Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-29


i;hos,s do not bloom we'll III lead
showers. Just remember that
CHAPTER Ill
The Ghost Hunt.
After II luncheon. in whicn Flaw
kins's professional pride was suiil-
cItntly stimulated to forget the
shostly visitation. In his effort TO out
vic the cookery of old ST SquigIinS.
Roher,s decided TO take his afternoon
dip In the surf
The property OF the old house hor-
dered an inviting edge of the beach.
Huge bouIdcrs tossed. IL seemed. TO
the shore by some Titanic craftsman
or bygonc aeons, formed natural
bulkhcad against the battering blows
OF the heavy surf. Roberts's dark
eyes sparkled approximately as he
walked down toward the messy crags.
He swrng his bathing suit idly In mis-
hand. St was still damp from /, short
swim taken from the yacht. tho day
before.
"Confound iiawkins" he explained
suddenly. "IIe has had this suit bun
died up. and lie knows l hate To get
into II when 1t liz wet. lie is think
ing about that ghost too much. I'll
hang II up to dry a bit. and go gct
that camera. 1t would be great for
some views taken in the surf and look
ing toward my haunted house
He spread the suit upon "a convenient
shrub. retracinr his steps through tbs
trees to the house.
Here he found another provoking;
dciay-the humidity had rusted the
delicate mechanism Of his camera
shutter. The application of littlo
oil. and some unliterary. but heartfelt.
profanity to the diaphragm persuaded
II to work once more. Then me re-
turned to the shore
The bathing suit had Disappeared,
''liawkins." he cried. Hawkins.
What did you do with that suit. you
biitherinH idiot
The valet came running.
III never saw II. Sir. hupon me word.
SIR
The* searched about tho grounds
rainly, thinking that perhaps IL htful
breeze had carried Ii away. After ~
few irritating minutes Roberts return
ed To the same shrub, sternly berating
his man.
Look; sir: There i: is: 10" thu, he,
shouted Hawkins.
Roberts snatched the garment. aud
looked searchngly at his servant.
You didn't put it hcre?"
My word. sir: no. and tIawkinss
eyes assumed tina. frightened look
masters. Il believe 1t is the ghost,
sir"
Then" and the novelist wrung the
water from the dripping suit" we are
the entertainers OF very unusual
/ ghost. For he likes To swim."
Hawkins scratched his head, as Rob-
erts donned the garment.
Hawkins, you had better go back
ana negotiate the loan of a few quarts
OF milk from Bossy. that COW. for
which ! am paying rent. lf you don't
the ghost may beat you to It," advised
"A 40 81 taI fnr
Ana while Roberts battled the roll
ing breakers with the Skill of mcr-
man. his servant persistcnt!y. mpa
7 tiently and vainly endeavored TO milk
tho COW. But although a man of no
Few accomplishments, the task was too
large for the doughty little English.
man. After his bucket had been kick
ed from his hand three times by the
| indignant Bossy, he surrendered. Re
turning TO the house he paused on the
Kitchen steps. There were the unmis-
taxable signs Of milk upon the floor.
Bias. me eyes" he sollouuized.
This ghost has been along here with
milk. The master was right"
And lie sat down in the kitchen,
fearing TO stray into the other rooms
Of this uncanny house.
Roberts passed an unevcntful aud
thoroughly delightful day. Yet still
the story would not come from his pen
Toward evening he prepared for
grand assault upon the stronghold OF
the Muse. a dozen pads OF paper wera
spread our on the big library table, "a
full can 0f his favorite tobacco was
placed in readiness for the smoke OF
battle. anG Hawkins had been instruct
ned to spread cold lunch I'm the kit
chen. for The healthy appetite OF the
early morning hours.
You retire early. Hawkins I'm
going to get that novel under wa: this
night or die In the attempt. There's
nothing to disturb me here"
But even as he spoke tapping was
heard on the door. Hawkins timidiy
| opened it TO behold Il sailor from the
yacht, bearing a message.
"A wireless. sir" said the man
Shall wait for the answer"
With prcsentimcnt Roberts tore
open the envelope without replying
IL WAS AN acroSram from his fiancce
Beatrice was coming up to Sunday
Port with motoring party OF friends
to make his solitude pleasant"
Roberts crushed the note in his tense
fingers and Slared Indignantly at "a
siirer-fr;tmcd portrait OF the girl
which he had placed on tho library
table before him.
"Cnnfound YOU. Beatrice. you Away.
come ut the wrong time. Can ] never
! esc;p from the New York idea to do
some real work - He. turned toward
the waiting sailor and snapped a re-
ply; NO answer. don't want to be
disturbed now, tor I've got to do some
work before my friends arrive to ruin
it,"
Aye, aye. sir" and the man disap-
peared into the darkness.
Then did the novelist sit down To his
task. cudEeline his wits with Il vengc-
full self-hntred. determined Ia start n
story Of the simple folk. in the simple
land about him. At least fifteen ef-
forts at an opening, paragraph failed
when Il fresh evidence Of the ghostly
Eisitant completely wrecked whatever
trains OF thought were Jogging along
the narrow gauge track Of tho dis
SuStcd Rohcfts's minds
piercing scream cut tho silence,
Then came II crash Of tin and china,
By George! There must be some
thing to IL. after all." and Roberts
spranR TO HIS feet AS he remembered
afterwards he did experience a ting
ing thrill at the, roots Of his hair.
Here new SenSatjnp at