Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-11-14
The Middleton
Ghost
Bv cLARIssA MAcKIE

SC a RE family spectre. skeleton
In the cupboard and haunted
house all in the same category"
asked Mrs. Lowell, sweeily. as they all
gathered around the great fire in the
big hall of the Middleton house.
"Why do you ask that. Gardiner"
inquired her sister. Flora Bolte.
"Oh-nothlng- just happened TO
wonder--it doesn't matter" she said.
alrily. and changed the subj4ft. but
the other guests. many Of whom knew
the secret of the Middleton family.
looked very uncomfortable indeed. A
very few OF them guessed that this
house party was the last that would
be held in the hospitable mansion. for
some Of the men knew that Major
Middeton's death had ended any hope
of recouping the family fortunes. "lIe
was the very last Middleton In the
male line. and none OF the women
have done more than be wonderful
mothers. charming wives and delight
full friends" said Lowell 10 Paul
Masters
what more should woman be?"
was Paul Masters query
IAN old-fashioned wife is what you
want" retorted Lowell with mis-
chievous glance from his dark eyes
The subject seemed distasteful to
Paul Masters. What was that retribu-
ton that was being worked out In this
last generation? There mad been
whispers about the Majors younger
brother who was black sheep. and
who was supposed to be dead and
whose ghost was said to haunt the
east wing Of the building. This broth
er had spent all his own fortune aud
defrauded the Major Of his money
with worthless stocks In some Aus
tralian gold field that probably ex-
Sited only in brother Eds fertile brain.
The Middleton house was mortgaged
to the chimney tops. but the hanks
had been decent and the mortgages
were extended for one year 10 allow
the widow and her daughter one more
chance to save the home.
Paul Masters saw Constance Mid
dleton enter the room and hesitate.
looking first al one man and then az
another ms IL to gauge the quality Of
each one
DO you need anyone;" he asked
quickly.
Her relief was apparent Please
help me" she whispered, Il don't want
mother TO know Unseen they slipl,s'i
into the small hall and sped toward
a small study that was unused this
evening A light was burning on the
round table. and Constance drew the
door shut. behind her.
81 am not exactly frightened" she
painted, but am startled. Mr
Masters
"Please tell me, and incidentally.
would be so happy IL you would re-
member your promise and call me
Paul You know love you. Constance
and that will never be happy 5nIeSs
you promise to try to love me q
little" he urged.
paul" she said very sweetly. u do
not have TO try very hard to-iove
you-but can't you see that do not
want to enmesh you in the iIl-fortunes
Of our family"
Perhaps ri change tbs luck.
sweetheart" he said bluntly. "Now
tell me what has startled you
you have heard that the mousse is
haunted?' she asked.
idle talk" he assured her.
Il said that al first, Paul. Come
here" she crossed the room and
opened the door of small closet he
side the fireplace There we're shelves
filled with old books--nothing else.
He stood beside her and listened. A
faint moaning sound. ending in n deep
groan 1T sounds human" he said
at last
II thought so, too
"What Is behind this roOmr'
'Il used to be Uncle Eds room
shortly before fathers last Illness and
Just before we heard that Uncle I'd
had died In Australia. father had the
room sealed up. There used TO be a
door into II from the short passage
II Is nailed up."
rs there any other way OF getting
into IT." he asked.
II happen 10 know OF one--grand- |
mother told me years ago that during |
the war o. 1912. women used 10 hide |
their vnluabes there so that the sol |
dlers would not take them. and the |
entrance Is simple. through this rOomi"
"ShOw me-" whispered Paul. "bnt
don't you follow"
But the Middleton women were not /
like that They would follow their
men into danger II need be. and so /
that when the hidden spring was found |
and the bookshelyes we're pulled
aside, together they stepped over the
threshold Of n cool dim room. where
Edwin Middleton. black sheep no
more but repentnnt prodlgal. lny dy.
Ing on the narrow bed where no had
slept as n boy. In boxes and chests,
baskets and canlsters WIS money. cur.
rency, bonds. securities Of every kind.
and In the midst Of n he died Paul
kneeling on one side ~ the bed and
Constance on the other.
So the ghost Of Middleton house was
laid AT last. and nobody knew how
long be had prowled the corridors NJ
night, taking the food he needed from
pantry and storerOom and puzzllng
cooks and housekeepers.
Colossal Pyramid