Evening journal., 1909-05-31

Harry" said the chief, 1--WE a case
for you to begin on. There's an old [
house up in Barton county where
ghost appears once in ten years-au
old woman jlngling a bunch of keys
She appears tonight. They suspeC
she is flesh and blood"
/ expected an important case 70
a starter and made no comment.
reached the house just before dinner
/ was invited TO dine with the family
and in every way made at home. The
Oldest daughter was about twenty and
as pretty as little red apple Her
smile and her eyes We're fun Of mis-
chief. and It occurred to me that she
would be quite capable Of playing the
part Of a ghost. l made up my mind
to be prepared for such a result
Elsie-that was her name-Elsie Ed
son and l spent the evening chatting
and playing checkers and backgam-
mon. was but twenty-five and anne
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 l was
n detective / must be ingenious.
didn't tell her that this was my first
case. put on all the mystery could
summon in order TO impress her with
the depth OF my methods. At 10
o'clock she was ordered to bed, aud
her mother took me to the room where
the ghost was expected to appear. 1t
was a chamber between front and
rear room, a hall leading past it from
one to the other Some sandwiches
and bottle Of beer were placed on
table beside me.
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 positiop-I was stretched on
a 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 1 tried hard to
keep awake I should have got mp
and walked the floor, but-well, was
very comfortable where was. OF
course I fell asleep.
dreamed Dreams are singular
things Sometimes they have all tile
appearance OF reality. Ny dream was.
TO use n paradoxical expression,
pleasant nightmare. I dreamed that
/ was lying just where I was: that
Elsie walked by the open door, looked
in at me- came and stood by me, deft-
ly drew my handkerchief from my
outside coas pocket-one corner vas
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 don't
know. When I awoke it was from
hearing n 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
door with a bunch Of keys In her
hand / waited, and the figure re-
turned and this time looked in as she
/ passed. / snored on. Once more re-
/ turning, the figure stood in the door
way and jingled her keys, evidently to
awaken me. This falling. 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.
"Oh, good graciousw she exclaimed.
"I am sorry, Miss Edson," I said,
"to have caught you in the act My
chief will require an exact report.
trust your family will not consider
your playing ghost reprehensible"
'But they win. I'm not the ghost
I never played the ghost before.
saw you were asleep and thought I'd
play a pI nix on you. 1 didn't know
detectives ever slept"
1t was my turn to vince How
would Il look to my chief II were
reported sleeping on watch? "Thi'
girl is easily managed" 1 said to my
self. "rn bluff her just for fun"
q confess to you," l replied. "that
felt very dull and appeared to b'
asleep. l was not. To prove it / will
tell you something. A certain young
lady came into the room and kisseC
me-"
She started and blushed.
"Ah ha.' l thought. 'Afy dream
was real"
"You say you were awake" she said
presently.
"Of course"
She pulled my handkerchief out Of
her sleeve. Then why did you let m,
take this?"
changed my braggadocio air to I
humble one.
''You say it is your duty to repor
b. me for playing ghost 1t win then bi
my privilege to report you for sleeping
( on watch"
"How about the kissT'
"Oh. it will appear that you dreame,
gave you the kiss"
II think" l said after reflection
''that you have the advantage of me" i"
Il think So too" she said. "I'n
going to bed"
reported to my chief the next morn
I ing at IL o'clock. was astonished {
5 see Miss Edison there. Both she an
5 the chief smiled
? "Hello. Harryr' said the chief. "Dh
you catch the ghostT
I ~