The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-04-24

gestions. | am gratified that you are
meeting the emergencies that have arts
en- here with so much determination.
but It is what should expect OF the
son OF Arnold Ames of Hartford. OPP
portunity is all that any Of us need to
find ourselves truly great, and If In the
ordinary course of our lives the gate
does not open freely we are justified In
picking the lock. When | determined
to seek adventures in my old age, re-
solved that ! should miss no chance
and that | should he prepared for any
reckoning of the hand of fate. An
odd fancy struck me at the beginning
of my new life that Boston would some
day be the starting point of some In
teresting experience. This has not yet
developed, but I'm order that / may be
prepared for anything that may occur
| keep blue silk umbrella constantly
checked at the Parker House. The
presence of the little brass check In my
purse Is constant reminder that Bos-
ton may one day call me-"
discussion of the Parker House
umbrella followed, Cecilia and / join
ing, and 1t proved so fruitful topic
that 1t carried us to our coffee.
Three suitors were announced little
later, and | slipped away without ex-
cuses. while Miss Octavia and Cecilia
adjourned to the library.
The ghost. | had sworn, should not
battle me another night.
As crossed the second floor hall
passed the Swedish maid walking to-
ward Miss Octnvia's room. was
somewhat annoyed to find on looking
over my shoulder to make sure Of her
destination that she, too, had paused
her hand on Miss Octavia's door, and
was watching me with interest. She
vanished Immediately, but to throw
her OF the track | went to my own
room. closed the door noisily and then
came out quickly and ran up to the
third floor.
Bnssford HOLSTERS mysterious exit
had fingered In my mind as the most
curious incident Of the eventful Friday
night. Having been bafiled in my eff
fort to. get hold of the architects
plans, my thought now was to await
In the upper part of the house repe-
tition Of the various phenomena that
had so puzzled me. By the process Of
exclusion | had eliminated nearly ev-
cry plausible theory, but If the ghost
manifested himself with any sort of
periodicity land the hour of the chin.
ney's queer behavior had been mine) |
was now prepared to meet him In the
regions he had chosen for his exploits.
! / had Il pretty accurate knowledge
by this time of the position and func-
ton of Nil the electric switches be-
tween the lower hall and the fourth
floor, but | tested them as | assembled,
/ glancing down now and then to make
sure | was not observed. From the
sound Of voices in the library judged
have arrived. and 50 much the better,
/ argued. for. with Miss Octavia and
/ her niece fully occupied. | could the
better carry on my ghost hunt above
stairs.
+ At a quarter before I switched Off
! thN hSitS WI tiit lhilu ioul I'll
floors and established myself at the
head OF the stairway and quite near
the trunk room door. This door ! had
opened, rs | fancied that II Bassford
/ HOLSTER were at the bottom OF the
business he would probably wish to
find his way to the roof again. SO far
as I was able to manage 1t the stage
was in readiness for the entrance OF
the goblin.
The clock below struck 0, and al.
most upon the last stroke I heard a
sound that set my nerves hngling.
crouched In the dark. waiting Some
one was coming toward me, but from
where? The bottom Of we'll at mid
night was not blacker than the fourth
floor. but the switch lay ready to my
hand and my pockets were stuffed with
matches Of the sort that light any
where. The stairways were all carpet
ed, as have said, and yet some one
was ascending bare treads, lightly and
with delays that suggested furtivt
purpose. Meanwhile, as a background
for this unreality murmurs Of talk and
occasional laughter rose from the II
brary.
This concealed stairway, wherever I
was, could not be of interminabl,
length, and had counted, l think, IF
teen steps Of that strange ascent wheI
1t ceased. l heard n fumbling as o.
some one seeking latch, and sudden
ly light current Of air swept by me
but Its clean fresh quality was not IL
itself disturbing. stopped and strucl
a match smartly on the carpet and a
the same time clicked the switch.
should say that not more than ten sec
onds passed from the moment the sof
rush Of air had first advertised tn,
opening Of passage near me until tn,
hall was flooded with the glow Of tn,
electric lamps overheard. My mattel
had also performed Its office, but, fnd
Ing the electric current behaving itsel
normally, l blew 1t out, What I saw
now interested me immensely.
In the solid wall near the stair an,