The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1913-10-02

"a a. Wws hlm anfl nl.utionc'
~. liiiihtn l,tr gave hlm bfie
description. and AZ the size ~ III
hcus. ani rs lsplated situation appeal
"a % him h. took the keys aud hai
gene 10 eSaiHinr u
~IIe Is 10 call this evening and tel
me his decision He said that pric'
was no object There
Dick kissed his wife and released
her Just as the doorbell rang
Marie. the deft maid, presently nsh
erred into their presence tail. gnunl
framed man with gray hair, keen blue
eyes and strongly marked features.
'AIr Gaines" announced Marie.
Shirley went 90 greet the artist and
presented him 20 Anne, Then the
three sat down around the open hrs
II pine logs. for the autumn evenings
were chilly
n looked NJ the BlIthen place, Mr.
Z shirley. aud VIII take II" said Mr.
/ Gaines after some desuliory conyersa
+ ton
+ IN IS in hid shape for present occu.
panrv se' Nick frankly
Il Fnnv L hnt shall merely camp
out flira q few friends ! sup.
POSE si some furniture In the
4 ,llae
~ sriul man 10 yonr ho'
4 iel VITA nplr your needs OF
4 course e,N the place Is rather
isoh,t-t ark doubtfully
1T .ad hlt situated for my pur.
poses. N,fi tr Chimes rising to take
leave Il sball have the pleasure Of
seeing voi, again. Mrs shirley" He
thook na ads with Anne and turned 10
ward the door, when Dick, In response
TO a frantic signal from his wife de-
tained him
"Wait n moment. Gaines, he said
laughingly Mrs. Shirley insists that
| discourage your intention of taking
the Blithen place by telling you that
It is haunted
"Hslunted?" repeated the artist.
NUttDis HDput anu ihNlhS thtlh'
Haunted. do YOU say? Please tell
me about II"
There isn't much to tell except that
Il has been almost impossible to keep
tenant IN the place for the last six
years. One and all declare 1t to be
haunted sounds absurd -eh?'
interesting rather" sharply amend
ed Gaines "Who is the ghostT'
at Is saidto he the uneasy spirit of
dead Chinese cook. who once work
ed for old James Rlithen Tenants
claim they have been aroused mt night
by noises in the cellar and kitchen Of
the house. and when they hive inves
tigated each and every one reported
seeing the thin emaciated form OF the
screeches as he ran to and fro In
search of some buried money, which
rumor declares old Blithen stole from
him That's all" finished Dick with a
laugh Il hope you are not frightened
away from your bargainT
mot IN the least" said Gaines
quickly "Tank you for the informa-
tlon--it viii interest my friends as
wet as II has myself"
Anne shirley broke in eagerly
"Dick forgot TO tell you about the
queer Chinese ornament that one ten
ant found the morning after he had
seen the phhst and how each one de-
scribpd the strange oriental fragrance
that perlneued the place afterward.
And once they discovered the prints of
Chinese shoes Ia the soft mud outside
the door,
"Thank ynu Mrs shirley" said
Gaines aas.l.ng on her his rare smile
"Now. | VII ora my the house with
some degree rf shiSfat tion Rlllhen
house ceitain'y nn'sessrs interest for
me-
And ynu n moi alarmed AT Thought
of the ehoSi 2 asacd Anne
Not in tn lpas, am boxing for
ward to MY stny there with m'eat in
terest =
After Mr. Gaines h,,d departed Dick
Shirley faced his wife
Il wonder If | should have told him
that one of the iPnailta was found |
murdered IL the cellar aud that in his
clinched Eand was found a tuft Of
Chinese hair
Anne shuddered
"You better tell him IN the morning |
dear Then he will he taking the place
with open eyes.
Two weeks later Anthony Gaines
quietly took possession Of the Bitilen /
house A few days afterwrd five
young men laden with artists para
phernalia arrived and With little com
motion took up their residence with
the new tenint.
Every morning the six paiptcrs
would set forth with painting kits and
might have been observed painting In
dustriously In some Of the beautiful
spots about Bodolpb.
They retired early. nnd from the re-
ports of the French Canadian who
came up from Bodolph each day to
cook for them they were quiet. well
behaved company. who arose early
retired early and drank not at all
II Pierre. the cook. had remained. X
after nigbtfall he might have had
strange stories TO relate OF the new
tenant and his guests
The house had been newly curtained
from top to bottom. and on one night
In particular Anthony Gaines drew
every window shade closely and. ex-
tinguishing all lamps. drew forth an
electric torch.
The strong ray OF white light pierced
the gloom Of the dining room aud
searched out the faces Of his five
guests.
These were not the faces Of dream
ers. They were keen. resolute. conra-
geous faces. and they one and all eyed
their leader, Gaines. as be spoke.
Ready. boysf'' be asked quietly.
Ready" was their unanimous re
sponse.
Come on, then" be ordered. and
they fell into line and followed him
81 A.