Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-10-11
The Wrong
Ghost
The Required Sacrifice
BY LILLIAN WENTZ
BY LILLIAN VENT

Dick Addison In his companions ear.
Findlay strained his eyes through the
darkness OF the upper gallery and saw
a gray formlcss shape drift slowly past
aud disappear In the shadows at the
end.
Dicks hand frightened on Findlay's
elbow.
"Now. Skeptic. what do you say 10
that" he brcathed hoarsely.
Findlay shook his head.
"She has me guessing" he admitted
ruefully
Dick laughed. What did tell you,
old man; You may flatter yourself
you are some ghost hunter but the
Addison ghost has walked for $50
years and the mystery has never been
solved"
Did your father ever see it," asked
Findlay thoughtfully.
you forget that my father inherited
Roselnnd from Il distant cousin, who
had quarrclcd with his few remaining
relatives and through some freaki>h
fancy chose my father ms his heir.
That is why my experience with the
ghost dates back to three months ago.
when came down 70 occupy the old
place"
And you have seen II how many
tines
about once week. | had quite
forgotten the old story of Dorothy Al
Olson. who had told wicked lie and
50 won the man she loved from her
lovely rival. II is said that Dorothy
was very unhappy In her married life
and often bewailed her sin. Tradition
has II that the curse Of unrest will not
be lifted from her poor spirit until
some Addison rights wrong or makes
some great sacrifice for another
so your distant cousin did nothing
toward that end. unused Findlay. Did
he leave any direct hcirs?'
Dick Addison hesitated. "You know.
was nj college when father inherited
the place. and | wasn't deeply inter
estcd. but have since learned that
Cousin Amos left an adopted son, who
had married against my cousins wish
cs and was therefore disinherited. But
father understood that the son was n
rich man, had made n fortune In the
west. SO that he really was not losing
much when the Addison home came Ia
my father. It's a tumbledOwn old
place. MS you can see. and. except for
some good old furniture and the fam
lily portraits, isn't worth repairing"
why don't you hunt up this adopted
son Of Amos Addison and see If he
doesn't need the place."
''Do you mean that. SAM"
YES II investigation shows that
the adopted son and his family are
comfortably fixed. why. suppose the
place could be- left to the bats II you
wished hut II r. lie stopped and
laughed in an embarrassed way.
Yes" asked Dick eagerly. III you
owned It what would you do. SAM"
Il would never close Il up. There
are too many homeless wretches In the
world 20 Justify that. But am preach
ing now. Dick. | know IL would he II
great sacrifice for you TO give up the
ancient home OF your family 10 n man
who was but an adopted son"
Sacrifice. IL | should find him.
Sam. perhaps that Is the sacrifice that
Is required 10 lay the ghost OF pretty
Mistress Dorothy"
"Perhaps il Is" Findlay was laugh
Ing when he stopped short and point.
cd 10 little door where does
that lead TO. Dickf" he demanded
sharply.
Dick stared for an instant. "Oh. the
door. Why. To some attic chamber. |
believe. I've never found key 10 1T
II. and I'm not anxious 10 investigate
any more dust holes. thank YOU"
The two Young men returned along
the picture gallery and swung around
into the corridor from which the bed
rooms opened on either side Findlay's
room was the first on the right hand
side. ana he babe his friend good night
and entered.
Sam Findlay went 10 the window
: nearest the wall Of the picture gallery.
. on the other side of that wall hung
the pictures and in this corner near
his window was the little door that
had no key
lie pulled open his closet door and
held the candle high over his head,
The closet was placed beneath fight
Of stairs. for the ceiling slanted
sharply.
His closet ran underneath the spiral
stairway leading 20 the attic cham.
bers. IL was near the locked door that
the aprarition had vanished, He
smiled rs he turned away.
at Is gentle ghost" he murmnr-
Ell. Her little feet cannot disturb my
slumbers. no matter how many times
they run ~ and down the stairs.
At that moment there came sound.
50 slight that IL was hardly more than
the rustic Of leaf; then another
sound. little crcak
That was all Findlay tried Ia per
,uade himself that he had mistaken
n scainpering mouse for light foot.
/ faii luf ha knew that fh,s sound was