The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1908-10-24

heated, and Mrs. Todd was the soul
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
means of livelihood. Yet there was
one grain of anxiety in her cup of
happiness.
'Three-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 its windows
gave pleasant outlook across the
chimney pots of the houses opposite
1t had new carpet and very tidy cur
tains, but, despite these attractions,
''three-fiights-front" was seldom occu-
pied for any length of time.
Various young men had rented it,
and once young woman had stayed
in it for nearly three weeks. In each
case, however, the lodger 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
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 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
good room. One morning, two weeks
later, she moved down again, rather
white and shaken.
81 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.
ers applied to her, if no other room
was vacant, Mrs. Todd would say:
81 have one, three-fights-front but
really 1 don't believe you want it,"
and 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, 81
must tell you there's something-we1l,
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
In this way John Knox, medical
student, began his occupancy of Mrs.
Todd's three-fights-front." 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.
I've found it," he said, laconicalIy.
What" exclaimed Mrs. Todd, mot
the-the Noise?"
YES" answered Knox, tersely as
usual. "gas globe!"
We'll, I declared" said the land
lady. 81 never could locate it. How
often have you heard it?"
Twice" he replied. First time 1
heard it was night before last 1t
started up that Internal drone about
ten. Hunted all round before 1 could
| place it. Can't account for it. Can
your"
Mrs Todd shook her head help
lessly
AT it again last night" Knox con
| .inued. 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 a cello. Sometimes it swelled and
sometimes it sank. Deuced if 1 could
find out what made it, I'm not a bit
superstitious, but I'll tell you frankly
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 different caliber
and said:
'Fn buy another globe and see if
It 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
again knocked at the parlor door
Same old tune" said he, and Mrs.
Todd thought he looked a trifie pale
Somehow this thing gets hold of me-
Can't reason it out. you know Funny
thing, too. l don't seem to want to
smash those globes. There's some
sort of fascination listening to that
whine
81 know how it is" said Mrs Todd