Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-04-10

about for BaSsford HOLSTER. But he
had vanished as suddenly and COM
as though a trap bad yawned
beneath us and swallowed him. l
found the third floor switch, and it
responded Immediately, flooding the
stair we'll to the lower hall, but l nei-
Their saw nor heard anything more of
HOLSTER.
Astounded by this performance, 1 con
tinued on to the lower floor to have a
look around, and there. calmly reading
by the library table, sat Miss Octavia.
Late hours, Mr.. Anes.." she cried.
81 supposed you had retired long ago"
Pardon my troubling you, but may
l inquire, Miss HOLSTER, how long you
have been sitting here?"
The clock on the stair began to strike
II. and she listened composedly to a
few Of the deep toned strokes before
replying.
Just half an hour. l thought some
n knocked at my door about an hour
ago. The lights We're on and 1 came
down, saw a magazine that had es-
capped my eye before and here you find
me-"
Some one knocked at your dOor?"
Il thought so. You know. the serv-
ants have an idea hat the place is
haunted, and I thought that if I sat
here the ghost might take it upon him
self to walk. l confess to a slight dis
appointment that it is only you who
have appeared. l suppose it WASH.
you who knocked at my door,"
No" I replied. laughing a little at
her manner, not unless it was you
who switched off the lights as I was
coming down from the fourth floor. l
have been studying this chimney from
the roof. 1 know something of the
ways Of electric switches, and they
don't usually move Of their own &C.
cord.'
"Your coming to this house has been
the greatest joy to me, MI. Ames. l
should not have imagined in a chance
look at you that you were psychical,
and yet such is clearly the fact. 1 as
sure you that 1 have not touched any
switch since 1 left my room. 1t was
unnecessary. as I found the lights on.
And l acquit you Of rapping, rapping
at my chamber door. 1t gives me the
greatest satisfaction to assume that
the house is haunted, and at any time
you find the ghost I beg that you will
lose no time in presenting me-"
She wore a remarkable lavender
dressing gown and a nightcap such as
l had never seen outside a museum.
AS she concluded her speech, spoken
in that curious lifting tone which from
the beginning had left me in doubt as
she rose and, still clasping her maya
zine, made me a courtesy and was soon
mounting the stair.
l heard her door close a minute later,
and then, feeling that 1 had earned
the right to repose, I went to my room
and to bed.
l slept late and on going down found
the table set in the breakfast room.
Miss Octavia entered briskly, her slight
figure concealed by a prodigious ging-
ham apron.
Good morrow, merry gentleman"
she began blithely. "The most delight
full thing has happened. Without the
slightest warning, without the faintest
intimation of their dissatisfaction, the
house servants have departed, with the
single exception of my personal maid.
who, being q SWede and therefore singu-
| 10 r1v 1n1-oi1 OF n,,,nfSo, vvoc ,,,cIo1roo
by the ghost rumors that have sent the
rest Of my staff scampering over the
hills"
She lighted the coffee machine lamp
in her most tranquil fashion and beg
ged me to be seated.
Il have already breakfasted." she
continued, land Cecilia is even now
preparing you AZ omelet with her own
hand. l beg to reassure you as my
guest that the departure of the serv-
ants causes me not the slightest an
noyance. Cecilia is an excellent cook,
and 1 myself shall not starve so long
as 1 have strength to crack an egg or
lift a stove lid. And besides, l still re-
tain my early trust in Providence. |
do not doubt that before nightfall a
corps of excellent servants will again
be on duty here. Very likely they are
even now bound for this place. coming
from the wet coasts of Ireland. from
Liverpool and from lonely villages in
Scandinavia. | hope you will testify
to the fact that l faced this day in the
cheeriest and most hopeful spirit"
"NOt only shall l do so. Miss Hollis.
ter" I replied, trying to catch her own
note, but it will throughout my life
give me the greatest satisfaction to set
your 2right. To that extent let
me be Horatio to your Hamlet"
Thank YOU, Milford" she returned.
with the utmost gravity. And may l
say further that the incident gives the
stamp of authenticity to my ghost? l
was obliged to pay those people dou-
Die wages to lure them from the felici-
ties of the city, and they must have
been a good deal alarmed to have left
SO p~recipitately. You must excuse me
now, as it is necessary for me to do the
pastry cooks work this morning, that