The Green Forest tribune., 1908-10-23


 street, yet convenient to the cars, it's rooms were commodious and well heated, and Mrs. Todd was the soul of cleanliness. The lodgers too, were in keeping with the house--a ! married couple, retired school teacher, one or i've working women and several pled.,,nt-spoken yodng young men, who made little unneces- aaTy noise and paid their rent prompt ly. All in all, fortune had smiled on Mrs. Todd since, in early widowhood, she had taken this lodging house as a means of livelihood. Yet there was one grain of anxiety ill her cup Of happiness.
 "Three-flights-fr at the top of the house, was, to all appearances, a most desirable room. All day long the sun shone into it and it's windows gave a pleasant outlook across the chimney pots of the houses opposite. It had a new carpet and very tidy cur tains, but. despite these attractions, "three-lishts-front" was seldom occu- pied for any length of time.
 Various young men had rented it., and once a young woman had stayed in it for nearly three weeks. h each case, however, the ledger had decided to change quarters rather suddenly, and had sought out Mrs. Todd and more or less haltingly and shame facedly had given his reason for leav- ing. The landlady was sure, from their actions, that they preferred to keep the real reason to herlselves, though what it might be she was u.a- able to surmise. Many tines when the room was vacant she herself had occupied it for a night, but nothing occurred to disturb her in the least.
 After the ninth occupant had paid his rent in the middle of the week and departed, bag and baggage, she decided to sift the matter thoroughly. To this end chc moved up to the front room at the top of the house, prepared to meet ghost or demon. or whatever it was that was depriving an honest woman Of the rent of a good room. One morning, two weeks later, she moved down again, rather white and shaken.
 T shall never sleep in that room again" she said to Jane, her maid of all work, and as she would not dis. cuss the matter further, t -T'o- dropped
 Tie eafter, when prospective iodg. CTS applied to her, if no other rccm NDPASt MTc Todd
 T have Che, three -fights-front, but really I don't believe you want - and ssnerally this was sufficient to send them away.
 One day there came brisk young man, and as the ill-starred room was the only one she had, Mrs Todd made her usual r2sro2se to his iGo'li"y The young Ian happeAod to be of the persistent type. He inquired the price and other particulars and ended by asking to see the room. He seemed quite satisfied with it. In fact he so expressed himself in no uncertain terms. Mrs. Todd hesitated.
 Before you take it, she said. T must tell you there's sonething-well queer about it.
 "Ghost?" said the young man, cheer fully If that's it I'd like to meet him."
 Mrs. Todd shook her head
 Not exactly that" she said "Stffl something decidedly unpleasant"
 "Pshaw," said he. there's nothing unpleasant about this room," and he handed out a weeks rent.
 In this way John Knox, medical student, began his occupancy of Mrs Todd's ''three- ffights-front" 4 week two weeks-went past, and nothing unusual occurred. Tuesday of the third week, Knox rapped on the parIor door. Mrs. Todds face wore an aux- ious expression as he entered
 rive found it. he said, laconieafIy.
 What" exclaimed Mrs. Todd, not the-=the Noises"
 Yes" answered Knox, tersely as usual, gas globe!'"
 We'll declare!" said the land lady. 1T never could locate it. How often have you heard it?"
 Twice he replied. First time I heard it was night before last It started up that internal drone about ten. Hunted all round. before I could place it. Can't account for it. Can you?"
 Mrs. Todd shook her head help. lessly.
 At it again last night,' Knox con-, tinued. T shut off the gas and stuffed the globe with absorbent cotton That stopped it. Then I got curious and. took it out. Every time I unloaded the cotton, off 1t would go like the whine of cello. Sometimes it swelled and sometimes it sank. Deuced if I could find out what made it. I'm not a bit superstitious, but I'll tell you frankly l somehow don't enjoy it."
 Again Mrs. Todd shook her head. She half expected him to pay his rent and leave, as the rest had done. But Knox was of a different caliber and said:
 I'll buy another globe and see if it makes any difference"
 Mrs. Todd frightened up.
 The next day Knox brought up similar globe and placed it over the gas burner. A few days later he again knocked at the parlor door.
 Same old tune," said he, and Mrs. Todd thought he looked a trif1e pale. Somehow this thing gets hold of me. Can't reason it out, you know. Funny thing, too. I don't seem to want to smash those globes. There's some sort of fascination listening to that whine"
 q know how it is," said Mrs. Todd, and she shivered. "Is it all the time?"
 "No Seems to take it's own sMeet