The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-25
Eoening Story
The Haunted House.
BY FREDERIcK HART.

defiant. Il think you' rasall silly to be-
/ iieve such stories. There's no more
harm in that old house than there is
in chickencoop."
But, Cordeiia, old Bates says"
"Oh, don't tell me what old Bares
says, I wouldn't believe that old rep
rebate on a stack of Bibles. He's al
ways telling the most awful whoppers
and he tells them so often that he
thinks they are true himself. Why,
you've all heard his stery about the
catfish that was SO big that they had
to use a calf for bait. He's the worst
liar in the county,"
| The object of Cordeiia's outburst of
| Skepticism was group of young peo-
PIE who were sitting around the fire
place in the Davis country house en-
| Toying the heat of the flames; for tho
| 1t was early October there was a chill
in the air that made the cracking le gs
very comfortable.
The talk had drifted from golf and
bridge to ouija boards and haunted
the deserted house up the road, stating
that it was haunted, and adducing the
evidence of old Bates, the peripatetic
gardener of the Davis menage, as evil
dence in support.
A weird tale of moving fights and
hollow groans had caused the COM
pany to sit little closer around the
fire-all except Cordelia.' She shouted
her derision at the idea, and oyerrode
the objections of the company as she
usually overrode anything that opposed
itself to her sweet will.
why" she finished, as a sort of
crusher to trample all opposition, IT
wouldn't be afraid to spend the night
in that old place any time. I'm not
afraid of BateSS groans and lights.
there never can be. I'll. go there to-
night,'
There was a chorus of protest, and
even Cordelia saw the absurdity of the
sugss estion. But she was not to be so
easily turned from her position.
well, of course I couldn't stay all
night" she amended. Mother would
have a fit-but will do this-I'n go
up to the house now and stay till mid
night. Mother won't be in from the
club till after then and / can prove
that I'm right Just as well in two
hours as all night. Now don't try to
dissuade me, for I've made up my
mind. I'm going, and what's more. I
don't want any of you to. follow me
and put up a crazy joke by making a
lot of noises. I'm going UP. to the
house, and I'm going to stay there till
hear the village clock strike twelve.
1t isn't far off and I'll be perfectly
safe. 1 just want to show you how
foolish you are to believe in ghosts
and all that rot. I'm going now-good
night" And before any one could
protest she was out of the room. Look
ing out of the window they could see
her in the early moonlight walking
rapidly toward the path that led to the
haunted house, with shawl which
she had caught up in her progress
thru the hall thrown over her head
The company returned to their seats
by the fire little sobered by the in
cident.
81 think Cordelia's very foolish to
rush off like that" said Betty Sterne,
a pretty blond girl who was one of
the most popular of the guests .-She
might meet a tramp or a dog or any,
thing. Don't you think some one
might go after herr"
Whoever went after her would run
an awful risk of being eaten alive"
retorted Charles West Betty's sutton
of the moment. "CordeIia's made up
her mind, and nothing we could do
would change it. It's after 10 now,
anyway-she's only about an hour
and three-Quarters. And, of course,
nobody thinks for minute that there
really is anything wrong with the
house. Cordelia got one of her crazy
impulses, and you know there's no do
ing anything with her till the mood
passes. Let her go if she wants to.
She'll come back about midnight and
tell us all about it and everybody will
be happy.
So the crowd continued its chatter,
apparently forgetfuI of the obstinate
Cordella. But one man was moody
and silent. This was Jimmy WestIake.
lie did not like the idea of CordeIia's
being out alone, even tho the ruined
house was on her own property and
there was nothing to be apprehended
from tramps or other providers of the
night. His solicitude was not entirely
based on disinterestedriess CordeJia
mad long ago entangIed him. in the
mesheS of her attPactiveness. but he
was by nature "a silent man. who did
not show we'll in the company of the
more brilliant, if shalIower. sroun that
surrounded CordeIia So he had never
spoken.
AS the hour wore on toward half
past eleven Jimmys uneasiness in
creased. Finally he could bear it no
longer, and with word of excuse
about going out to the garage to see
about something he had forgotten to
90 to his car, he slipped from the
room Once outside he headed for the
haunted house.
The broken ediffce was ghostly
enough in the pale moonlight, with its
crum bling walls, CLASHES windows and
shattered door. The weeds grew rank
and unkempt all about it. He stole
cautiously up the path to the door
way, and even as his foot touched the
worn sill he heard a muffled shrek
AiOIh WItnih. Every nerve on fire he
rushed thru the Uttered hall and came
to a door from behind which came sobs
with an unearthly clanking
sound.
1t was locked, but his shoulder sent
1t crashing inward and he found him
self in a room dusty with the accumu-
laiions of years, in which the moon
light filtered dimly thru dirty panes; |
in one corner huddled heap of white |
which he knew to be Cordelia; and
across the floor something black and |
shapeless was moving, accompanied by |
that ghostly rattle.
Jimmys nerve was good, but even |
he was shaken for moment Then |
reason reasserted itself, and he kicked |
savagely at the Thing; it leaped away
with snarl. and the moonlight fell |
en- ia small dog with a collar from |
whlch dangled few feet of rusty |
chain.
In his relief Jimmy laughed aloud. /
and took two strides to where Cor !