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Twelve What beck’ning ghost, along the moonlight shade Invites my steps, and points to yonder glade? Pope A few months later, Mike was unexpectedly offered a co- op job through the university. As a graduate student, he had much to gain from the position, but the one drawback was that he would have to relocate for six months, which meant giving up the apartment. Ted was thrilled for his friend, but there was no way he could afford to keep the place alone. And the idea of moving back home was not at all to his liking. But he would worry about that later, he decided, and promptly suggested a night out with Mike to celebrate his good news. They headed down to The Chucker, a local college hangout, and before long everyone there joined in the celebration. A while later when one of Mike’s friends strolled in, he was invited over to the party table. “You remember Ralph, don’t you?” Mike asked Ted. “T think so,” he said, smiling up at a young man he’d met briefly a time or two before. “Ralph Miller, right?” “Right,” Ralph grinned back as he shook the hand Ted extended. ““What’s the occasion tonight?” “A new job,” Mike said. “Come on, grab a beer and sit. I won’t be around much longer, so you better take advantage of my spending spree while you can.” Ralph joined them and soon heard all the details of Mike’s upcoming move. “So what are you going to do?” he asked Ted, “when Mike leaves? Y’ all are roommates, aren’t you?” ”Yeah,” Ted nodded. “I haven’t figured out where I’m going to go. The apartment is nice, but I can’t afford it by myself. So I may have to move back home.” “Listen,” Ralph said, “how about coming over to my house tomorrow? I’ve got an idea you might be interested rr in” “What is it?” Ted asked. “Oh, I'll save it for tomorrow,” Ralph said. “Tonight’s no good for talking. We’ve got a lot of beer to drink if we’re gonna give Mike a real send-off.” Ted laughed and agreed by proposing another toast, but the next day he made a point of finding Ralph’s house. As he drove up to the street number, he was surprised to see a large, turn-of-the-century home. It sprawled across beauti- fully landscaped grounds covered with azalea shrubs and graceful trees, now somewhat neglected, and when Ralph took him inside Ted was even more impressed by the great rooms, filled with nooks and crannies. Clearly, the house had been a showplace in its day, and he couldn’t understand how a college student like Ralph could own such a wonderful home. They talked for a while, and then finally Ted brought up Ralph’s mysterious remark from the night before. “What was it you wanted to see me about?” he asked. “What’s the idea you mentioned at The Chucker?” “Look,” Ralph said, “how do you like this house?” “Well, it’s just great,” Ted told him. “Believe it or not,” Ralph continued, “this place belongs to me. I inherited it. Actually, I was living here with the owner, Miss Flowers, who was an old friend of my family. And after a while, we got pretty close. She was like a godmother to me, I guess. See, she never married, and she sort of felt like I was her son or something. I lived here the past few years while working on my degree. Anyway, when she died last spring, she left this house to me.” “Real nice,” Ted commented, looking around again. “Sure is,” Ralph agreed. “But unfortunately, Ted, as much as I love this place, it’s got me a little spooked. I mean, I am uncomfortable here right now, I guess, and I just don’t like Masquerade of Angels 111