Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-30
Alice Devine
ASzyy@Zoke a1aNgzey
By Edgar Jepson
Author of Pollyooly etc.
Author of Pollyooly e1
COPYRIGHT 1915 BY The Boprs MERRILL. Co.

away, ana then announcer ana announcer
and was some time making out that
was cis1ern gurgling. I had firml
made Up my mind that it was joll
uncomfortable room to be in when
fell asleep
When I awoke the room was muc
DINNER, as if the moon were settin
on the other side of the house I di
not want to look around, and was turr
ing over 10 go to sleep again, when
heard sigh distinctly.
| jerked myself on to my elbow
and my eyes fell on figure CROSSING
| the room to the farther window AS j
| came near the window | saw that
was a woman. could not see her fac
| for her long hair fell about it. At TIL
window she turned and sighed. A col,
! chill ran down my back and my moutl
went dry. She crossed the room near
ly to the wall. and turned and sighed
came to the window. turned and sighed
| again. The cold chills raced down m,
! back my heart hammered at my ribs
! my scalp prickled with the rising hail
! and cold sweat broke out on me.
| was seeing what Mrs. Bulkeley hat
done before she threw herself out o.
the window.
Paralyzed. I watched her cross anG
recross the room dozen times, noise
less but for signs. A rustic. ever sc
faint a rustic, would have made he1
less uncanny somehow.
Presently my heart was not hammer
ing so hard against my ribs. l began
to pull myself together: and at last
with great effort, I said in croakine
whisper: what is it? What do you
want?"
The dead woman never turned her
head; she crossed and recrossed the
room and sighed.
Suddenly l let off terrific sneeze.
At the sudden burst Of sound, the
figure started Just the slightest start.
Slight as 1t was. it was enough for
me. The blood rushed through my
veins again and rage drove it. I gath
cred myself toget Pr noiselessly, flung
off the blanket ar Mfang clean over
the foot of the hlrernd across the
room. With sh Geple ghost threw
up her arms to ward me off; and
clasped an armfull of flesh and blood
in a soft. soundless wooden robe
."You little wretch" cried shaking
her till her teeth chartered, for I was
furious.
Don't. Don't. You're hurting me!
Let me co." she cried struggling.
mot a bit Of It. You want good
whipping" cried Hanged-hanged
If don't kiss you!" And I did.
"You brute" be cried and slapped
vigor.
The slap sent me sneezing and
sneezing, and she took advantage Of it
to twist out Of my grip. When had
done sneezing my righteous anger had
cooled a little. laughed; rubbed my
singing cheek, and said: "And now
my young friend, I'm going to have a
look at you"
walked to the mantelpiece struck
a match, lighted the candle and gazed
round an empty room.
Not a creak Of door or click Of lock
had marked her going. gasped and
rubbed my eyes, Then examined
the doors; both were locked and bolt
ed. I opened them, and looked out in.
to the corridor and dressing room.
They we're empty. dark and silent.
ran to the head Of the stairs. and look
ed down into silent blackness
I came back into my room and trod
on something soft. 1t was slipper OF
knitted wool. No wonder she had
been noiseless. Ny unsophisticated
gum millionaire had provided against
everything but my sudden leap.
locked and bolted the doors again.
and went to bed. thought for awhile
about the ghost she had a really
charming voice-then | went to sleep.
When I was awakened by knocking
at my door. the room was bright with
The disagreeable butler con-
Quoted me to the bathroom. took the
slipper with me. There might be
hunt for it while l was In my bath.
When I had dressed I made another
examination Of the walls. There was
not a crack in them. 7 went into the
corridor and examined the outside Of
them. and came into the dressing
room. I was Just turning back. for I
had not unlocked 1t. when an odd thing
about the lock caught my eye. II had
two handles. big one and little one
I turned the little handle and tho wood
work Of the door swung omen. leaving
the lock held in It's place by its catch
and the shot bolt. | turned the little
handle back. and two little bolts shot
up out Of the top Of it. They held the
lock in the woodwork of the door. 1t
was a most INGENIOUS device: ard it
was any odds that no one would think
TO look at the lock when the door was
opened for it stood back against the
wall. I should never have noticed It
myself. had I not left the door locked.
No wonder my poor uncle had been
.ricked - what a night he must have
had,
7 had got all wanted and trif!e
more. by looking like an idiot. I did
lot trouble to put my eyeglass in my
aye and omen my mouth. | came down
stairs looking like peer of ordinary
Scruton came hurrying out of the
library into the hall; and lie locked as
f he were ready to svrpathize deeply: |
| said cheerfully. "Ah, Scruton. good
morning The young woman YOU en-
boy as ghost is quite kissable. but she /,
las rather large feet" And | waved |
he WOODEN slinper at him. |;
Young woman What youne wo- /,
nam What do yen mean?' cried Scru !
on and his surprise was very we'll I
one.