St Francis Minor Seminary - Via Yearbook (Milwaukee, WI)

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f A V 9-3.3'20-3-3-3-3'3-3-33Cjw61 ERC aqe-cze-cz-cz-e-ae-a-e-ca-c the mansion. Finally the time came, and the doors again received the De Grands. The butler, in some conversation with his master about the new arrangements, dropped hints that things had occurred which would greatly disturb anyone; and i he added that he in particular no longer wished to remain in the house alone. The master, how- ever, thought the butler a little superstitious, and paid no attention to his words. One evening, about a month after their arrival, Master John and his wife and father were sitting in the living room. Dusk was slowly creeping upon the earth, and the only light in the room was that effused from the gas burner in the fireplace. The shades were closely drawn, to add to the coziness of the room. Suddenly a gentle hissing filled the room, and a. ghostly light appeared upon the wall right next to the door of the deceased Mrs. De Grandls bed chamber. The light slowly took on the form of a woman clothed in white, which greatly resembled the departed mistress. The form hovered a moment and then vanished as unannounced as it had come. The lights were quickly turned 011, and the terrified three discovered a very fine powder scattered over the carpet. The young Mrs. De Grand was so greatly perturbed that she deter- mined not to remain in the haunted house another night. The two gentlemen tried to persuade her to wait until an investigation had been made, but to no avail. The young Mr. John De Grand and his wife finally departed on a late train for New York. The master, however, tarried at his home, resolute that he would solve the mystery. When, after several weeks, the ghost made no further appearance, he joined his son in New York, and again left the house in charge of the butler. The De Grands made their residence at New York until the next summer, when the young Mr. De Grand suggested a trip to their country home, partly for pleasure and partly to investigate the unforgettable mystery. His wife emphatically refused to go again to the haunted house, but, when she was assured of the improbability of the ghosts reappearance, she consented. Nevertheless, they had spent only a few days at the mansion, when the ghost appeared in the same place and precisely in the same manner as it had before. Naturally, Mrs. De Grand was even more frightened than on the first appear ance, so she begged her husband to return im- mediately to New York with her. The father was not a little disquieted by the ghost, but he thought it peculiar that it should be so consistent in its wanderings that it never moved from the one place near the door. He wished now, more than ever, to solve the puzzle, and he tried to construct a clue from the matter he had. He invited Patrick Delaney, a detective from the scientific police department of New York, to the house one evening, to whom he had previously told the story of the ghost. It was rather late in the evening when the guest arrived, and he had not chatted long with his host when the ghastly scene was again enacted. When the apparition had vanished, the detective looked rather puzzled, but both he and his host retired with the question unsettled. The subject was not resumed until late the next afternoon. They examined the wall where the ghost had appeared, and discovered that the plaster was made up of very fine marble dust. With the aid of a powerful magnifying glass the detective found the marble dust to be slightly porous in the vicinity where the ghost appeared. At last they had arrived at a clue. It was already growing dark, and the two sat down to smoke over the success of a first clue. Delaney spoke first. Now that we have a clue, the only thing to do is to follow it up and find the cause of the affair, the instigator of the mischief, and I think that will be easy enough, mused the detective. Yes, said his host, Hbut the latter is far more incomprehensible than the first. HYes and no. Have you even no suspicions concerning the source of this trouble? HNo, none whatever. Well, I have, been watching your butler, and he appears to me to be a rather suspicious looking fellow. Couldn't you suspect him? itNo, sir! Emphatieally no. I would as soon suspect my own son. My butler has been in the family for over fifty years and has proven him- self to be most faithful. On that point, at least, I think you errf' 1.;4 While the old man spoke thus, the detective allowed his gaze to wander as he blew the smoke in clouds above his head. Accidentally he noticed a tiny hole in the ceiling, which appeared peculiar because the room had only recently been replas- tered. HWhat room is directly above us? he asked nonchalantly. ttWhy, an old deserted attic rarely fre- quented, his host replied in surprise. If you donit mind, I would like to investi- gate that attic, the detective said, as he arose and took note of the position of the hole in the ceiling. 3-33-33 595an I927Drw----- Page Sixty-seven

