A GHOST STORY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 260, 1 April 1914, Page 6

A GHOST STORY.

I'nWHTKXKD CAMI3LKUS. ■Mr. John lleslop, at his seiul-oIV at Kltham last week, told a ghosi, story that created much merriment (says tie: Argus). Air. lleslop referred to the incident as his ".start in life." He left, the Cheviot Hills on his first start into the ivido world, and in I he course of time in liis travels lie came to a little inn. where he asked for. accommodation. There was only one room vacant, and the landlord told Mr. lleslop in awed tones that it was haunted. However, he looked at the room, thought it looked comfortable, and said lie would sleep ill it. He noticed on the dining table an open razor, howl and shaving brush, and the laudlord informed Mr. lleslop that though no one had ever seen the gho.t many people had. heard it moving round and exclaiming in -epulchral tones. "Anyone! want, shaving':" so no one ever moved (lie shaving apparatus from the table. This all sounded very mysterious, but .Mr. lleslop went to bed, prepared to take his chances, lie could not sleep very well and he heard a party of "young bloods'' in a room down below gambling and having a good time, and occasionally passing remarks about the young clodhopper in th(! haunted room, and wondering how he was getting on with the ghost. As he was dropping oil' to sleep he heard a most peculiar, and unaccountable noise. He sat up in bed and proceeded to examine things. Investigation showed that the branches of a big apple tree, stirred up and down by the wind, produced a most extraordinary sound which, by a violent stretch of imagination could be translated into "Anyone want a shave':" Laughin«' at his dh.vovery, young lleslop thought he would carry on (he joke. So he wrapped himself in a sheet, held a razor, shaving brush, and bowl in front of him. ami stalked downslairs. The young bloods were still gambling and making merry, and had a good many sovereigns on the table. The "ghost" entered the room and in hollow tones cried,"Anyone want a shave?" With howls of terror the gamblers rushed out. by an opposite door, and before lleslop could explain things they had all cleared out, leaving the money on the table. Wild horses will not drag the rest of the story from us, but if any of our readers wish to know how many sovereigns the landlord got, and how many the ghost got to give him a ''start in life," they had better ask Mr. lleslop before he leaves for England.