The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-10-25
CHAIN -DRAGGING GHOST
By E. Il. EmmoNs.

vas AaArA IN hArNAUl FA4ltA8tg "
not.
The lady with whom We were room
ing Al thai time was Interested 70 an
Z extent in various forms OF charity and
on her visits 10 the swamps-that part
Of the city where for the past twenty
s years the down-and6uters. the good
+ for-nothings. the buns and q few poor
but honest folk had congregated-she
had become acquainted with an old
lady who resided In a great old log
cabin hear the river and on the very
outskirts Of town. In time she learn
ed the Noman's story. which was sim
ply that the house possessed a ghost.
The cabin. which had been built
when the city proper was wild prairie.
had stood on its site for fifty-five years
so was well qualified for a spirit re-
sort. having run down and decayed
considerably. The old lady's husband
had died three years before. but It was
not until a year later that he assumed
the prodigal role and began visiting
his former home.
This was the story cur landlady told
as and through her Rink managed 70
secure an invitation to visit the place
merely 10 satisfy fool curiosity. or
course. ! was dragged into the affair
and We went in the afternoon 10 order
TO examine the surroundings IN day
light and we sherlocked all over the
house and yard until dark At the
back dense timber grew up almost to
the doorstep and while here ! noticed
that Rink ecs roofing into things with
more care than he had before shown.
He examined the ground and the walls
thoroughly and smile overspread his
face. I'm bet we land something to-
night" he remarked
That evening we we've again given
the account by the old lady herself
When her husband had succeeded in
passing away. a grandson. Jimmy
somebody. had come to live with the
old woman.
Shortly after Jimmy arrived his
spiritual grandpa, supposedly, had de-
yeloped the uncomfortable habit OF
dragging a chain around the house at
various hours OF the night and 1t
Jared the SURVIVOR nerves.
About nine o'clock we were shown
to our room in the north end Of the
house, which point seemed the chief
place Of attack.
We fixed ourselves comfortably,
Rink extinguished the light and We sat
down on the edge Of the bed.
We had been waiting about two
hours. ! think, when Rink arose and
stepped to the window. The moon
was just rising and made everything
look more or less ghostly. The sky
was cloudless.
''Not much Of a night for ghosting."
remarked my friend, as he came back
and reseated himself.
We'll" l replied, "if you're getting
tired. don't let me keep you up.
don't care much for ghosts anyway. !
would rather"
stopped abruptly and experienced
the pleasant sensation of my heart
and hair rising at the same time, as a
faint scratching sound came from
somewhere, accompanied by the clank,
clank of a -hain.
The sound came nearer and nearer.
II seemed in the very room with Us.
Then for moment it stopped and the
voice of the old lady in the adjoining
room asked If we heard It. Yes. we
heard it all right and was frantically
going through my clothes 20 find
match when the cIanking began once
more There was a desperate scratch
ing and it seemed to have passed up
the wall and we heard il on the roof.
At that instant Rink leaped to the vim
dow, drew up the sash and leaned far
out.
Il got It." he yelled and turned to
me. who was trying vainiy to swallow
my heart back into place. "Here, take
my electric flash light and run out and
/ see what it is"
have had other jobs liked a good
deal better than hunting ghosts and
when outside our door / bumped into
Jimmy. who had heard the commotion
and was getting into his clothes. l
WAS so relieved ] wanted TO shake
hands with the youngster.
Hastily we made our way to the
yard where trained the light on the
roof above where Rink was holding
the chain. Truly, something was hud-
died there by the big chimney. but
could not see what Il was. It is doubt
ful whether at that time should have
recognized my own brother. but while
trying to obtain a clearer look the boy
suddenly let out such a yell ! nearly
tainted
why. it's Rastus." he cried delight
ediy. and was relieved that it hadn't
been a cold hand clutching at his
throat which caused the cry, as had
suspected.
who the deuce is Rastus?" ask
ed, but before he could reply Rink.
who had been pulling steadily at the
! chain pavQ an extra vaul aud-dovru