Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-02-20

well, from that evening, no one
tried to take the ghosts private box
from him. The manager gave orders
that he was to have it at each per-
Torrance. And, whenever he came,
he asked me for footstool."
"Tut, tut! A ghost asking for a
footstool Then this ghost of yours
is woman?"
mo, the ghost is man."
How do you know"
HE has a mans voice, oh, such .
lovely mans voice! This is what
happens: When he comes to the
opera, It's usually in the middle OF
the first act. He gives three little
taps on the door Of Box Five. The
frst time I heard those three taps,
when I knew there was no one in
the box, you can think how puzzled l
was! l opened the door, listened.
looked; nobody! And then / heard q
voice say, Name Jules'-my poor
husbands name was Jules-'a foot.
stool. please Saving your presence.
gentlemen, 1t made me feel all-over.
fish like. But the voice went on,
Don't be frightened, Name Jules, I'm
the opera ghost!' And the voice was
so soft and kind that I hardly felt
frightened. The voice was sitting in
the corner chair, on the right, in the
front row."
"Was there any one in the box on
the right of Box Five?" asked Mon
charmin.
NO; Box Seven, and Box Three, the
one on the left. were both empty. The
curtain had only just gone up"
And what did you do?"
We'll, brought the footstool. OF
course. it wasn't for himself he want
ed it. but for his lady! But I never
heard her nor saw her."
"Eh? What? So now the ghost 10
married." The eyes Of the two man
the inspector. who. standing behind
the box-keeper, was waving his arms.
to attract their attention. He tapped!
his forehead with distressful fore
finger, to convey his opinion that the
widow Jules CRY was most certainly
mad, a piece OF pantomime which
confirmed NJ. Richard in his determi-
nation to get rid of an inspector who
kept a lunatic in his service. Mean.
while, the worthy lady went on about
her ghost, now painting his gener-
osity.
"At the end Of the performance, he
always gives me two francs, some
times five, sometimes even ten, when
he has been many days without COM
ing. Only, since people have begun
to annoy MIN again. he gives me
nothing at all. ;"
Excuse me, my good woman" said
Moncharmin. while Name CRY tossed
the feathers in her dingy hat at this
persistent familiarity, excuse me.
how does the ghost manage to give
you your two francs?'
why, he leaves them on the little
shelf in the box. of course. l find
them with the program, which l al
ways give him. Some evenings.
find flowers in the box. rose that
must have dropped from his ladys
bodice for he brings a lady
with him sometimes; one day, they
left fan behind them"
"Oh. the ghost left fan, did he?
And what did you do with IT."
We'll, I brought it back to the box
next night"
Here the inspectors voice was
raised.
you've broken the rules; I shall
have to fine you, Name CRY"
Hold your tongue, you fool!" NUT
tered NJ. FTrmin Richard.
You brought back the fan. And
them
We'll. then, they took it away with
them, sir; 1t was not there at the end
of the performance; and in Its place
they left me box of English sweets.
which I'm very fond Of That's one OF
the ghosts pretty thoughts"
THAT will do, Name CRY. You can
Co."
When Name CRY had bowed her.
self out, with the dignity that neve4
deserted her, the manager told tn
inspector that they had decided to
dispense with that old madwoman's
services; and, when he had gone in
his turn, they instructed the acting
manager to make up the inspectors
accounts. Left alone, the managers
told each other of the idea which
they both had in mind, which was that
they should look into that little mat
ter of Box Five themselves.
Ito be continued}