The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-08-28
few OF 11e 1ec- toned strokes before

few or Tie Ge17 toned strokes before
replying. ....
Just half an hour. I thought some
one knocked at my door about an hour
ago. The lights were on and l came
down, saw a magazine that had es-
capped my eye before and here you find
me-"
Some one knocked at your dDorY
II thought 50. You know, the serv.
ants have an idea that the place Is
haunted, and l thought that If I sat
here the ghost might take it upon him
self to walk. confess to a slight dis
appointment that 1t is only you who
have appeared. suppose it wasn't
you who knocked at my door?"
"No," l replied, laughing a little at
her manner, mot unless it was you
who switched of the lights as I was
coming down from the fourth floor. l
have been studying this chimney from
the roof. I 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. Mr.. Ames. 1
should not have imagined in a chance
look at you that you were psychical,
and yet such is clearly the fact. as
sure you that have not touched any
switch since I left my room. 1t was
unnecessary, as I found the lights on
And 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 beg that you will
lose no time in presenting me-"
She wore remarkable lavender
dressing gown and 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
to the seriousness of all her statements,
she rose and, still clasping her maya
zine, made me courtesy and was soon
mounting the stair.
I heard her door close minute later,
and then, feeling that I had earned
the right to repose, 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 Swede and therefore singu-
larly devoid of emotion, was mistaken
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.
II have already breakfasted," she
continued, land Cecilia Is even now
preparing you an omelet with her own
hand. 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 myself shall not starve SO long
as l have strength to crack an egg or
lift stove lid. And besides, still re-
tain my early trust in Providence l
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
Scandina via. hope you will testify
TO the fact that l faced this day in the
cheeriest and most hopeful spirit" p"
mot only shall do so, Miss Hollis
ter" l replied, trying to catch her own
note, but it will throughout my life
give me the greatest satisfaction to set
your cause Alright 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-
BILE wages to lure them from the felici-
ties Of the city, and they must have
been q good deal alarmed to have left
60 .precinitetely. You must excuse me
tain my fee simple IN TINS property,
to make dozen pies before high noon.
But first must visit the stables,
where I believe the coachman still
fingers, having been prevented from
joining the stampede of the house serv-
! ants by the painful twinges of govt"
With this she left me, and I began
pecking at a grapefruit. 1t had been
In my mind as I dressed that morn
ing to play truant and visit the city.
1t was almost imperative that l take
| q look at my Office, and had resolved
upon a plan which would, believed,
give me the key to the ghost mystery.
II Pepperton had built that house he
must know whether he had contrived
any secret passages that would afford
exists and entrances not apparent to
the eye. 1t would be an easy matter
to run into the city, explain myself to
nv assistant and get hold Of Pepper