Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-26

"oA, VI dll Tue reasons Tor making
any one present of house," CRIED
forgetting my drawl
Il knew it would surprise you, Lore
Garthoyle; but haunted it is. Anc
that's very good reason "a very good
business reason indeed, for not charg
ing any rent for it," he said earnestly
Wagging finger at me. 1T would new
er do for the newspapers to have col
umns about haunted house in Gar
thoyle Gardens. Your uncle felt that
| strongly
wanted to hear some more, and |
said: Eyes. haunted houses in London
are bit off color"
F. Just so. 1t would reduce the prop.
erty to the level of Bloomsbury. I'm
glad you see it." he said eagerly.
Il see that. But don't see why |
f! should let you have the house for moth
ing and wear 1t out, don't you know
If shut 1t up for year or two the
ghost might get tired of an empty
house and 60"
mo; ghosts don't care whether
there's any one In a house or not.
They haunt it just the same" he said
more solemnly than ever. "As an ear
nest theosophist, have studied these
psychic phenomena: and you may take
1t from me that it Is so''
All the same, l may as well give
this one a chance to get tired and go,
don't you know"
But an empty house in Garthoyle
Gardens house empty for months
perhaps years. 1t Injuries the rest of
the property. It empties other houses.
co Int nj H.
asked me Il may say, he begged me-
to remain on in Number 9 rent free.
he preferred tenant who paid no
rent to no tenant at ALL"
Il don't, don't you know? And can
get over that emptiness all right"
said. "1'll keep the blinds and curtains
and leave it looking inhabited. Either
youll have to pay rent, or you'll have
to CO."
He lost his look Of persuading me for
my own good and frowned: "Well in
that case, he said, Il need not keep
my mouth shut about it any longer. II
to keep it quiet, of course.
ana put up with discomfort. But II
nave to pay rent, do not see why I
should not have thorough investiga-
ton of the most interesting phenomen-
on have ever come across AN inves.
tlgation by committee of experts I'M
der the supervision of the Daily Mail.
1t was so near Matchmaking threat
That my first thought was to kick him
down stairs Ny second thought was
that. Judging from his build and look,
it would be an hours steady work:
and ! had elready done my work for
the day. Ny third thought was that
boots were not business. He was GER |
tainly playing with his cards upon the
table. He had shown me how he had |
upon my uncle's belief in |
spooks and his fondness for the Gar
lens. newspaper ghost story would |
harm the property; and what was
worse l should have to answer scores
and scores of letters from my leisured
tenants about 1t. thought of those
etters and I qua!led.
But then the rent was two thousand
pounds a year; and any one who has
had to live on five thousand pounds a
year for seven years knows what two
3hcusand pounds year Is. was not
sclng to give 1t up withoutsah effort.
- had been sitting. looking at Scru-
ON. with my mouth open, while II
:hought 1t out. Now tried another
ack. and said: well I'm not going
o pay for this absurd fancy. A ghost
n the twentieth century! It's non
sense, don't YOU know?'
Fancy? Nonsense? Why, out Of
ny twelve servants only two will sleep
n the house. Some sleep in the rooms
'ver the stables: some in lodgings in
ireen street. Your uncle did not find
nonsense, Lord Garthoyle. He slept
n the haunted room and saw the
,host." d
Eyes. my uncle would; he had lean.
ngs that way, don't you know? But,
# course. there's 30 chance of my see.
ng it. 1t wouldn't come If I were
here, don't you know?' drawled.
But YOU shall see it, It will come, II
ny night you like. It's always there
t night" he cried in a quite excited 4
,ay.
I pretended to hesitate: then said
Well, don't believe I shall see any
host-but If do. and 1t is ghost, I'll
1t you have the house rent free for an. ,
ther year. II I don't you pay your ,
emit"
He hesitated moment; then he
aid: cts a bargain. What night will {
OIL come and sIeep in the haunted {
oon'? How will Saturday night suit !.
ou?"
Saturday night at eleven-thirty
fhat kind of ghost is it?'' / said II
Its woman, who walks. signing, t
p and down the room from which {
[rs. Buckley threw herself. But she's q
,metimes seen on the stairs. That's
hat has driven the servants out of the ),
ouse" !
"A woman that signs doesn't sound
cry terrifying" said.
Ito Be Continued.)