The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1909-04-09

bet 10; 1r1gnten you nrst. ana the
old gentleman afterwards. These gen
tlemen shall be- the judges -,
He ran lightly upstairs to his room,
leaving. the others, most of whom had
been drinking somewhat freely, to
wrangle about his proceedings. II
ended in two of them going to bed.
;."He's crazy on .acting,'' said
Somers, lighting his pipe. Thinks
he's the equal of anybody almost. II
doesn't matter with us, but + won,
let him go to the old man. And he
won't mind so long as he gets an op
portunity of acing to u.s.
"Well, 4 hope he'll. hurry. up said
Malcolm, yawning; its after Il
now"
Nearly half an hour passed. Nal
colin drew his watch from his pocket
and was busy winding it when George
the waiter, who had been sent on an
errand to the bar, burst suddenly: into
the room and rushed toward then-
"E's comm, gentlemen" he said
breathlessly.
why, you're frightened, George
said the stout commercial, with 9
chuckle,
1T was the suddenness of IT," said
George, sheepishly; "and besides,
didn't look for seem i'm in the bar
There's only a glimmer of light there
and e was sitting on the floor behind
the bar. nearly trod on I'm"
"Oh, you'll never make a man
George" said Malcolm.
well, it took me unawares,' sale
the waiter. Not that I'd have gone t.
the bar by myself If I'd known e was
there and l don't believe you wouli
either, SIR
"Nonsense!" said Malcolm I'm e
and fetch him in"
You don't know what It's like, sir,
said George, catching him by the
sleeve. 1T amt fit to look at by
yourself, it amt, indeed It's got the
What's that?"
They all started at the sound of 9
smothered cry from the staircase and
the sound of somebody running hur
riedly along the passage. Before
anybody could speak, the door flew
open and figure, bursting. into the
room, flung itself gasping and shiyer
ing upon them.
What is it? What's the matter?'
demanded Malcolm. why, it's Mr.
Hirst." He shook him roughly and then
held some spirit to his lips. Hirst
drank it greedily, and with a sharp
intake of his breath gripped him by
the arm.
Light the gas, George" said NAL.
colin.
The waiter obeyed, hastily. Hirst,
a ludicrous but pitiable figure in
knee-breeches and coat, large wig
all awry and his face a mess of grease
paint, chung to him trembling.
Nov, what's the matter? asked
Malcolm.
"Pve seen it," said Hfrst, with a
hysterical sob. 20 Lord, I'll never
play the fool again, never!"
"Seen what?" said the Others,
HINT - the ghost - anythiner,
said Hirst, wildly.
ROT" said Malcolm, uneasilv.
Il was coming down the stairs. ~
said Hirst. "Just capering down-as
l thought-it ought to do. felt a
tap
He broke OF suddenly and peered
nervously through the open door into
the passage. ...:
Il thought L saw it again." he
whispered. 'Look-at the foot Of
the stairs. Can you see anything?", .
mo, there's nothing there" said
Malcolm, whose own voice shook q
little: Go on. You felt a tap on
your shoulder"
II turned round and saw ia little
wicked head and a white dead face.
Pah!"
That's what 1 saw in the bar. >:
said George. "'Orrid it was-devil.
ish!"
Hirst shuddered, and, still retaining
his nervous grip of Ma1colm's sleeve.
dropped into a chair. -. ...... i,
well, it's. a. most unaccountable
thing" said the dumbfounded Nal.
colin, turning round to the others. ITS
the last time come to this house, !,
Il leave Tomorrow, said George.
II wouldn't go down to that bar again
by myself, no. not for fifty pounds! I"
ITS talking about the thing that's
caused It'll expect" said one Of the
men; "we've' all been talking about
this and having 1T in our minds. Prac.
tically we've been forming a spiritual.
.istic circle without knowing it." I
r':Hang the old gentlemah!~' said
Malcolm, heartily. Upon my soul.
I'm half afraid to go to bed. It's odd
they should both think. they saw
something" w. - :
.. II saw it as plain as see you, sAir,''
said George, solemnly. "P'raps If you
keep your eyes turned up the passage
you'll see it for yourself" l. go: -:
They followed the direction of his
finger, but saw nothing, although one
Of them fancied that a head peetped
round the corner of the wall.
who'll come down to the barr"
said Malcolm, looking round. =:
"You can 60 If you like: said one
of the Others, with faint laugh;
";we'1l wait here tor you."" -
The stodt traveller. walked towards
the door AND took . few steps Up the
passage. Then he stopped. Alff '1 Was
quite silent, and he walked Slowly. to
the end and looked down 1fearfully
towards the glass partition which
shut: OF the bar Three times-.' he
made as though tc',go' to it,. then: he