Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1908-06-03

never used. Indeed IL might be cues
toned If the men and women who
shot up ard down In the elevators
knew OF any other mode of ascent or
descent.
II was very still on the stairway and
rather dim and dark, and gradually
II acquired a bad name.
AT last murder was committed on
the tenth landing The murderer was
not apprehended and this fact added
TO the terrors of the stairway. Before
month had passed It was called
haunted. and men whom no one would
have counted snperstitious moved
their Offices to other buildings
Finally the matter began to attract
the attention OF the owners. Many of
the offices were empty and the rentals
were falling or
ITS got TO STOP" said Brixton Z
Brixton; and they put in more electric
lights and hired watchmen to patrol
the stairway.
But, after weeks trial, the watch
man threw up his job. Three other
watchmen came and went, and at last
Moran, the janitor. was detailed to
came In the succinct statement:
Mike for me-"
Brixton, senior, struck his clenched
hand impatiently on his desk.
Such foolishness, Moran" he said
That may be, sor," Moran agreed;
but ven have to git another man"
Later Brixton, senior. sent for him
and put him on the elevator service
IL was getting little hard to keep
elevator boys, and Moran was trust
worthy, IL he was superstitious.
Again succession of watchmen
came, and went
Brixton & Brixton consulted a de.
tective agency. IT'S running our bust
ness" they said Find out who is
playing us such q trick"
From the agency came men. two at
time. 1t grew to be a most unpopu-
lar assignment.
Good lord said Citizens, who was
tn duty the fifth week, 81 keep seeing
that poor fellow on the stairs with the
run shining in on him. / wonder how
he happened to be down so far; his
Office was on the top floor"
They were on the fatal landing. A
broad, deep window overlooked the
other skyscrapers in the block and
showed row after row of twinkling
yellow lights. and above them all, the
moon, pale in contrast to the glitter
and glow of the city night. Moran had
made his last trip for the night. The
three men stood looking out
Suddenly a wailing cry to a mourn
ful, lifting measure reached their ears
Somebody's singin'," Citizens gasped
The three Irishmen chung together
er. It's Killarney"
Who's singin' it?" Murphy's bravo
do was gone.
MY Cod" Moran said. there was
h,tle gurryl in Browns office-Kate
ONeill-on the sixt' floor used to sing
like that. / heard her one time"
Where's she now?" Citizens asked
she whit away last spring." Moran
laid.
Next day Moran found himself IL.
resistibly drawn toward the haunted
landing. 1t was the noon hour and
Citizens and Murphy had gone to lunch
Moran didn't want any lunch. The
affair OF the night before had upset
him, and the plaintive tones of Kate
O'Neill still rang I'm his heart.
Six steps down from the tenth floor
and around a curve was the landing.
and Moran. following the curve,
stopped short. staring.
With her back to him. a woman
stood looking out of the window.
She turned at the sound of Moran's
footsteps.
IT'S me-" she said. 1--WE come
back"
Kate O'Neill!" gasped Moran.
Yes. I've been in the hospital. I've
been sick"
Moran went up to her.
Katie" he said, was you here las
night?"
She looked at him, wide-eyed.
NO." she said, 81 was in the hos.
pital. lef there this mornin'."
MY God" said Moran.
She shivered
What's the natter" she asked
sharply.
I'VE heard you singin'-me and two
other men. You was singin' XII.
larEey'"
Her hand was over her heart. her
eyes dark with horror.
What am going to do?" She cried
what am ! going to do? dream that
come here, and go up and down
and up and down the stairway-apd
there is no rest"
She paused and went on. white.
Tipped: "Maybe--it isn't a dream
maybe it's true-maybe-I do come
maybe / do"
Her voice died away i'm a wbisper
Moran stood spellbOund.
Twas likely The wind" he said
Then. suspiciously: why did YOU
Gomez"
N4ron.i1.. nhn .,