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f A ' N ?EDEO-ED-S 3-3-3 -:-:0 +10 3 sagig 1 E 12C aQe-cz-ca-e-cz-e-ee-a-cz-e-c Eh? murhprer My heart does ever in me burn, My soul, it seems so very black As into my soul my eyes I turn, And trace again that sinful track. Oh God, you will not pardon me! For 1W9 been cleansed from many sins. What! Must hellts fire for me be? Yeseby this sin the devil wins. Full ten and seven years ago, My saintly mother died. When she was buried, yes, I know, For the loss of her I cried and cried. Before her death she said to me, As on her bed of pain she lay, ttOhl that you always true may be, And in the grace of God may stay. Qbak tam, Eh? N THE outskirts of Clinton Dale, 3 city in the Jsouthern part of Virginia, stood a handsome old mansion called Oak Glen. It shrank back from the roadway and was partly hidden to passers-by, in a grove of oaks. This oak grove was only part of a spacious park and garden which surrounded the grand old house. Well- elipped hedges and old-fashioned trellises border- ing a trickling little brook, made the garden most fascinating to those whose privilege it was to stroll through its winding paths. In the back- e'g'ronnd could be seen the chimney of the power house, which was taken care of by the son of the butler, a skilled engineer who had studied at the New York Scientific School of Engineering. The house itself was very ancient in structure, having thick walls, many tiny windows, high gables, and broad verandas and porticos. The front entrance lead into a living room with a large fireplace in one corner. From this room a hallway led into the mistress, bed chamber. It was here in this mansion that the De Grand family had lived for the last fifty years. The De Grands belonged to the F. F. V.,S, the First Families of Virginia. Some of the members were of untainted character, while the same could not Many and many days have passed Since I have lost that grace of God. Today is come to be my last- Oh! I can almost hear her sob. Be still, my conscience! I cannot repent. I have sinned, God will not forgive. To a living death I shall be sent, And now must die as I did live. HIf Peterls sin was washed away, And now he is in Heaven- So shall yourls, my friend, this dm, By Confession be forgivenft These words were spoken by the priest, And in the eonm'cths eye A tear was seen, as his sorrow ceased, And, then was heard a relaxing sigh, eROMAN M. HUEPPER, ,29. Haunteh 11:11:52 be said of another few. Mr. and Mrs. John De Grand and their only son had spent many happy years at the old estate, when the death of Mrs. De Grand fell heavily upon the happiness of the carefree son and his old father. A few weeks after the funeral, the two decided to re- pair to New York, to be withdrawn from the scene of their recent bereavement. The butler and his family had, up to this time, lived in small apartments in the rear of the house. Mr. De Grand, before departing, entrusted the mansion to the care of the butler, who was al- lowed to live in a rather elaborate style. Several new servants were engaged, and he and his family enjoyed all the privileges of aristocrats. The mansion was rather old, and the butler, With the consent of his master, decided to do some re- pairing. Among other things the living room 1nenti0ned.above was replastered and a gas burner was installed in the fireplace. After the butler had enjoyed this life for al- most two years, the young Mr. John De Grand, who in the meantime had married, decided to take up his residence at his old home, Oak Glen. A few monthst notice was given the butler to retire to his old apartments, to allow time for repairs on W33 3 3Q: Page Sixty-six

