Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-02-04
Even This Can Happen

little light on the subject. nocturnal VISIT
J ors are usually averse to--lighti"
A candle flame prickled the darkness.
Patricia found herself staring into the
face of a very tall, thin man. He was
wrapped In a long purple velvet dressing
gown. He was too young to be old and not
old enough to be young. His eyes looked
the way his voice sounded. They were gray
eyes with q lot Of little lines around them
he had a shock of rough brown hair that
looked as If 1t had never been taught to
behave.
The wind from the open door made the
candle 1 nhis hand flicker. Patricia's figure
was etched fancifully against the shadowy
wall.
He brushed his hand over his eyes. by
Jove! 'he said and again, "By Jovei"
In her strange old world 'finery the girl
looked indeed like a ~visitant from another
world. He stared at the old brocaded gown,
the satin slippers, and the pale, mysterious
beauty of the white face, and pinched
himself.
I'm not drunk" he said, land l don't
believe in ghosts. Would you
mind telling me who you are-and how you
got in here"
Patricia made an impetuous movement
toward the door. 80, no" he said, putting
himself in her path. I'm too old q hand to
let you escape that way" he countered. Il
don't want to be rude, but | have quite a
large acquaintance among ghosts; ana,
frankly-you look very much-aliye!'
Patricia was silent. He came closer
~peering into her face. Her eyes widened,
Don't touch mel she
painted. Her voice was less loud than a
whisper.
The man stared at her with a searching.
intent look. as If he were trying to pierce
some supernatural disguise.
The expression on his face gave her an
idea. In the shadowy light she might sue
coed in deceiving him for an instant-sltp
by him to the window-dissolye into the
night like a phantom.
She gave a little faint, despairing sigh,
and wrung her hands together. 1T is SO
hard ~. to come back
come back And If you touch me I must
vanish
The man with the gray eyes twinkled.
When he twinkled a lot of little wrinkles
played hide and seek around his eyes anu
he looked very much like a naughty boy
who has run away from school. Patricia
was suddenly not afraid of him at all.
Are you really trying to make me be-
ingly captivated by the idea. He came even
closer. peering into her face. You are
a moments inspection. almost too beauti-
I'm by way of being q professor; ana |
nocturnal visitations OF this sort" lie
shrugged his shoulders and made a little
%rueful gesture. ut would ruin everything
If you were a ghost" he added, "You see.
/ am writing a book entitled Exposure or
Famous Ghost Myths Of America, and 1t
would be very discouraging to have to
exclude you-yon are so notorious!'
He went over and rummaged among the
papers on the desk. II have an article about
you here he said. He put down the candle
and scattered things around. II hope you
haven't been disturbing my papers, he
complained. 30, no, here we are" He picked
up a magazine and, holding 1t near the
candle, began to read.
One Of the most interesting legendary
myths Is the one that hangs about the old
Verr Carey manor on the Hudson. Col.
lRupert Carey, an elderly officer on Gen.
! Washington's staff, married, much against
the wishes of his family, a beautiful young
girl Of obscure parentage, who soon pinned
: in the conventional formality of his home
and began to meet clandestinely a former
lover, an outlaw sought by the authorities
for piracy on the high seas.
Little is known of what actually occurred
at the time of the tragedy that gave the
house its ghostly tradition, but the unem-
bellished facts are that the morning after
a reception given in honor Of Gen. Wash
lington Mt Vernon Carey the master of the
house was found on the floor of the great
hall-run through the heart! His young
! wife had disappeared and a strange man,
who was afterward identified as the out
law lover was found plucking at the walls
of the room, a raving mailman: He died
shortly after in an asylum without d.
vulging his identity or giving any clue to
the mystery.
Since then the house is reputed to he
haunted. Strange and unexplainable sounds
have been heard and ghostly visitations
!. have appeared to inmates who have rented
it from time TO time. Several disasters that
the police have been unable to explain have
occurred there. The ghost of the unfortun-
ate lady is supposed to haunt the prem
ises.'
Patricia wrung her hands together in af-
fected dispair. 30, woe is met she walled,
pitiously. "Woe is mel'
The man laughed delightedlN and flung
4 ---- MI 4 10 k1nf fn
fictional romances,' he derided. "They use
slang and swear when you expose them in
real life"
Patricia was suddenly intrigued with the
f, humor OF the situation. Romance! Adven-
!. turel She was In the midst Of 1t at last.
The storm-the desolation of the night
That man following. All were for
, gotten. A gay provocative light sprang into
, her eyes.
aslang-what is slang ~ she asked, limo
: Gently, as If athirst for information.
The tall, thin man twinkled again.
Slang" he Informed her, us a thing we
moderns use to put n punch In English
He made a little mocking bow. "You didn't
: know anything about 1t in your day" he
explained. "To give an example: If | told
q you you were a peach that would be
, slang!"
!, "a peach is a fruit that grows on tree,
isn't it?' Patricia smiled demurely.
!, The very tall, thin man made a compli-
mentary gesture. ga tree In the garden of
Eden y he said bowling.
) Patricia looked up at him from under
her long lashes. II thought professors were
Old" she said, irrelevantly.
!. The tall, thin man smiled. Sometimes
: the world is foolish enough to confer that
: title on a young man." he told her. He
threw back his shoulders and wildly ruffled
. up the hair that wouldn't behave. "This is
all very absurd" he said, "and very charm
ing. Ghost or not a ghost! What does 1t
T matter? Here W are, We two-in
> this deserted house. Nature is having 4
! tantrum outside, and l am q professor who
has always wanted to be a soldier Of for
/ tune" He swept his dressing gown over
: his arm as II 1t were a velvet cloak. II
have never cared for the ladies Of my
generation" he said. II should have lived
In your time He swept an imaginary
plumed hat from his head. "If l had bro
J caded coat instead of this dressing gown
he asserted, II would kneel at your feet,
/ fair lady, and IL l had a sword In my hand
/ / would kill ten men In your defense y
Patricia gave a little, excited aulgh. "You
mean-if you could!" she retorted, de-
I murely.
. The professor struck an attitude. "A
soldier Of fortune always can" he boosted,
elise why be a soldier Of fortune?"
> There came a great flash Of lightning.
!, Patricia gave a cry and covered, covering
her face with her hands.
!, The professor smiled. You are dead al.
ready" he reminded her. why are you
afraid of lfQhtnfn q ?s