“He had a love affair very early in life, while at college, with the daughter of his Greek professor.  Surreptitiously he took her to drive one afternoon, and the horse became frightened, ran away and killed the girl.  He was a peculiar man, and seems never to have swerved from his allegiance to her memory.”

“I hope it is not true that the conditions of the will require you to remove from X—–­and settle in New Orleans?  We can’t afford to lose you from our bar.”

“There are no restrictions in my Uncle Lennox’s will; the legacy was unconditional; but the obligation of complying with his urgent desire to have me live in New Orleans will probably induce me to make that my future home.  For several years he has associated me with him in the conduct of some important suits; and I understand now, that his motive was to introduce me gradually to a new field of professional labor.  Not the least valuable of my new possessions is his superb law library, probably the finest in the South.  Of course my business will keep me here, for the present, and I have matured no plans.”

“Did you reach New Orleans before his death?”

“No, I was in Dakota, and missed a letter designed to acquaint me with his illness.  While in Washington on my return, arguing a case before the Supreme Court, a telegram was forwarded from the office here, and I hurried off by the first train, but arrived about ten hours too late.  Another grudge I have to settle with that bloody thief, when I unearth him.”

“After all, Dunbar, you are a deucedly lucky fellow,—­and—­Hello! historic Hebrew!  Bedney, have you seen a ghost?”

“Yes—­Mars Alfred—­two of ’em.”

Spent with fatigue, panting, with an ashen pallor on his leathery, wrinkled face, the old negro ran in to the office, and leaned heavily against the oak table.

“What is the matter?  Positively, you are turning a grayish white.  What is the secret of the bleaching?  Police after you?  Or does the Sheriff want you?”

“Mars Alfred, this ain’t no fitten time to crack your on’-Gawdly jokes, for I am scared all but into fits.  I started in a brisk walk, but every step I got more and more afeered to look behind, and I struk a fox trot, and now my wind is clean gone.”

“What is the trouble?  What are you running from?”

“’Fore Gawd, Mars Alfred, sperrits!  Sperrits, sir.”

“Do you mean that you want a dram to steady your nerves?”

“I’m that frustrated I couldn’t say what I want; but I didn’t signify bottle and jimmyjohn liquor, I mean sperrits, sir, ghosts what walk, and make the hair rise like wire all over your head.  The ole house is hanted shore ’nuff; and I can’t stay there.  Lem’me tell you, Lord!  Mars Alfred, don’t laugh!  It’s the Gawd’s truth, ole Marster’s sperrit is fighting up yonder in his room with the man what killed him.  I seen him, in the broad daylight, and I have cum for you and Mars Lennox to git there, jest as quick as you kin, so you kin see it fur yourselves.  I know you won’t believe it till you see it; nuther should I, but it’s there.  The sperrits have cum back, to show my young mistiss’ child never killed her grandpa.”