Bridgeton pioneer., 1911-03-09
Ghosts Around
BY M QUAD
Copyright, 1910, by Associated Lit
erary Press.

linen some villager saw ghost. Peter
asked the full particulars and was
thenceforth considered a believer in
ghosts.
Next he inherited $4,000; then pis
neighbors began to pay him marked
attention.
Miss Nancy Beebe, an old maid of
nearly forty. had never married be-
cause she was homely and had no
money. Miss Prudence Higgins was
in the same tiX. The widow Hender-
son could marry again If she had
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.
These five women not only heard
that old Peter believed in ghosts, bur
each one arranged her program TO
have ghost pay him midnight visit.
He hadn't got his money yet when one
night at the most solemn hour and
while he was sleeping with his win
dow open scratching on the casing
awoke him to ask what was wanted.
1t was the first night he had ever been
disturbed.
started the sweat on him. Nancy
Bebee is very unhappy"
rs that so?" he replied.
Yes, and it rests with you to make
her happy. 1 am the ghost OF her
dead mother charge you to give her
the sum of $1,000 as soon as you get
your money. She will marry, and she
will bless you. Fail not, Peter-fail
not-lest the smallpox comes to your
'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 he was wide awake,
but lying on his bed, when a second
ghost paid him visit. He had figur-
ed that there was more than one
ghost in the world and that there
might be another caller. He heard a
soft rustling, cold breeze blew in at
the window, and a scary voice an
nounced:
Peter Baines, do good with your
money or you will be found dead.
Prudence Higgins is a sad. sad girl.
She may commit suicide. If she does
you will be to blame for it. You can
save her life and make her happy by
giving her $1,000. Do it, Peter, and
live to be hundred years old"
Eyes. I'll do it. ] want to live to be
q hundred. What ghost are your"
Her grandmother's."
And another white object foated
over the grass and through gap in
the fence and was swallowed up i'll
the gloom of night Some men would
have gone around telling what they
had seen, but old Peter kept ii stih
tongue and prepared himself for other
visits from other ghosts, Where there
were two there must he three. the
same as crows. He reasoned correct
ly. On the third night third ghost
appeared. She was being waited for,
and old Peter was not SO badly SCARED
when a voice reached his ear. saving:
Peter. grim death is all around you.
1t flies on wings and stalks on legs. 1t
looks for victim. 1t stands ut yun
gate and stares ut your house"
But tell it to pass on" replied
, Peter. Il want to live to be hun
dred years old"
Then do as l tell you. You know
the widow Drew Make her happy.
Give her chance. When you get
your money give her $1,000. 1t is lit
tie to you, but much TO her."
Wouldn't hundred do?'' asked old
Peter as he began to feel stingy.
"Shall beckon to death to come and
enter this Window" menaced the
ghost.
No. no. no. The widder shall have
her thousand. ! didn't know but
hundred would do. but see it won't.
Whose ghost are your
THAT OF gypsy woman who was
murdered. Beware of my anger. Do
not play me false. go-l 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 his life by evil spirits. He
hung off for few minutes. but the
signs and groans and scratchings on
the glass were too much for him. The
widow Henderson was to receive 81 500
in cash.
On the next night old Peter took
some bedding and lay down under the
currant bushes. where no fifth ghost
could find him. He kept wide awake
and alert. At midnight he saw ghost
No. 8 appear. She glided for his bed
room window. She was just about
to appeal to him when four other
ghosts showed up. The five stood and
looked at each other for a moment.
Then human voices were heard calling
names. Then human hands and feet