Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1911-07-11

next morning sober as an owl and
could give no accounting of the trans
action. The horses We're gone, and their
earnings went with them.
"Philemon's father was angry enough
because the young man could not recol-
lect what he had done with the money,
and it was finally concluded that what
he had not spent in entertainment he
had been relieved OF by his unscrupu-
lous companions. The money was gone
and Uncle Philemon's Uncle Philemon
was disgraced.
"He died a moderately poor maG-
land poor-and today the disappear
anee of the money is as much a mys-
terry as ever. They say that the old
gentleman returns now and then, es-
peciaIly on the anniversary of the day
on which be made the unhappy deal
with the horse buyers. in order TO make
more thorough search for the miss
ing money. | saw him a year ago to-
night. and hope you are scheduled to
be cured OF your doubts" Evans light
ed his cigar once more and leaned CON-
fortably back in his chair.
Clarke shrugged his shoulders and
turned over the leaves OF magazine
with careless Indifference.
mo objections to my potting at him
with my revolver" he asked hope
fully
why, no-so long as you don't cut
hole in the portrait" assented Ev-
ans. Are you good shot?" he asked
as an afterthought
Am ]? Ask Timothy Allen. l
knocked the button Off his cap the
other day"
II can trust you with Uncle Phile-
mon. then" said Evans. relieved.
want somebody else in?"' asked
Clarke. 81 can run out and ask one
of your servants In If you want me
to-" He turned toward the door.
'They won't do at all-too much of
the emotional about them. What we
need for these experiments are men of
physical muscle as well as those of
mental power. Understand"
Trying to-" said Clarke helplessy.
1--WE been thinking, Dan," went on
Evans thoughtfully. why wouldn't 1t
be a good idea for you to step up to
the shade of my uncle and endeavor
to prove whether his guise Is that of
real flesh and blood orr
whether he's a combination OF
misty gray chiffons?' ended Clarke
disgustedly. "I'll not do 1t. I'll take
shots at him. though
| Five minutes before II the clock
| gave a little warning click, which was
followed by the clicking of Clarke's
revolver as he cooked the weapon.
Somehow it doesn't seem just the
old man like that" Evans was begin
ming. rather uneasily. when the big
clock in the ball doomed out the hour
of II. to be Immediately followed by
the smaller chime Of the library clock.
| Then it was that they both found
their attention attracted to the picture
of Uncle Philemon over the fireplace.
| Some unseen wind was blowing 1t
| gently to and fro. out from the wall
and then back again. and they dis
tinctly heard the rub and knock Of the
heavy frame as it pounded the wall.
| A little drift of dust foated down
from the disturbed frame.
MY Lord" gasped Evans excitedly.
But Clarke was speeches. with
amazement. his hand holding the
cooked pistol resting on the edge of
the table and quite carelessly pointing
the weapon at the huge Chinese porce-
lain vase that stood at one end Of the
mantel.
The drifting dust seemed to thicken
and form a cloud which obscured the
picture for a moment. Then it thinned
again. and out of the frame there
stepped Uncle Philemon's Uncle Phile-
mon, resplendent In velvet coat and
lace and bewigged and powdered and
patched. He stepped easily to the
broad shelf and paced down its length
toward Vie Chinese vase, his head
towering upward, his hands clasped
behind his bent back. Seen through
the mist. 1t appeared that the portrait
of Evans uncle was still In the frame
and yet he paced the broad mantel
dexterously evading the few orna'
ments with his silk stockinged legs.
The two watchers gasped excitedly
and then Clarke's nervous finger In
advertently pressed the trigger of the
pistol, and 1t went off with a star
Ting defamation In the quiet room
The form on the manteI shelf seemed
to rush back into its frame. which
hung rigidly as before. The dust dis
appeared. and the room lay bathec
In the warm lamplight as IL was be
fore the clock had struck.
The room was the same. save thai
the great Chinese vase which hac
stood on the mantei shelf even before
the day when Uncle Philemon's On
Gle Philemon had lived In the ole
brick mansion was shattered by tbs
straying bullet from Clarke's careles!
weapon.
When they gathered their wits to
gether and convinced themselves tina
they were not dreaming-that thel
had simply talked themselves into see
ing ghostly visions and after the re
freshment tray had helped to restor
their courage-they gathered up tn
broken porcelain vase and found with
In Its shattered shell all the none.
Uncle Philemon's Uncle Philemon ha,
careIessly slowed away that day 8
many years ago when in the sowin
- III L.
of bis fathers biooded horses Th
money was all there In cleaning gold
; Il guess the old fellow has raise
the mortgage at last" said Evans
little breathlesslY after they hal