Putnam patriot., 1910-04-29
By cLARIsSA MAcKlE


 John Slade emphatically
 Daniel Gilbert drew his chair nearer to the cracking blaze.
 ~l never believed tu ghosfs-untii last year. he said quietly. What happened last yeary' Shades tone WAS skeptieaL
 T saw ghost"
 Where had you been dlningy- laughed Siade.
 T hadn't dined at all came down to the Elms quite unexpectedly, 1 wanted to look up some papers that knew 10 be in the library. The house had been closed all summer. and at this time even the caretaker was away for few days.
 My plan was to dine at the village inn. go sis To the Elms spend the even- ins sean hing for the papers, sleep in Iay uld ls#4sa and take the first train ta [, VII aftcr breakfast. My train waS eteral h ITS late and when we arris rd in IllsA He the inn was shut up for flie l-ht If yon are aeanaint- ed with uu village huniface you will understand that fur neither love ner money or aud lang syne woud he open his doors to a glest after mid-
 night So il meant dinnerless tramp up to the house
 .'lt was nearly o'clock when l en. tered the avenue. and l was surprised to find the iron gates of the drive wide open. That was against thy orders. "It was dark night. The stars shone brightly. and young moon
 threw thin silver veil of light in the open spaces. As came in sight of the house I stopped still in my tracks. You may not believe me. John but my house was il blaze of light from basement 10 cupoia, and from behind the lighted windows came the strains of ap orchestra. while forms noated to and fro in swaying rhythm to the waltz melody.
 As l stood rooted to the spot the church clock in the village struck once. and as if by magic the music ceased and all motion stopped behind the thin curtains. An instant later every light In the house died out as if extinguish- ed by some mighty breath. l ran up the steps and fitted my key in the great lock- It yielded. and the heavy door swung outward to my touch. "I threw a ray of light about the great entrance hall and reached for the button to switch on the electric lights. The button clicked without re- sponse. Again and again l tried, but | In vain.
 "A search of the drawing room and library revealed the same condition. The current was shut off and probably had been since the departure of the earetaker.
 II lighted the large oil lamp on the library table It was an easy matter to dig out the documents l wanted l and store them into my leather bag. | As l set the bag on the floor l saw lying on the Turkish rug white rose, fresh and fragrant as if just piucked. This was no earthly blossom l de- eided as I laid it before me on the ta- ble And then l had another shock. for almost under my hand and in the very spot on which had placed my bag when entering the room was fl small lace handkerchief Across one corner was embroidered in tiny letters girls name.
 Gilbert blew a cloud Of smoke that obscured his face. John Slade leaned forward in his chair.
 And the name--the girls name?" he asked quickly.
 "yiola-iust viola." said Gilbert drea mily.
 That is not all of the story" said Slade impatiently. Go on. old man. .No; that is not all turned to the mantelpiece and leaned my head against the high shelf. trying to solve the mystery of my house, for to my knowledge no woman save the care taker. an old black nanny. had dark ened-or shall 1 say frightened g-my
 doors for several years. "when l turned back to the table the handkerchief was gone.
 With hardly a thought as to whether
 was seeking shadow or substance
 thrust the rose in my pocket. and.
 fnapping on my pocket ffashlight.
 ,astened into the hall There was a
 ,leam of white in the distance and
 pursued it It licked around corner
 md disappeared up small spiral staircase that led to the second floor.
 .When reached the top of the
 stairs the bit of white became a wc~
 mans graceful form. with some ethe- real garment of filmy stuff floating be hind her And as I followed 1 seemed to be walking among vioiets. Down ihe grand staircase she van ished. this time with little clicking heels on the polished floor. held her steadily fin my ray of light and was after her Ike a flash We crossed the rawing room. and then she disap peared through the paneled door that leads into the west gailery-you know that long. glass inelosed gallery that
 my father used as a winter parIorf
 She Gew down the length. and hoped to catch her al the end. but at the door leading into the garden she turned her face toward me for one in-
 stant. and. by love. John. she vas
 the loveliesf girl ever laid eyes upon and you know l don't care for wo- men.
 Just . glimpse of her beauty. and
 the door opened and cIo1ed sharply. leaving me alone in the west gallery. I was tired out by the exciting adven- ture of the night and too wide awake to sleep. co went back to the library. got my bag. put out the light and left the house spent The night sitting on a bench In the railroad station. and if is needless to say that 1 took tho