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B J Laubscher – Where Mystery dwells

The appearance of a phantom of the dead is well protrayed in this letter from Mrs. R. She wrote in Afrikaans :

"My husband, a constable in the South African Police went out one evening to look out for people who were shooting game by means of spotlights. I was alone at home with my two small children. I was very nervous and afraid of being left alone so it was well after midnight before I fell into a slumber. Suddenly I woke and as I opened my eyes I saw a man in his working clothes next to my bed. I was speechless with fear and the cold sweat poured from me. The person was my brother-in-law.

I tried to speak to ask what he wanted for in spite of the darkness I could see him distinctly and recognize his features. Then in a very tired, I should say exhausted voice he said :'Clara please give Koos (his little boy) a piece of bread' and at once he vanished. I felt that I was going to develop a heart attack I was so upset and my heart was pounding so much that I trembled all over.

While still in this emotional upheaval I heard a knock at the front door. Naturally I thought that my husband had returned from his patrol and without taking the torch or matches, I just ran to the door to meet him. But it was not my husband, it was a friend who came to tell us that my brother-in-law had died suddenly from a heart attack."