The Ward County independent., 1910-09-01
G Ghosts II Around nc \
B. M QUAD y
Copyright. 1910. by Associated L.
srsry Press.
B, M QUAD

Old Peter Baines had lived alone on
ne outskirts OF Iaylorsvtlle for q
dozen years. attracting no attention.
Then some viliager saw ghost. Peter
asked the full particulars and was
thenceforth considered believer In
ghosts.
Next he Inherited $4,000: then mis-
neighbors began to pay him marked
attention.
Miss Nancy Beebe. an old maid Of
nearly forty. had never married be-
cause she was homeiy and had no
money. Miss Prudence Higgins was
In the same tx. The widow Hender.
son could marry again II she had a
couple of thousand so could the wild.
ow Drew. Mrs. John White was a
married woman. but while her husband
was a carpenter she had aristocratic
tastes and couldn't carry them out for
the want OF money. ..... ssr
These i've women not only heard
that old Peter believe In ghosts. but
each one arranged her program to
have ghost pay tim q midnight visit.
He hadn't got his nneney yet when one
night at the most solemn hour and
while he was sleeping with his win.
dow open a scratching on the casing
awoke him to ask what was wanted.
1t was the first nigh. be had ever been
disturbed. ",'' -" s''e e:s, J"''-..vr,.~'
Peter" said hollow voice that
started the sweat on him. Nancy
9ebee is very unhappy!" ..-.&.
lis that so?" he replied III
"Yes, and 1t rests with you. to make
her happy. am the ghost of her
dead mother. ! charge you to give her
the sum Of $4,000 as soon as you get
your money. She will marry, and she
viii bless you. Fail not, Peter-fail
not-lest the smallpox comes to you!'
''She shall have It," replied Peter as
he looked out Of the window and saw
an object in white gliding away. On
the next night be was wide awake.
but lying on bis bed, when a second
ghost paid him visit He had fgur-
ed that there was more than one
ghost IN the world and that there
might be another caller. He heard a
soft rustl1ng, cold breeze blew in at
the window, and scary voice an
nounced:
"Peter Baines, do good with your
money or you viii be found dead.
Prudence Higgins Is a sad, sad girl.
She may commit suicide. If che does
yos will be to blame for 4. You can
ave her life and make her happy by
Giving her $4,000. Do It, Peter, and
i've to be hundred years old"
Yes. I'll do It l want to live to be
. hundred. What ghost a. your
Her gr,lndmether's."
And another white object foated
over the grass and through a gap in
IL fence and was swallowed up in
ths gloom Of night. Some men would
have gone around telling what they
had seen, but old Peter kept a still
tongue and prepared himself for other
visits from other ghosts. Where there
were two there muse be three, the
same as crows. He reasoned correct
? ". On the third night third ghost
appeared She was being waited tot,
and old Peter was not so badly scared
When voice reached his ear, saying:
"Peter. grim death is all around you!
Il Aies on wings and stalks on less. Il
looks tor victim 1T stands at ydn
gate and stares ut your house,"
"But tell It TO pass on" replied
Peter. 4 want to I've to be a hun
6red years old" .4-a,->.,.
'srhen do ~ ten you You know
the widow Drew. Make her happy.
Give her 4 chance. When you get
your money give her $1,000. It is it,
tie to you, but much to 7her."
wouldn't hundred doT asked old
Peter as he began, to feel stingy. -.
"shall !, beckon to death to come and
enter this Window menaced the
ghost. '''E "at @'2'e 'i'',
mo, no, no! The widder shall have
her thousand. I didn't know but q
hundred would do, but I see it won't.
Whose ghost are your .9zs ,.s..
I "Inat OF ggypy woman VINO was
murdered. Beware Of my anger. Do
not play me false. go-1 go-I go!'
And she ''goed.' She seemed to get
hung for moment In the gap, and the
old man thought he heard the ripping
OF cloth. but she got clear and disap-
peared before he was sure. he didn't
want any more ghosts In his. He had
seen three and promised 5000 out of
his legacy. The pace was too hot.
Next night he shut and nailed down
the window, but it was in vain. The
, fourth ghost came and announced that
he must provide for the widow Hen
derson or prepare to be haunted all
the rest Of bis life by evn spirits. He
hung of for few minutes, but the
sighs and groa1s and scratch1ngs on
to glass were too much for him. The
WIDOW Henderson was to receive 81, 500
u cash.
On the next night old Peter took
eome bedding and lay DON under tha
curIant bushes, where mo- 18th ghost
co1ld hAd him. he kept vide awake
anA ilert At nidnight he.siw s1bi