The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1908-10-21


of cleanliness. The dodgers, too,
were in keeping with the house-a
married couple. retired school
teacher, one or two working women
and several pleasant-spoken young
young men, who made little unneces-
sary 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 in her cup of
happiness.
e-fights-front," 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.
1t had a new carpet and very tidy cur
tains, but, despite these attractions,
'three-figh 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. In 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 themselves,
though what it might be she was I'M
able to surmise. Many times when
occupied it for 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 stft the matter thoroughly
To this end she 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.
Il 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, it was
dropped.
Thereafter, when prospective lodg-
ers applied to her, if no other room
was vacant, Mrs. Todd would say:
Il have one, three-flights- but
really I don't believe you want it,"
ard generally 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 response to his inquiry.
The young man happened 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 Il
must tell you there's sOmething-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. Still
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.
Todds "three-fiigh ts-front" A week
Two weeks--went past, and nothing
unusual occurred. Tuesday of the
third week, Knox raped on the parlor
door. Mrs. Todds face wore an anx-
ious expression as he entered.
WHAT exclaimed Mrs. Todd, mot
the-the Noise?"
Yes answered Knox, tersely as
usual, gas globe!"
We'll, l declared" said the land
lady. Il never could locate it. How
often have you heard it?'
Twice. he replied. First time
heard it was night before last. 1t
started up that internal drone about
ten. Hunted all round before | 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. Il shut off the gas and stuffed
the globe with absorbent cotton That
stopped it. Then l got curious and
took it out. Every time l unloaded the
cotton, off it would go like the whine
of cello. Sometimes it swelled and
sometimes it sank. Deuced if could
find out what made it. I'm not 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
1t makes any difference"
Mrs. Todd frightened up.
The next day Knox brought up a
similar globe and placed it over the
gas burner. A few days later he