Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-05
CHAPTER TX.
I Meet a Playful Ghost.

1t was not yet 10 o'clock, and I was
dismayed at the thought Of being left to
my own devices in this big country house,
at an hour when the talk at the Hare and
Tortoise usually became worth while. l
| sat down and began to turn over the
periodicals on the library table, tut l
was in no mood for reading
The butler appeared and offered me
drink. but the thought Of drinking alone
did not appeal to me. I repelled the sug-
gestton coldly; but after I had dropped
my eyes to the English review I had
taken up l was conscious that he stood
his ground.
Beg pardon. sir"
Hits a bit hod about the chimney.
SIR
The professional man il me was at once
alert. The chimney's conduct was mex
plicable enough, but I was in no humor
to brook the theories of a stupid servant
Still. he might know something, so nod
ded for him to go on.
He glanced over his shoulder and came
step nearer.
They say in the village. sir. that the
'ouse is 'aunted.''
"What?''
"'Aunted, sir
'Who say it. James,
THE liveryman told the coachman. and
the 'ousemaid got hit from a seamstress.
Hits very queer, sir"
Rubbish. James. I'm amazed that q
person Of your station should listen to q
liveryman's gossip. There's the chimney
it's working perfectly. Some shift Of air
currents causes it to puff little smoke
into this room occasionally, but those
things are not related to the supernat-
ural. Well find some way OF correcting
it in day or two
VERY good, sir. But begging pardon.
the chimney hain't hall. Hit walks, IL L
may so hexpress hit
"Walks?' I exclaimed. sitting UP and
throwing down my review. What
walks:''
You ear hit sir. hin the walls. Hit
goes right through the solid brick, most
hunaccountable.
think it's ghost? But You forget.
James. that this is a new house-only
year or so old-and spooks don't fire.
quent such places. If it were an old
ing Of floors and the settling OF walls
would cause uneasiness in nervous peo-
pie. The ghost tradition usually rests on
some ugly fact. But here nothing of the
kind Is present
Hit was one Of is majeSty'S horfficers,
SIR he answered. hoarsely.
1t flashed over me that this big. stolid
fellow was out OF his head: but sane or
mad he was clearly greatly disturbed. 1t
was best, thought. on either hypothesis
to speak to him peremptorily. and 1 rose,
the better to deal with the situation.
What nonsense is this you have in
your head? You're in the United States,
and there aren't any majesty's soldiers to
deal with. You forget that you're not in
England now
But this ere country used to be Hens-
fish. you may recall, sir. The story the
coachman got hin the village goes back
was hin rebellion. If I may SO call HIT sir,
and is majesty's troops was putin down
the rebellion hin these parts. Some
American rebels chased a British soldier
ere woods as they was then. and they
'anged i'm. sir. right where this ere
'ouse stands. II may make 50 free"
"Ah: This is a revolutionary relic,
them"
You ave got hit. SIR" he sputtersd.
eagerly. They 'anged the man right ere
where the 'ouse stands"
That's not a bad story. James. And
what does your mistress say about itT'
We'll. sir. hits the talk hin the village
that that's why she bought the place. sir
She rather fancies ghosts and the like.
as you may know. SIR"
BE careful what you say. James. Miss
HOLSTER is noble and wise lady. and
you do well to give her your best serv-
ice
Were all fond Of 'er. sir. though she's
a bit troubled hin the cad. II I may
make 80 bold. She says a good ghost is
I did not at once catch asset with IN |
aspirate, but when he repeated II, I
laughed. In spite Of myself
You'd better go to bed, James. And |
don't encourage talk among the other \
servants about this ghost. know some. |
thing about the building OF houses. and /
Til give these walls a good looking over. |
Good night
It was apparent that my interview had |
not cheered him greatly. He turned at
the door to ask II would put out the /
lights. and fear was 20 clearly written /
upon his big red face that ! dismissed /
him sharply.
I made myself comfortable for an hour,l