The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-06-11
Chapter 26
ABOUT GHOSTS

ADOOI 0tiSOh
TWAS there anything else in the
W safe?" Dick asked.
: There was not, sir. Exceptin' a
bit of dust"
when was this, Nora?"
1.-TWO days . Three days. sir.
before Mister Rupert went to camp"
did he say anything when you
handed it to him."
well, sir. he laughed and said.
That's Texas for you said. Texas.
sir?' For | couldn't reminder any
one named Texas sleepin' in that
room, and no one at all has slept
in it since your uncle. Mr.. Ryker
Joris, stayed with US whilst your
father was i'll. When | said. Texas,
sir?' he said, Mrs. Joris is from
Texas. She's not afraid of anything.
not even a forty-five gum
WAS, that all he said?" Dirk
asked.
"No. sirHHe told me. I'll bet she
strikes a match with a bullet and
puts it out again with a second shot
He did indade. sir, and laughed
hearty at my sick looks. -. | remim-
Der though that Mrs. JOris does not
smoke. She does not use matches at
all. thank the saints"
Obviously Rupert had received the
weapon in spirit of hilarity.
did you mention the gun to Mrs.
Joris?" Dirk asked.
"That / did not. | left Mister Ru-
pert to do what he pleased about it,
and I'm thinkin' he gave it back to
her, though it was not In the wall
safe next day. nor the day before she
came home"
"You think it was a ghost, Nora?"
what Use, sir? There is a ghost
in Lowrie. l have me-self heard it.
though not for a long time"
'In the tower-room?
Nearby. at any rate, sir. heard
it plain from the hall. a sound like
some one laughin'. laughin' high like
a banshee. Your grandfather had the
tower-room thin He did not hear the
sound, reminder. That was long
ago."
''No one heard it but you?"
mot that night, sir. But others
have heard the tower ghost Timothy
has seen it."
She paused in some confusion. Ap-
parently she had not meant to bring
Timothy into the discussion.
Timothy has seen it," Dirk re-
peated. "When?"
Just whin. could not tell We.
But it was years ago. He does not
spake of it. sir. Mary told me-"
"All right. Nora. That will do"
Nora's hand moved to the door.
knob.
MARY said to ask ye. sir. IL you
would be havin' dinner at home"
"ln an hour" said Dirk.
When Nora had gone he rang for
Timothy. Their shadowy world re-
volving so near. had suddenly be-
come real to him. A ghost. 1t seemed
a proper denizen of that world.
TIMOTHY came. a bit disturbed.
= He had no doubt met Nora on the
stair. No. sir. he said. he never spoke
of the incident. and he had advised
Martin tOsbe reticent regarding the
sounds he had heard. People were
too ready tosniisun derstand.
A napkin vas still in Timothy's
hand. for he had responded hurriedly
to Dirk's bell In the dusk of the room
he wadded the biz of cloth nervously.
his pale old eyes meeting Dirk's. his
words falling reluctantly.
"Your grandfather. sir. You know
was very fond of your grandfather
1t was he who brought me over from
my home in Glamorganshire.
81 know. And you were young.
too"
Right, sir This did nor happen
sat that time. This did not happen till
after your grandmother died. You
were a child at the time, sir =. not
much more than a baby.
at was summers night. and very
still. when there came a sound i. +.
along about twelve o'clock like
your grandfather's bell :. directly
over my bed. sir.
at had not walked Mary. so I must
have dreamed it. But l got into my
clothes and went down the stair. and
opened his door. He was not there.