Rock Island Argus., 1913-10-10
The Daily Story

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OONu III TIE ldISteu SuTueQ LICK leu
the way through dark paths boriered
with tall hedges OF box. pungently
sweet in the night air. At last they
came to the remains of the rose gar
den. 1t was inclosed in a circle of
lockwood and was entered by a small
opening.
As they squeezed through the mar
row opening Dick clutched his CON-
panion's arm.
What do you make of thatT he
whispered.
Findlay stared over his friends
shoulder, and we'll might the two stare
at what met their astonished gaze.
The faint crescent of a moon threw
feeble glow over the rose garden and
disclosed pale gowned form fitting
here and there among the riotous bush
es. The form was plucking roses OF
every color until the slender arms were
laden.
They followed her silently and from
the shadow of great oak tree saw her
glide up the steps of the veranda and
thence up the stair to the upper bal
cony, where she vanished.
Mistress Dorothy's ghost" mutter-
ed Dick dazedly.
mot that, my friend. hut q ghost
just the same" said Findlay gravely.
Come. Let us rouse Aunt Chloe and
Uncle Joe and make them tell us who
is occupying the attic chambers OF
your house"
what do you mean?" demanded
Dick. But he went with Findlay. who
explained his suspicious as they went
toward the cabin at the rear of the
old mansion, where the two ancient
negro servants slept
But there was faint light showing
beneath the window curtain here. and
in response to Dicks loud summons
the door opened and disclosed two
fully dressed and much frightened ne
groes.
"Oh, Marse Dick, what am de mat.
tnhT" quavered Chloe, her eyes rolling
fsarfully.
"Am de house a-fiah?" croaked Uncle
Joe craftily.
"The house isn't afire," said Dick
dryly, "and the matter is that want
the attic chambers are occupied with
out my knowledge and consent"
At this the two servants burst into
loud lamentations, and finally Aunt
Chloe sobbed out confession.
1t appeared that the adopted son OF
Amos Addison wns really his own son
by a secret marriage, and the young
Amos, who had been disinhe-ited be-
cause he had followed his fathers ex-
ample and married against the wishes
of his family. had for awhile pros
pered in the west, where he had made
a fortune and lived happily with his
young wife and little girl.
About the time of old Amos Addi-
sons death young Mrs. Addison died
and left her husband with the little
daughter, Rose. III fortune now pur-
sued young Amos, and by the time his
daughter had been educated he was
poor man, broken in health and ambi-
ton. His one desire was to die in the
home wnere he had spent his boyhood.
Rose brought him there, knowing
that the house was empty and unused
save for the two servants. Aunt Chloe,
who had been his nurse, took care OF
him, and Uncle Joe waited on him as
well, for Rose had secured work in
Richmond and only came down ut
weekly intervals.
The arrival of the master OF the
| house, Dick Addison, threw all their
| plans into great confusion. Amos Adj
olson was still quite helpless, though
improved in health under the care Of
Aunt Chloe, who was famous in the
locality for her knowledge Of simple
medicines. Since Dicks arrival Rose
had made but few visits before this
one, when she had risked discovery to
gather roses from the garden for her
| father.
1t was the next day before Dick Ad-
olson and his friend met Rose Addi-
son and her father. Then It was that
Chloe produced the key to the little
door and admitted them up the spiral
stairs to the clean, airy rooms under
the roof. where the old servants had
removed many things to make their
one time master comfortable. They
found Amos Addison the wreck OF a
once ambitious man. but Dick would
not hear of apologies for their uncon-
ventional occupancy of RoselaDd.
81 am the intruder" he said gencr-
ously. "The place would never have
been accepted by my father II he had
known the truth. and now I shall not
lose moment before transferring thu
property to It's rightful owner"
"And predict that the ghost OF Mis-
tress Dorothy shall walk no morev
cried Sam Findlay. with a glance al
Rose Addison's beautiful face.
Rose blushed beautifully as her darl
eyes met the blue ones Of the north
erner.
Dick Addison saw the exchange o.
glances and chuekled to himself.
''If 1t wasn't for Sally Markham II
, be jealous OF Sam. But for a ghos
hunter must say that old Sam ha
, 0utdone himself this time. for m,
r cousin is certainly a rose"