The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1925-10-29
My Fauorite Stories
Question: How Far Did
George Cor

was named Ferguson. He owned a
string Of two-room frame cottages and
his tenants exclusively were colored.
Very great was his chagrin when
negro man in tit of pique cut wom-
ans throat In one of his houses so
that she bled TO death, leaving a large
dark stain on the floor, because inn
mediately the word spread among the
black population that the building was
haunted and thereafter nobody would
rent 1t, even at reduced rates. For
months the cottage stood empty. Then
the owner had bright idea. He went
one evening and hunted up Il large
dark individual named George Titus,
upon whom by way of beginning, he
conferred drink out of bottle Of
corn spirits.
George" said he, these darkies tell
the you know quite lot about h'ants
and ghosts and such things?"
well, sub, Mist Ferguson" replied
George modestly, Il does know a right
smart bout SIGH"
That's good" said the willy white
on such matters. Now. then, speaking
as one expert to another, l want to tell
you that gun-harrel shack of mine out
here on Clay street. where that woman
was killed, IL not haunted. She died in
Il state OF grace and her spirit rests in
peace.
But the trouble is that these colored
people around this town don't know II
and they've given the place bad
name What | want to do Is to prove
TO them that It's not ha'nted, And
here's the way we're going to do it.
YOU and me. I'm going TO hire you to
spend tonight In the room where the
killing took place. Then, when you
come out tomorrow morning and tell
your people that nothing happened
there during the night, I'll be able TO
rent the house again, I'm going to
give you the rest of this bottle OF IL
quor now and fresh bottle besides,
And tomorrow morning I'll hnnd you
ten-dollar bill. How about III"
That slug OF corn whisky already
was working. II made George valiant.
Besides white man had appealed to
him for professional aid, He con
sented-after another lusty pull Mt the
flask.
The crafty Ferguson took no
chances Straightway he escorted his
newly enlisted aid to the house Of
tragedy, provided him with pallet on
the moor and left him there in the
gathering darkness. But before depart
ing he took the precaution of barring
the two windows from the outside and
securely locking the front and rear
doors.
Next morning bright and early he
came to release his brother expert The
still fastened tight but the house was
empty Also It was In damaged
stateI AT one side the thin clnpboards
we're burst through, az though blunt
projectile travelling at great speed had
struck them with terrific force from
within. The shattered ends of plank
ing stood forth encircllng the jagged
aperture In sort of sunburst effect
Upon the splintered tip of one of the
boards WIS a wisp OF k!nky wool Up
on paling OF the yard fence was a
rag, evidently ripped from shirt
sleeve, Otherwise there were no signs
OF George Titus, lie was utterly gone,
with only TINT yawnlng orlhce in the
cottage wall to give clue ns to the
manner Of his departure
Mr.. Ferguson waited all through the
summer day for the missing one ia turn
up. George failed 10 return. ON the sec
ond day the white man gave the alarm.
A search party was organlzed-men on
horseback with dogs. Bloodhounds
took the trail. They followed II from
early morning until late that evening
Just before dusk, in a swamp thirty
miles away the lead-dog bnyed eXuI'
family The pursuing posse, with Fer
guson In the lead, spurred forward
Here came the missing George His
face was set toward home. II was
face streaked with dust and dried
sweat, torn by briers, wet drawn. gray
with fatigue. His garments were In
shreds; his hat was gone. His weary
legs tottered under him as he dragged
one sore foot after the other. He was
pitlable sight.
Yet in the hear, Of Mr.. Ferguson in
dgnatlon WAS stronger than compass
sion. He rode up alongside the spent
and wavering pedestrian.
well, by heck. you are certainty the
most unreliable niger in this stated"
he said Here night before last
make contract with you for n GER
tain job. leave you In one OF my
houses. come there the next morn
Ing and not only nre you gone. with
Out leaving any word, but one Side OF
my house Is busted out. And then !
have 10 leave my business to come
hunting for you And after hunting
all over the country ! find you here,
thirty miles from home. in a swamp.
Where in thunder have you been since
| last saw you, fory-eight hours agoY
Boss" said George I've been com.
In back"
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