The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1909-09-09

mon. = was UuI kWSuly-tWO anu du10-
nable to the attractions Of pretty girl.
She had read detective stories and
seemed to look upon me as a marvel
of ingenuity. OF course since I was
a detective I must be ingenious. 1
didn't tell her that this was my first
case. put on all the mystery I could
summon in order to impress her with
the depth of my methods. At 10
o'clock she was ordered to bed, and
her mother took me to the room where
the ghost was expected to appear. It
was a chamber between a front and a
rear room, hall leading past it from
one to the other. Some sandwiches
and bottle of beer were placed on a
table beside me.
I had all young mans appetite for
eating and sleeping and was very fond
of beer, especially about bedtime.
put off my supper as long as could
| about fifteen minutes-then ate up all
the sandwiches. drank the beer and lit
a cigar. I would better have had cof-
fee. The beer. followed by the cigar
! and my position-I was stretched on
q lounge-contributed to put me to
sleep. It occurred to me that a de-
| tective should be very careful not to
be caught mapping, and tried hard to
keep awake. l should have got up
and walked the floor, but-well, was
very comfortable where was. OF
course I fell asleep.
I dreamed. Dreams are singular
things. Sometimes they have all the
appearance Of reality. My dream was,
to. use a paradoxical expression, a
pleasant nightmare. dreamed that
was lying just where I was; that
Elsie walked by the open door, looked
in at me, came and stood by nae, deft-
~ drew my handkerchief from my
outside coat pecket-one corner was
exposed-then, bending lower and
lower, lightly touched my forehead
with her lips. This done, she tiptoed
to the door. stood for a: moment look
ing at me with all the merriment Of
prank player, then passed out.
How much time elapsed between my
dream and my awakening I don't
|
hearing jingling Of keys. had the
presence Of mind to lie perfectly still.
felt sure Elsie was near, and was
not surprised to see out Of the corner
OF my eye an..old woman pass the
1 door with bunch Of keys in her
hand. I waited, and the figure re-
turned and this time looked in as she
passed. I snored on. Once more re-
turning, the figure stood in the door
way and jingled her keys, evidently to
awaken me. This failing, she came to
the lounge and was looking at me
when I sprang up and caught her in
my arms. OF course she was Elsie.
"0h, good graciousw she exclaimed.
II am sorry. Miss .Edson," said,
Ito have caught you in the act. My
chief will require an exact report. I
trust your family will not consider
your playing ghost reprehensible?
"But. they will. I'm not the ghost
TX never played the ghost before. I
saw you were asleep and thought I'd
play prank on you. I didn't know
detectives ever slept"
It was my turn to vince. How
would it look to my chief If were
reported sleeping on watch? "This
girl is easily managed" said to my
sef. I'll bluff her just for fun"
II confess to you," replied, that
felt very dull and appeared to be
asleep. 4 was not. To prove it, I will
ftell you something. A. certain young
lady came into the. room and kissed
me-"
She started and blushed.
:"Ah, har' I thought "My dream
was real"
You say you were awake" she said
presently.
'Qf course" -: So
She pulled my handkerchief out of
her sleeve. '"Then why did you. let me
take thisT' IS.
II changed my braggadocio. air to
humble one.
:. .:You say it is your duty to report
me for playing ghost It viii then be
my privilege to report you for sleeping
on watch"
.How about the kiss?'''-
"Oh, it will appear that you dreamed
gave you the kiss"
II think" said after reflection
that you have the advantage Of meP
r think so, too," she said. I'm
going to bed"
reported to my chief the next morn
ing at IL o'clock. I was astonished to-
see Miss Edison there. Both she and
the chief smiled
Hello, Harry said the chief. Ibid
you catch the ghostT'
"I-I-I"-
Don't lie about 1t. You two were
employed at the same time, and con-
Guided to try your wits on each other.
Zen were beaten in the game"
:. MISS Edison hiumphantly held up
my handkerchief.
caye!s