Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-07-14

nights when none sought the place at
all. No tramp can ever tell Just where
he will be when night falls. Important
business or the police may detain him
The idea OF the girls was to invade
tho house In advance of all callers.
and they were successful In this. BY
the help of candle they found their
way in and to a room upstairs. and
then sat down on the floor to tremble
and shiver and wish they were out of
II. II suddenly began to rain. and
that didn't add to the cheer OF the
situation.
No tramps! The only ghostly fig
ures were the two girls, sitting with
clasped hands and their backs to the
wall. The situation was solemn. It
was weird. 1t was uncanny. There
wasn't the least bit of fun in IL.
Hist! A step! A swear-word! A
man enters the open front doors. Mr..
George Fenwick. artist. coming up
from the city on a late train to the
house Of his brother had found the
rain and mud too much for him, and
had sought shelter. He batted his
wet felt hat against the wall. He
scraped his muddy feet on the floor.
He swore In soft and gentle way
not to be wicked. but just to make the
weather behave itself.
Hes no trampl" whispered Miss
Caliy to her friend.
Nor"
Hes some nice young man. You
can tell that by his way OF swearing.
| wonder II he's heard about the
ghosts?'
SSH! He seems to be listeningl"
i hope he is. I'm going to scare
him bald-headed,"
"Cally Lester. II you utter the least
sound I'll
But the sound was uttered. II was
long-drawn groan-iust such groan
as man who had got stuck while
crawling under corn-crib would ut
ter. The silence down stairs could
have been cut with a knife.
Another groan. ending with a wall
such wall as a strong man utters
when he gives up his fight with the
mad waves and sinks to the bottom of
the tossing sea. OF course, the wall
is uttered before he reaches the bot
tom.
There was the movement OF feet
down stairs. and then a voice called
up:
Amy one up there? II so. don't try
any OF your tricks on mel"
"O-h-h-h-h-hl M-m-m-m-m-m!" was
answered.
This signing. wailing. groaning agon-
izing sound was made by Miss Caily
Lester while Miss Molly Parson was
trying to hold hand over her mouth.
II should have brought about the bald
headed act. but 1t didn't Somebody
downstairs muttered something about
tom-cats. and then feet were heard of
one ascending. An electric cigar.
lighter was flashed. man stood In
the door of the room. and the two
girls gave utterance to shrieks.
Good evening. ladies'! Waiting for
the storm to pass. suppose! Some
thing new In evening costumes. I see.
! should be happy to paint you both
as you sit there. The wailing and
groaning were perfect. Why don't
you try 1t for the monograph"
'.Sir!" replied Miss Cally as she
scrambled up. I'VE are two girls.
We came here to play ghost and scare
away tramps. It's just a lark. We
are now going home. and-and-" :.
No. won't follow"
And as you are gentleman"
mot word to any living soul. You
have candle there. Let me light It
for you and show you out"
And as they plodded home in rain
and mud to climb the ladder. Miss
Molly Parsons said. after a long ST.
lence:
"CaIly. you arranged all this and led
me into 1t. and now you've got to pay
the penalty"
Howl"
You've got to marry the man we
didn't scare!"
Mr.. Fenwick has been pretty con-
slant in his calls at The Naples for
the last year. and II was only the
other evening that the Judge woke
from a nap to say:
yes. he'll be asking for an inter
view with mo in very short time.
now"