Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-10
The Daily Story
THE WRONG GHoST-BY LILLIAN VENT
Copyrighted ssIs Associstel Literary Bureau

were busy with the sounds he had
heard on the spiral stair.
Down in the tangled garden Dick led
the way through dark paths bordered
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 q circle OF
lockwood and was entered by q small
opening.
As they squeezed through the mar
row opening Dick clutched his COM
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 a 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 versnda and
thence up the stair to the upper bal
eony, where she vanished.
Mistress Dorothy's ghost" mutter-
ed Dick dazedly.
"Not that. my friend. but 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 meanT 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.
tnh?" Quavered Chloe, her eyes rolling
fsarfully.
"Am de house affair" croaked Uncle
Joe crsftily.
"The house isn't afire," said Dick
dryly, "and the matter is that want
| you to explain how it happens that
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 was 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-
of his family, had for awhile pros
pered in the west, where he had made
fortune and lived happily with his
young wife and little girl.
About the time Of old Amos Add
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 where 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 at
weekly intervals.
The arrival of the master Of the
house. Dick Addison, threw all their
! ;,t IL
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 Adj
olson and his friend met Rose Add
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-
ventionaI occupancy OF Roseland.
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 / shall not
lose moment before transferring tho
property to its rightful owner"
"And predict that the ghost of Mis-.
tress Dorothy shall walk no morev'
cried Sam Findlay. with a glance at
Rose Addison's beautiful face.
Rose blushed beautifully as her dark
eyes met the blue ones. OF the north
, erner.
Dick Addison saw the exchange OF
, glances and chuekled to himself
'If It wasn't for Sally Markham I'd
, be Jealous OF Sam. But for a ghost
hunter / must say that old Sam hai
D 0utdone himself this time, for MI
r cousin Is certainly a rose"