Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-04-02

stance. Sloan met the boy, VINO,
scared faced, acknowledged it. Sloan
gave him half a dozen cuts with a
h%orsewhip and he and the father OF
the lad had a regular f~isticuff battle
later on.
Young Dye told a story that stirred
up the town nightly. He had used
the boat to visit Swamp island, a
marshy, densely over-grown island in
the middle of the lake. to get some
cattails to be used in decorating the
schoolroom.
Upon landing, the terrified lad had
been startled by frantic yells. A great
form clothed in white and waving
blazing irebrands had chased him to
the boat. 1t was a ghost" and half
crazed with fear at the sight of the
dreadful apparition the boy had upset
the boat and swan for his life to the
mainland.
The next night mysterious lights
were seen on the island. Recently
many farmers had found their chick
en- roosts and pantries ~despoiled. Did
these thefts connect with 1.-The ghost?"
A group of boys made up an expedi-
ton to visit the island and rout out
its uncanny guest.
That very day, however, a new SEN
sation obscured and eclipsed the cir
cumstance of the haunted island. Hal
Edwards returned to town. He was
promptly arrested by a constable, to
whom Sloan instantly paid the adver-
! tised reward. In some way Hal Sc
cured bail and the cas- was set for a
few days later. Sloan came home be-
fore the release, elated and excited.
well, wife," he pronounced with a
gleesome chuckle, "we've got the viii
lain! l hope Mary will forget him
after this disgrace. Where is she? l
want to give her a sensible talking to-"
You are too late" said Mrs. Sloan
gravely. MARY has left the house"
What! do you mean-not for
good?"
81 do mean Just that and so does
She" asserted Mrs. Sloan steadily.
Mary heard of your last persecution
Of the man she loves, packed up her
things, has gone to my sisters house
and says she will marry Hal Edwards
the minute he asks her."
Ezra Sloan fumed and stormed.
He'd see about this, now! He'd soon
have that independent young rebel
back under the home roof! And then
some quiet, sensible advice from his
.wife quieted him down considerably
MARY had taken a firm stand" said
Mrs. Sloan. "She is in the right and
you won't move her. The girl has
some of your strong, stubborn will
Ezra Sloan, only in a different way
Farmer Sloan passed an uneasy
night. When he got to the court
house the next day he felt more than
sheepish, when at the start it was
proven that Edwards had lost the
match case a week previously some
where about the farm. Then there
was a great commotion outside of the
court rooms. A mob of boys hustled
a shrinking, covering figure into
sight.
They were the expedition that hat
gone to explore the mysteries of 9Th,
haunted island" 1t was old Peter
ragged and terrified, whom they
brought in as a captive.
I'm the ghost. I'm the one that's
been stealing my living along the
river for a week." confessed the af
frighted old man. 81 set fire to tina
barn accidentally and got scared ant
hid away"
And l went to see my father, Tht
can we'll afford to provide a home fol
Mary and me, and we're going to b.
married tomorrow" announced Hal t.
Mrs. Sloan.
There was a bright, happy wedding
to which Ezra Sloan humbly consent
ed-but he took a back seat amoni
the guests.
Copyright. 1918, by W. G. ~ciapman.)