Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 January 1913 — A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE [ARTICLE]

A MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE

“You would not dare.” “Indeed I would,” Alma Brown replied. "I always a haunted I never believed in ghosts, and it would be just fun to be chasing after something you did not expect to find.” “You would believe in ghosts all right if you once explored that house,” her cousin Claude replied. Alma laughed merrily. “Carrie is just longing f<?r the adventure,” she said, turning to a girl by her side, "and, May, will also join us." The two girls thus addressed looked doubtful, but Claude’s pert, “I dare you three girls to explore that house,” decided them at once, and that night was set for the grim event. "Shall we take the dog?” Carrie asked, after Claude and his friend Bob Marshall had started down the road. "Are dogs any good with ghosts?” Alma asked. Carrie did not know; but her dog was a faithful pet, so she concluded to take him, and the girls parted to meet at the old Iron gate at the midnight hour. The church clock was striking 12 as three dark figures crept through the entrance of those ruined walls, and made their way to the big oak door. Pushing it in with some difficulty they entered the hall, where Carrie produced a small lantern from under her cloak. It smoked dubiously, but It helped them to find their way through the bare and dust-cov-ered rooms. “Come back girls,” May whispered, her teeth chattering with nervous fear, for even the dog turned from the dense darkness that met their gaze, but with careful steps Carrie pressed forward, until by the glimmer of the lantern they could see a slender staircase when Alma’s courage was suddenly revived. "Come on,” she begged, "I’m not afraid,” and slowly and carefully, for it -was a perilous undertaking, the three girls climbed to. what seemed to them a terrific height. Creeping down* the hall which seemed more •weird than below, they paused before a door on the right, when suddenly a faint groan Issued from somewhere around them, so long and mournful as almost tb congeal the life-blood in their veins. They turned, but not being able to again find the stairs, they clung trembling to each other as the groans came louder and deeper. A growl* and then a roar, like something maddened or inhuman in their path. “Oh, what shall we do?” May sobbed, as In their excitement the lantern had fallen to the floor leaving them In total darkness. Not one ray of light pierced through the closely drawn shutters, and beating their way they could hear the patter of light footsteps rushing over those empty floors.

They stumbled against the walls, and over each other, their nerves now strained to their utmost pitch. "Whore shall we go?" Alma gasped, brokenly, as now again a wall broke the awful silence. v By this time they had gained a small alcove, where on one side the wall had fallen out A gust of fresh air helped to revive their strength. “We shall have to wait here until daylight” Carrie cried. “We can never find our way out.” "Oh, do not stay in this dreadful place. Scream again,-Alma,” but she could only cling to her friends in her terror. They pushed wildly on not daring to pause, until at last, weary and faint, they could see a gleam of light in the distance, and hurrying on gained a low covered driveway, but at that moment a most terrific wail rent the air, and Alma sank in a heap at their feet Her companions tried to assist her to rise, almost dragging her along the path. “Do not run any more,” she "cried, in a tone of disgust “What fools we have been.” "What do you mean?” May asked, still trying to hurry her forward. “Those moans all came from your confounded little dog.” "No,” Carrie exclaimed in amazement "They did, for didn’t you hear that same wall when I tripped over him just now? And those light footsteps were just the patter of his feet.” They had reached the gate, and throwing themselves on the steps there were several moments of smothered laughter, as each one, so thoroughly relieved, realized from what they had escaped. "Why didn’t I think of him?” Carrie said at last. "He always makes those hideous sounds when he gets excited.” "Do not tell Claude,” Alma begged. “How be would crow if he knew of our experience to-night” - “Yes,” Carrie responded, with a hearty laugh. "He would say we went to explore, a haunted house, and took our ghost with us.” Just then they heard the boys calling to them, and the next moment they came dashing up the path. "Did you see the ghost?" Claude asked. "Yes,” all three girls shouted. “And took tea with her;" Carrie added, In a saucy tone. “Really,” Bob exclaimed. "What did she provide? Wind pudding?" “Yes,” Alma asserted, with quick repartee. “And if you boys had been with us, there would have been plenty of tongue sauce.” And it is safe to affirm that no other secret of that midnight hour vm evgr disclosed.