El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-11-26
FEAR, A SHORT STORY
CBy Hughes Lapaire.)

IEUT. HARTMAN lit his pipe,
threw himself into an easy chair, /
- put his booted feet on the man
telpiece and continued the conversation
with his friends, Lieuts. Won Knoll and
Karl Mueller.
Il still insist said Hartman. that
you are not always master Of your
fear
Bah" replied Won Knoll. 1T is simply
a question Of viii power"
An enigmatical smile played about
Harriman'S lips
He removed his pipe and said. 7 do
not know single person who is able
to boast that he has never known fear"
''Well, 1 do" said Mueller.
You mean tOAsay Karl, that you
have never for a single moment felt
fear?7 asked Hartman.
Never" said Mueller emphatically.
Then I will wager YOU q champagne
supper that you Will know what fear
means, before this night is over"
Mueller laughed aloud
1T is very generous Of YOU to invite
Won Knoll and me to an excellent sup
per at Grumbers. You know my tenn
permanent and you not only warn me
that you will scare me but even tell
me when and where. 1t is too easy
Then you accept the bet2' asked
Hartman
"Of course. If you feel like paying
for the supper, I would not deprive you
Of the pleasure"
TT is bet then, and the only thing
I now ask you is to leave your bed
room door unlocked"
They emptied their stems and as
Mueller shook Harriman's hand before
they separated, he said iOkingly:
Good night old manufacturer Of ter
ror."
Karl Mueller was sleeping sOundly,
when suddenly he thought he heard
his chamber door open. He opened
his eyes.
A white figure wrapped in white
sheets entered the room. Mueller i'm
mediately thought Of his bet with Har-
riman and smiled at the sight Of this
ghost that slowly walked up and placed
itself at the foot of his bed.
so that is the best you can do, Har-
riman, he exclaimed with a laugh 81
had better thoughts Of your inventive
playing ghost. You see am calm, per
fectly calm that YOU have lost your
bet and had better go to bed am
going to sleep. Goodnight, old boy"
He turned around and closed his eyes
A clock struck twelve The ghost re-
NAMED, mOtionless at the foot Of the
bed.
A few usoments after Karl Mueller,
whose sleep was disturbed by the feel
ing of the presence Of somebody In
his room. again opened his eyes and
saw the ghost still in the same place
Now it is enough. Hartman he
annoyed because you have failed. but
I do not believe in the supernatural
Go TO bed"
The ghost did not move,
Hartman" cried Mueller and sat
up in bed Il tell you I am in no
humor to be hoaxed. I beg you to
leave my room"
The ghost stood as If petrified-
Hartman" shouted Mueller now
quite furiOusly. don't make me lose
my patience Leave me alone"
Still the ghost did not bulge Thor
Oughly angry Mueller picked up his re-
volver from a table at his bedside.
Hartman he gasped hoarseIy. his
eyes blOOdshOt with fury, IF you do
not leave this room before I count
three, 1 swear am going to shoot"
The ghost remained mOtiOnless-
-TWO,-Harriman 20 away,
/, beg for the last time I am going to
shOot.-Three!-It was your own
fault"
He aimed carefully at the ghost and
pressed the trigger, then closed his
eyes, terrified at what he had done.
When he opened them again. he felt
nlOrtally afraid for the first time in his
life. The ghost was still there, erect
mOtiOnIess as before. How was it pos
sibleE Could he have missed? He
jumped out OF bed fired second shot,
aiming even more carefully only to
discover that. like all other ghosts, this
one was invulnerable- Beads Of cold
perspiration covered his forehead, fear
choked his voice in his throat, and only
when he had fired a third shot he
found strength to scream
The ghost did not move.
He threw his smoking revolver On
the floor and dropped into chair. At
this moment Lieut.. Won Knoll burst
into the room roaring with laughter
and holding a candle in his hand and
Hartman dropped the sheet in which
he had shrOuded himself There is
the man who does not know fear he
cried Look at him, Knoll Is he pale
enOugh2 You look like a ghost your
self Mueller. and you owe US cham
The distorted features Of Mueller
gave no sign of relaxing
Come. come now Karl pick your
self together. There is no secrecy
about our little joke You fired at me
all right but I had been careful to re-
move the bullets from your revolver.
All the cartridges were blank. Do
you understand now
With staring eyes and fOaming lips.
stark mad now Mueller jumped up
and before his friends could stop him
he snatched his sword and rushed out
into the street yelling at the top OF