Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1908-06-12

LAYING A
GHOST
By GEORGE F. DUYSTERS
p copyright

-
. (Copyright.) p
had come all the way from Montana
to make my fortune in New YORK city.
On being driven to the boarding house
in a formerly aristocratic. portion OF
the CITY to which l had been recon-
mended, l learned that the place had
been closed up. Noticing sign on
the opposite side of the street, crossed
over and mounted the stairs.
l rang the bell here, heard footsteps
within ere the echoes had died away,
and the door was opened by young
girl who asked me what / wished.
For a moment l hesitated, but, recov-
ering speech, told her my predica-
ment. She looked at me and then at
nv trunk. She seemed at least par
TALLY satisfied by this scrutiny, 1or she
said: "Wait a minute and III call
ma"
This proved to be unnecessary, for
ma had followed her to the door'
and at that moment doomed up be-
hind her. She was tall, pale woman
with jet black hair and a face in
which all features seemed lost in a.
maze of wrinkles.
"Step inside a minute" she said,
| "and Elizabeth will watch your trunk.
She ushered me into parlor and
proceeded to croSS-eXamlne me IN
manner that would have done credit
to a lawyer. Where was l fromA
| How did l come? When did l ar
| rive? Who recommended me to
Mrs. Bolton? What was my bust
ness? All of which 1 answered truth
fully. Her daughter stood in the
! hall and listened attentively. Appar-
| emily satisfied with her examination
of her unexpected guest, the landlady
said: You can have the second floor,
| front, that's the best room we got.
We haven't any other boarders just
now, but may have some later"
"All right" l replied, anything will
do for me tonight"
1 went out to get my trunk, and as
was bringing it in I overheard
discussion between the daughter and
ma" The daughter said: HE shan
not sleep in that room-it's an out
rage! It's no better than murder!"
Then the mothers voice, somewhat
hesitating: But he's young and
strong, Elizabeth, and maybe he amt
afraid of ghosts
whats that about ghosts?" l
asked.
The elder woman was evidently en-
barrassed.
"Oh," she said, they 7 the rooms
haunted
II laughed. THAT doesn't brighten
me. l have always had great long
ing to see ghost
There was a serious, anxious look
in the daughters big brown eyes.
you don't know what it is" she ex
claimed I'VE ourselves have never
seen or heard any ghost, though we
live in this house, but every man who
slept in that room has been found
dead the next morning, and the man
ner of his death has never been dis
covered. The door was locked on the
inside and no sound was heard. Tho
physicians could never find out wha
Lad killed them. So this house ha:
been known as the haunted house. We
have lost all our dodgers, and no one
will come here any more"
"Yes," added the elder woman, fold
ing her hands, this house is all m,
husband left me- He used to do ;
good business trading with the Yves
/ Indies in the fruit line, but with !;
mortgage, two years taxes unpaid
. and no income, l don't know wha
we're going to do"
! confess l was at first somewha
staggered by the popularity of thi
haunted room. l had supreme con
tempt for ghosts in general, but tn
possibility of not waking up the fol
lowing morning was disagreeable
The faces of both mother and daugh
ter plainly showed that they spoke tn
truth, and there was pathos il
their voices that strongly inclined M
to help them.
The woman spoke up as if seize,
with a sudden hope.
Young man." she said, I'll tell yoI
what I'll do. If you'll sleep in tina
room tonight and find out about tn
ghost, taking your chances after know
ing all the facts and having fair war;
ing, I'll give you board and rent fire
for year, and thank you besides"
ITS a bargain" l exclaimed; ct
do it,
! l seized my trunk and carried it u
< the stairway to the second floor
The woman preceded me, ant
! striking a match, lit the four jets G
chandelier that hung from the cer
ter of the ceiling.
| sat down on one of the old-fasl
toned plush covered chairs when sh
= had gone to think the matter owe
quietly / had not given the ghos
theory a moments consideration, bu
that there was some strange myster
r about the room in which l found m,
self was beyond doubt. I went owe
every possible theory. No one woul
be fool enough to kill me for m
money or valuables, for l had non,
SlMy trunk contained some clothin;
few old books, and a shotgun. l ha
/ no fear of the two women, believe
them to be entirely honest.
n l went over every story l had eve
J read. l recalled trap doors, canopie
that descended and smothered the O.
cupants Of the bed, panels that coul
be moved noiselessly. l determine
to make a thorough examination
| fba room and watch the NIGHT ont
4 alive in the morning I would hold tn
lady to her bargain. If not, well, or
doesn't herd cattle and hunt in Mo