Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-07-28
HARRY'S FIRST CASE.
ey EDMUND s. sPIhNEy.

ciation.l
"Harry," said the chief 1--WE a case
for you b begin on There's, an old
house up in Barton county where a
ghost appears once in ten years-an
old woman Jingling bunch Of keys.
she appears tonight. They suspect
she is flesh aid 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
aides. daughter was about twenty and
as pretty as a little red apple. Her
smile and her eyes were full of mis-
chief, and 1t occurred to me that she
would be quite capable Of playing the
mart Of ghost. made up my mind
10 be prepared for such a result.
Elsie-that was her name-Elsie Ed
son and 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. or course since | was
a detective must be ingenious. |
didn't ted her that this was my first
case l 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, and
her mother took me to the room where
the ghost was expected to appear. 1t
was chamber between a front and a
rear room. ball leading past 1t from
one to the other. Some sandwiches
and a bottle Of beer were placed ON q
table beside me.
/ had all young mans appetite for
eating and sleeping and was, very fond
of beer. especially about bedtime.
about fifteen minutes-then ate up all
the sandwiches. drank the beer and lit
a cigar. l would better have had cof-
fee. The beer. followed by the cigar
and my position-l was stretched on
a lounge-contributed to put me to
sleep. 1t occurred to me that a de-
tective should be very careful not to
be caught mapping. and | tried hard to
keep awake. should have got up
and walked the door. but-well. was
very comfortable where l was. OF
course fell asleep.
drea med. Dreams are singular
things. Sometimes they have nll the
appearance Of reality. My dream was,
to use paradoxical expression, a
pleasant nightmare. I dreamed that
was lying just where l 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 coat pocket-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 l don't
know. When awoke 1t was from
hearing jingling of keys. had the
presence Of mind to lie perfectly still.
felt sure Elsie was near, and l 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 tc
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.
II am sorry. Miss Edson." l 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 will. I'm not the ghost.
never played the ghost before. !
saw you were asleep and thought I'd
play a prank on you. l didn't know
detectives ever slept"
1t was my turn to vince. How
would it look to my chief II / were
reported sleeping on watch? 'This
girl is easily managed" said to my
self. IN bluff her just for fun"
Il confess to you." l replied. that
felt very dull and appeared to b
asleep. ! was not. To prove it l will
tell you something. A certain young
'ady came into the room and kissed
me-"
She started and blushed.
"Ah. ha" l thought. my dream
was real"
You say you were awake" she said
presently.
"Of course"
She pulled my handkerchief out of
ner sleeve. Then why did you let me
take this?"
- changed my braggadocio air to a
humble one.
You say 1t is your duty to report
ne Tor playing ghost 1t will then be
NY privilege to report you for sleeping