I would relate my ghost story , and rouse the curiosity of the listeners to such a pitch that some of them would offer to share my quarters , in hopes of seeing the spirit of the restless Tucker . Cheered by this delusive fancy , when my turn came I made a thrilling tale of the night 's adventures , and , having worked my audience up to a flattering state of excitement , paused for applause . It came in a most unexpected form , however , for Mrs. Grant burst out laughing , and the two boys , Johnny and Joe , rolled off the piazza in convulsions of merriment . Much disgusted at this unseemly demonstration , I demanded the cause of it , and involuntarily joined in the general shout when Mrs. Grant demolished my ghost by informing me that Bezee Tucker lived , died in , and haunted the tumble-down house at the other end of the lane . `` Then who or what made those mysterious noises ? '' I asked , relieved but rather nettled at the downfall of my romance . `` My brother Seth , '' replied Mrs. Grant , still laughing . `` I thought you might be afraid to be there all alone , so he slipped into the bedroom , and I forgot to tell you . He 's a powerful snorer , and that 's one of the awful sounds . The other was the dripping of salt water ; for you wanted some , and the girl got it in a leaky pail . Seth wiped up the slops when he came out early in the morning . '' I said nothing about the keyhole view of the harmless razor , but , feeling that I did deserve some credit for my heroic reception of the burglar , I mildly asked if it was the custom in York for men as well as turkeys to roost in trees . An explosion from the boys extinguished my last hope of glory , for as soon as he could speak Joe answered , unable to resist the joke , though telling it betrayed his own transgressions . `` Johnny planned to be up awful early , and pick the last cherries off that tree . I wanted to get ahead of him , so I sneaked down before light to humbug him , for I was going a-fishing , and we have to be off by four . '' `` Did you get your cherries ? '' I asked , bound to have some of the laugh on my side . `` Guess I did n't , '' grumbled Joe , rubbing his knees , while Johnny added , with an exulting chuckle , -- `` He got a horrid scare and a right good scraping , for he did n't know any one was down there . Could n't go fishing either , he was so lame , and I had the cherries after all . Served him right , did n't it ? ''
No answer was necessary , for the two lads indulged in a friendly scuffle among the hay-cocks , while Mrs. Grant went off to repeat the tale in the kitchen , whence the sound of a muffled roar soon assured me that XXXXX was enjoying the joke as well as the rest of us .
Grant Seth Tucker York explosion night right slops snorer transgressions