At half past nine Teesdale was sitting in his study. `If it telephones,' he thought, `I think it will
telephone at the same time as last night.' Just then the telephone rang, not as softly as before, but still
more quietly than usual.
Teesdale picked up the receiver and held it to his ear. Someone was crying. It was a heartbroken,
hopeless sound. He listened for a moment, then he spoke.
`Yes, yes,' he said kindly. `This is Doctor Teesdale speaking. What can I do for you? And where
are you speaking from?' He did not say, `Who are you?' − he was sure he knew the answer.
Slowly the crying stopped, and a soft voice whispered, `I want to tell, sir − I want to tell − I must
tell.'
`Yes, you can tell me,' said the doctor.
`I can't tell you, sir. There's another gentleman, sir. He used to come to see me in the prison. Will
Ghost Stories
4 20
you give him a message, sir? I can't make him hear me, or see me. Tell him it's Linkworth, sir. Charles
Linkworth. I'm very miserable. I can't leave the prison − and it's so cold. Will you send for the other
gentleman?'
`Do you mean the chaplain?' asked Teesdale.
`Yes, that's right − the chaplain. He was there when I went across the yard yesterday. He prayed for
me. I'll feel better when I've told him, sir.'
The doctor hesitated for a moment.`This is a strange story,' he thought. `How can I possibly tell the
chaplain that the spirit of a dead man is trying to telephone him?' But Teesdale himself believed that the
unhappy spirit wanted to confess. And there was no need to ask what it wanted to confess . . . `Yes,' said
Teesdale aloud, `I'll ask him to come here.'
`Thank you, sir, a thousand times,' said the voice. It was growing softer. `I can't talk any more now.
I have to go to see − oh, my God . . .' The terrible, desperate crying began again.
`What do you have to see?' asked Teesdale with sudden, desperate curiosity. `Tell me what you are
doing − tell me what's happening to you.'
`I can't tell you; I'm not allowed to tell you,' said the voice very softly. `That is part . . .' and the
voice died away.
Doctor Teesdale waited a little while, but no more sounds came from the receiver. He put it down.
His forehead was wet with the cold sweat of horror, and his heart was beating very fast. `Is this real?' he
asked himself, `or is it some terrible joke?' But in his heart he knew that he had been speaking to a
troubled spirit, a spirit that had something terrible to confess.
He telephoned the prison. `Draycott?' he asked. The prison officer's voice trembled as he answered.
`Yes, sir.' `Has anything happened, Draycott?'
Twice the man attempted to speak, and twice he failed. At last the words came. `Yes, sir. He has
been here. I saw him go into the room where the telephone is.'
`Ah! Did you speak to him?'
`No, sir. I sweated and I prayed.'
`Well, I don't think you will be disturbed again. Now please give me the chaplain's home address.'