Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-01-24
CHAIH-DRAGGMG GHOST
BY E. H. EmmoNs.


Rink and myself first took up "ghos-
tology," or, more properly speaking. 1t
was Rink who took 1t up and | who
was taken in," whether willingly or
not.
The lady with whom we we're room
ing at that time was interested to an
extent in various forms OF charity and
on her visits to the swamps-that part
of the city where for the past twenty
years the down-and-outers, the good
for-nothings, the buns and few poor
but honest folk had congregated-she
had become acquainted with an old
lady who resided in great old log
cabin near the river and on the very
outskirts OF town. In time she learn
ed the woman's story, which was sim
ply that the house possessed a ghost
The cabin, which had been built
when the city proper was wild prairie,
had stood on its site for fifty-five years
so was we'll qualified for spirit re-
sort, having run down and decayed
considerably. The old lady's husband
had died three years before, but 1t was
not until year later that he assumed
the prodigal role and began visiting
his former home.
This was the story our landlady told
us and through her Rink managed to
secure an invitation to visit the place
merely to satisfy fool curiosity. or
course, was dragged into the affair
and we went in the afternoon in order
to examine the surroundings in day.
light and we Sherlocked all over the
house and yard until dark. At the
back dense timber grew up almost to
the doorstep and while here l noticed
that Rink was roofing into things with
more care than he had before shown.
He examined the ground and the walls
thoroughly and smile overspread his
face. "I'll bet we land something to.
night" he remarked.
That evening we we're again given
the account by the old lady herself
When her husband had succeeded in
passing away, grandson, Jimmy
somebody, had come to live with the
old woman.
Shortly after Jimmy arrived his
spiritual grandpa, supposedly, had de-
veloped the uncomfortable habit of
dragging a chain around the house at
various hours of the night and it
Jared the survivors nerves.
About nine o'clock we were shown
to our room in the north end of the
house, which point seemed the chief
place of attack.
We fixed ourselves comfortably,
Rink extinguished the light and we sat
down on the edge of the bed.
We had been waiting about two
hours, | think, when Rink arose and
stepped to the window. The moon
was just rising and made everything
look more or less ghostly. The sky
was cloudless.
mot much of a night for ghosting,"
remarked my friend, as he came back
and reseated himself.
We'll" 1 replied, 'if you're getting
tired, don't let me keep you up. ]
don't care much for ghosts anyway. l
would rather"
l stopped abruptly and experienced
the pleasant sensation of my heart
and hair rising at the same time, as a
faint scratching sound came from
somewhere, accompanied by the clank,
clank of a chain.
The sound came nearer and nearer.
It seemed in the very room with us.
Then for a moment it stopped and the
voice of the old lady in the adjoining
room asked if we heard it. Yes, we
heard it all right and was frantically
going through my clothes to find a
match when the clanking began once
more. There was a desperate scratch
ing and it seemed to have passed up
the wall and we heard it on the roof.
At that instant Rink leaped to the win
dow, drew up the sash and leaned far
out.
Il got It," he yelled and turned to
me, who was trying vainly to swallow
my heart back into place. "Here, take
my electric fash light and run SUIT and
see what It u.s."
l have had other jobs I likAd a good
deal better than hunting ghosts and
when outside our. door bumped into
Jimmy, who had heard the commotioR
and was getting into his clothes.
was so relieved l wa6ted to shake
hands with the youngster.
Hastily we made our way b the
yard where ! trained the light o8 the
roof above where Rink was holding
the chain. Truly. something was hud.
died there by the big chimney, but
could not see what 1t was. 1t is doubt
full whether at that time should have
recognized my own brother, but while
trying TO obtain a clearer look the boy
suddenly let out such yell l nearly
tainted.
why, It's Rastus." he cried delight