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K-MA esa-Eo-ga-a-za-Eo-zo-g-EQG 1 EQC E guesse-cE-cz-ezcwz-a'cz-et-c They both retired to the attic, much to the bewilderment of the host. After a brief search the detective found the hole, and, looking through it, saw the butler enter the room below and light the gas in the fireplace, as was his wont to do each evening. The detective and his host with- drew behind the curtains of an old four-post bed. As the detective expected, the butler entered the attic, and, sitting on an old chair, glanced at his watch frequently. HThere is no light, but I believe they must be below, he muttered to himself. He then raised a small trap door in the floor, which revealed a switchboard. The almost noise less click of an electric switch was heard. The butler then put his eye to the hole, and, neither seeing nor hearing anyone, turned the switch, re- placed the trap door and left the attic. The de- tective turned to Mr. De Grand, who was pale from the blow he had received at the hands of his faithless servant. HMy suspicions are gratified, but the satis- faction, I am sorry to say, has caused you a sudden blow, exclaimed the detective. ttYes, indeed; James has proved traitor, but I am willing to place the matter in your hands and see the end,H his host replied feebly, yet resolutely. The next day the detective resumed his con- versation, and in setting forth his views, said: HThe first step to take in our project is to have the plaster removed from the vicinity in which the ghost appeared. If my fears are justified, this done, the whole mystery will be open to us. With your permission, Mr. De Grand, I will commission two carpenters to remove the plaster. HAs you will, Mr. Delaney. Continue as you see fit, answered his host. HFine! Begin at once. I have noticed, on close examination with a powerful magnifying glass, that the plaster is made of fine marble dust. The glass also brought to prominence a slightly porous section in the plaster where the ghost consistently appeared. It is this fact, Mr. De Grand, that gave me my first clue. Ghosts, as I have known them, scarcely subject themselves to such a limited space. ttYes, that also seemed peculiar to me, but I tried in vain to construct a clue from it, mused the host. In the meantime the carpenters, with their wrecking bars, had completed the task of remov- ing the panel of plaster, and at this juncture, were awaiting the next command. This came presently from Mr. Delaney as he said, UPlace the panel on the carpet where it Will not be broken, and step back that Mr. De Grand may see. Here, as I had expected, we find a fun- nel-shaped tube whose opening is in the shape of a woman. To follow this up it will be necessary to remove the tube. While the carpenter was busy with his screw- driver, the detective continued, HIf this apparatus is as I suspect, we shall find a tube leading to the gas main, which, I have noticed, is in direct con- nection with the fireplace burner. The carpenter had 110w finished his task and, obeying orders, turned on the gas in the fireplace. While he was doing this, the detective examined the hole and found everything to be as he had ex- pected. He then had the entire burner removed from the fireplace. When this had been done, he turned to Mr. De Grand and beckoned him to come closer. Here, he said, is the little insignificant- looking apparatus which has haunted this old man. sion. It is one of the most recent inventions, and has been installed here as the means of sending forth a ghost. The gas tube, Which I have shown you, is connected with the burner in the fireplace, and works automatically with it. When the gas is turned on in the fireplace, it also passes through the tube, out of the funnel, and through the pores in the plaster. This little apparatus is equipped With electric wires which, 011 observance, you will find to be connected with the switch in the attic above us. The entire apparatus is known as a Cathode ray machine.H HVery well, commented his host, Hbut how do you explain the ghostts illumination, and the powder found on the carpet after its disappear- ance? HThat is most simple, and only needs an ex- planation of the Cathode my machine. When- the gas has passed through the route that I have ex- plained, and has already entered the room, the switch in the attic permits the electricity to func- tion in the apparatus which sheds a piercing, bluish light on the gas, thus illuminating it. The shape of the woman is explained by the fact that the opening 'in the tube is of that shape. During this process, the butler is at his post above, where we saw him last night. When he Wishes the ghost to disappear, he increases the voltage which changes the gas into a fine powder, and this falls to the floor, Where we found it.H ttNow, bemoaned the host, Nthat the method is clear, the blow of a traitor stings still more severely. Can you explain the unfortunate but- leris motive for such treachery?H Page Sixty-eight aWT-mmh 9 2 7 jw-Ec-e-