I arrived at 2 p.m., having been informed the visitation was most likely to occur at 3 p.m. Disappointingly, but with no surprise, Ashden was nowhere to be found, having taken leave of his patients for a house call elsewhere. I found it remarkable to discover after questioning the matron on duty that afternoon - a cumbersome lady by the name of Margaret Fetch - that this was the first day Ashden had left the hospital in recent weeks (though she did insist that he was in dire need of a little rest and recuperation and she suspected he was more likely to be found on the golf course).

Having expressed my courteous greetings to the Marshmoors, I requested they omit my presence from their minds so to have them behave as naturally as possible. I positioned myself in the very corner of Mrs. Marshmoor’s private room to observe what might unfold.

At 2:17 p.m. an astounding sight! A large and notably healthy Irish Wolfhound appeared at the door. He paused for a brief moment to sniff the air and turned a glance in my direction, seemingly aware the circumstances of the room had changed a little since previously. Remaining entirely still and offering no hint of threat, I observed the creature take a position adjacent to Mrs. Marshmoor’s bed and sit itself in a manner allowing her ease of access to stroke the dog’s head. One might expect such an apparition to be lacking in substance, yet this was as solid matter under Mrs. Marshmoor’s hand.

I noted this was an unusual event in that typical expected phenomena had not brought themselves to my attention prior to or during the visitation of the creature purported to be phantasmal. The room temperature had not dropped. There were no air movements except that which might be expected from a small ventilation window at the rear of the room. There were no unusual sounds, lights, or sensations of any kind at the appearance of the spectre.

This all led me to believe we were dealing with a creature significantly more substantial than had been reported.

Part two…

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