daubed wound over his heart
with berry juice. he made ready to ap-
pear to his friend. Harding had got
up his tent and was occupying it. The
tent flaps We're thrown back, the light
of full moon streaming within the
, canvas. To avoid mishap one of the Of
ficerS accessory to the experiment had
, during the evening gone into the tent
while Harding was not there and re-
> moved Harding's pistol. replacing it
with another loaded with blank car
tridges.
An hour before midnight Harding
was lying awake thinking of the
friends he had lost during the day,
especially regretting Paul. of whom
he was very fond. He was sinking
? into drowsiness when zephyr slowly
= waited a cloud like puff of smoke
1 before his tent, and in it and partly
1 concealed by it was the figure of his
Z friend. When the cloud drifted on II
l.. left the apparition standing facing the
. moonlight. 1t was looking straight
D ahead on vacancy, white as death
g eyes hollow, hair unkempt and a red
e smudge on the left breast. There was
9 not the slightest movement.
@ Harding raised himself upon his ell
t bow and looked. He had long ago got
V over any belief in the return OF
p those who have died, if he had evel
had any such belief, but this appear
n ance of one he felt reasonably sure
,, was dead in this CHASTITY fashion stag
gered him. He felt no fear, though al
y indefinable horror began to creep ovel
:, him, a sort of paralysis. He would
;f have been relieved at the Slightes
movement. sound, anything to breal
the spell. 1t was the unexpectednes:
of the manner of his friend keepin.
his appointment, if indeed such it was
He had expected Paul to look at him
% to speak to him. But here was fig
ure turned aside, the face CHASTITY II
l. the moonlight, as impressive as ;
l., statue
d Harding was simply lost in hor
1t rible wonder. He had no desire t
speak to the apparition or whatever
" was. He would not have known wha
ID to say if he had such desire. All tn
70 while something like a chill from
o. sepulcher was creeping over him. /
10 any one afterward had asked him hoy
10 long the apparition lasted, he woul
10 have said not less than fifteen or twer
'f ty minutes by the watch. Yet up t
this point not more than ninety sec
- onds had been licked.
Then came the only change in til
figure that was made during its stay
w The dawn of a smile appeared on tn
- face. Imperceptibly it broadened ii
CHASTITY grin extended from ear t
ear.
- Paul heard a moan from within til
- tent and Immediately strobe away t
" some of his comrades who were wal
ing and told them to go at once I
'' Harding. They found him cold q
death and insensible. One sprinkle
= his face, another chafed him, while
third poured brandy down his throa
Presently he revived. Paul did not c
near him It'll he had got the chalk o
his face and Harding had been il
formed that he was alive and til
whole thing had been intended for
I'll