The Washington herald., 1915-10-10
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A True Ghost
Story
by H. j. CURTIS.

IVANKEE though I am. I happened
to be experimenting the erec-
ton Of an instrument for a GER
tain observatory on the west coast of
England. when at the close Of a hard
days work. the worknen whom / had
employed. deciding it was time to cease
their labors for the day. promptly sepa-
rated for their several homes leaving tha
instrument under a scanty shelter. and
the wire stays which supported a tube
some twenty feet high "a part of the in
strumenp temporarily. and. to my mind,
very insecurely fastened.
1t was necessary it should be in an
exposed place. and the spot chosen for It
was an almost ideal situation-for tho
instrument a more dreary place cannot
well be ina gined. 1t was on the top Of a
small hill. AS for trees. there were none.
and hardly a bush could be seen any
where. Before it stretched the sea.
Il think they'll be all right. sir" said
the harbor master who had charge of tho
instruments.
Maybe said I; but what IL people
come out here meddling? II any boys
| start climbing these stays they'll nave
the whole thing down about their ears
so they would he replied: only no
one will come out here before we're at
work again in the morning. Never you
| fear. sir: it'll be all right
Just as my companion and were leav-
ing. a broad beam OF light shot out over
the water. 1t was from the lighthouse,
which stood on humpbacked promon-
tory to our right. I fingered for a few
moments to watch it. as it died out Tor a
few seconds. only to reappear and shed
its dazzling glare out to sea.
Yes" said my companion. Its a
dreary place. and that's why I am so
sure about the instrument, and then.
with glance at me. Ghosts" he adj
ed. with a slight laugh.
What" said /. do you believe in
ghosts?"
Well. no." he answered slowly, and
gazing the while at the Hght-'no. but
I've seen one
What" said 1. seen a ghost? Come.
now; surely there's yarn there"
We'll. yes. there is. sir" he replied.
and this was his yarn.
L was up there on the light" he be-
gan, pointing at the lighthouse. when
the beach among the rocks. l could
make nothing of it. so I climbed down
to the beach and scrambled over tho
stones to see what it was. At first
could not find it. and then I came on
II suddenly ! was climbing over 4
the head
The man had evidently been lost in
some wreck or another. and had been
washing about on and off with the tides
How. I'm sure l don't know. but
yarn got about that this headless body
roamed the moors of a night in search
Of its head. OF course no one really
the tale. and I probably least
of all
One night I drean1t I was out on tna
moor. when this wretched body met M.
and. beckoninz me on with his arms,
cried:
My head. my head. Oh. give ms
my head
With a great start I awoke. All os
tremble. l got up and paced the room.
ct the swirling drizzling rain damp my
:heeks But I was letting it into the
oom. So slipping on my clothes. l un-
astened the creaking door and went
ut. After leaving the town I struck
way toward tine lighthouse. What 4
light It was. What with the pitch
lack clouds overhead and the whirling
ain and high wind. it was impossible
o see far ahead. and so stumbled on
Indy. walking as hard as / could.
The wind and the brisk walk 10
ived and soothed me, until after
-hile felt almost inclined to laugh at
~ dream. But nevertheless 1 could
OF, wholly shake OF the feeling OF
read with which I had awoke.
How the surf did crash and roar.
,unding louder and yet louder as
cared the lighthouse headland. until.
hat with the shrek Of wind and roar
water the noise seemed TO stun one.
nd then. as reached the foot o. the
eadland. was struck helpless with
orror. and the cold sweat broke out
'resh, for there. right in front of mo
ID a little higher up the slope stood a
.adless body. looming out Of the whirl-
g chaos. and frantically waving ma
/! My heart seemed to stop beating
thought I heard above the shrek
the wind the wailing cry:
- Ny head, my head! Oh. give mo
y headv
Il don't know what thought. or how
ng stood there. but suddenly gripping
y stick and yelling know not what.
on toward the beckoninz fg-
e. My knees shook as I reeled up the
,pe. until I was close to it. and then
tn my eyes shut made one last rush
d gripped-a sailors Jersey one of tho
htsmen had pegged by the shoulders
a wire fence and had forgotten to
ke in. Darkness and the shriekinS
nd. combined with the effects Of my
sam on my imagination, suppose, ac.
united for the rest.
But here We are. sir. Good night"
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