The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-12
Then North Topeka Intruder
Stole WOman's False Teeth.
By Phat Time She Became WOr-
ried Over Flowing Hair.
ROBBERY WAS A MYSTERY
All Windows and Doors Found
Securely Fastened.
Swish of Ghost Was All That
Was Missing.

North Topeka has had its share of
haunted houses, and perhaps their
mysteries might have been explained
had any one had the courage a North
side woman has recently exhibited.
She lives alone in a large house and
is careful to securely lock all doors
and windows before retiring. There
fore. when she found that something
was stealing her sugar, she was posi-
tive that whatever was instrumental
in its disappearance did not enter thru
a door or window.
Only the sugar on the dining table
was taken, and for a time the woman
was not certain of its loss, but thought
perhaps she had forgotten to fill the
bowl She kept her table set and
nothing was disturbed during the day,
but every morning found the little
cubes Of sugar gone. She knew 1t
was not the work of mice or rats, but
could think Of no reasonable explana-
ton.
Stories of haunted houses and the
peculiar actions Of the ghosts therein
portrayed, came to her mind. but who
ever heard of a ghost with sweet
tooth? Or with any teet,- at all, for
that matter.
But the idea persisted. and in the
ouiet watches OF the night she
imagined she could hear the sound of
light footsteps and the swish of soft
garment thru the OOoES-
Even Stole Her Teeth.
The unwilling hostess was to find
that the ways and needs OF spooks are
reached the age where upper and
lower false teeth are necessary II Is
her custom to remove them at night,
placing them in a glass OF water. one
night she left the glass, containing the
teeth, on the dining table, to find IN
the morning, the glass upset ana the
upper set of teeth gone! Then tnere
was wailing. and crashing Of the re-
naming teeth
High and low the woman searcht d
thru the rooms, but no trace did she
find of the teeth or of the intruder
Finally she gave up the search. con-
Guiding that the ghost-for she was
now convinced that human hands
were not responsible for the thefts-
having no sweet tooth of his own, had
taken hers.
Her Hair Next?
She was terribly worried, for she
felt there was nothing sacred to
ghost that would rob her OF her store
teeth. What II the ghost happened to
be bald and should take a fancy to her
wavy gray hair?
She became all worked up She
didn't want to go to see any of her
she was so nervous she couldn't keep
still. Finally she decided to put clean
papers on her cupboard shelves. think
ing that such an everyday task would
quiet her nerves. On removing the
pots and kettles from the lowest shelf,
what was her delight to find her teeth
tucked away under the paper in a
corner!
With the possession of the teeth
came renewed courage. She de-
termfned to watch and catch the in
truder at his work.
Only Squirrel.
Thru the long night hours sha
watched without result. But in the
chill. gray dawn her patience was re-
warded. Came the light swift foot
steps and the swish of trailing gar
ments. A little squirrel jumped on the
table. filled his cheekh with humps of
sugar and scampered way up the
stairsi
The woman followed and found he
had gnawed a hole thru the attic wall
and also into the hall, hence gaining
access to the entire house.
Instead of being proud of her cour-
age in the face of such an uncanny oc-
currence. the woman doesn't want her
name mentioned for fear people will
think her ''nutty."