The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1914-06-12

ing out chair settled himself in it
The others in the room looked on with
holy horror, for the mans waxy flesh
and dark trimmed eyes gave him the
appearance Of being an animated
corpse.
Friend" said the rosy man, twill
! you have mug of punch with me?
You look as If you needed something
to warm you up"
"I'm not to be warmed" replied the
other in sepulchral voice.
"Where did you get that earthly smell
there is about your"
"Young man, do you wish to com
municate with the dead?"
Reckon Pm doing that now"
"Go up to your room, blow out the
candle, and you will see your grand
father"
who'll bring him?'
II will"
"You! Do you suppose I'm going up
stairs to sit in cold room in the
dark while you stay down here with
your nose in mug of steaming punch?
Thank you, know when l am we'll off.
However, I've 10 shillings in my peck
ct. I'll bet you that you can't call up
the ghost Of my grandfather or any
other ghost"
'"ren shillings!" replied the waxy
man contemptuously. do you sup
pose that court material things?"
"Well, If you don't want the money
you can give it for charity"
"Charity! Yes, but what is 10 shil-
lings for charity? Make it f1O and
| consent"
| His vis-a-vis looked through his pock-
cts and found only the 10 shillings and
a few coppers.
"Friends," he said. "this man is an
impostor. He is going about trying to
impress people with the belief that he
has something supernatural about him.
II you'll stand by me I'll show him
up. Raise the f10 among you to match
that amount"
This gave courage to the others. and
desire sprang up among those pres
ent to discover whether the waXy
man was really one from the dead or
playing on their credulity. But it
must be remembered that Il desire for
money was as fixed among our ances-
tors as in us. An effort was made to
raise the stake. but failed. since there
was not so much money among the
company. The most that could be oh
tanned was f6. However, the waxy
man generously offered to accept this
stake instead of the larger amount
and the money was put up on both
sides.
"Who's to hold the stakes?" asked
the rosy checked man. For my part
I would be willing that the man with
is. If he remains here in this room till
the wager is settled"
II hold the money" replied the 9th
err sternly. II never touch money ex.
cept-except when am as men are
Hold the stakes yourself!''
He said this in such ghostly tone
that it brought back something of the
former fear Of those present. So great
was the awe that the gaping settlers
did not think to protest when the rosy
checked man stuffed the money in his
pocket and. taking candle. started
upstairs.
"What number. landlord?" he asked
mo. g." replied the landlord, hand
Ing him a key.
When the mans footsteps had died
away, a profound silence fell on the
house. The man from the grave sat
motionless, alone. at his table. and
nearly every eye in the room was fix
ed upon him. The wind, which had
continued to blow, gave several pro-
longed bowls, at the end Of which the
man who had gone upstairs was heard |
to give shrek, indicating some fright
full experience. The man who had
agreed to introduce him to his grand
father rolled his eyes about over the
company, as If in triumph. No one
stirred. Presently the landlord pluck
ed up courage and started upstairs.
He was followed first by the most
courageous, afterward by the others.
The door Of No. 8 was found to be
AOShCN. i AO lAuuIOIu CdIlVu " Tue
man within, but, receiving no answer
he broke it down and found the cham.
Der empty.
Hes been spirited away" suggest
ed the man with the plain waistcoat,
Didn't I tell you," said the young
ster who had made the prediction,
that ghost was going around in the
flesh? He's the man downstairs"
BY this time it was noticed that
sash in the bedroom was open. and 1t
occurred to the landlord that the oc-
cupant had dropped out through the
window. 1t was no great distance to
the ground and a very easy fall.
MY friends" he said thoughtfully.
ITS my opinion we've been robbed.
He's gone with the money"
He hurried downstairs to find the