The following story is true , as told to me by my brother three days ago.

Ottumwa, Iowa--On October 9th of this year, my brother (Tom), his daughter (Lori), and my mom (Marilyn)had just gotten off the elevator on the 7th floor, the floor Marilyn's room is on.

"Grandma," Lori said, "why'd you leave your door open? And what's that bright light coming out through the gap?"

"I didn't leave it open. You know I never leave it open."

"The light's so bright," Tom observed. "Jesus!"

No sooner had he spoken that the trio saw two human legs framed in the doorway, the shadow from them much larger on the left wall of the hallway.

"My God," Marilyn muttered, wide-eyed and then quickly rushed to the door where they immediately noticed the naked legs had disappeared.

Tom, nearly blinded by the intense light, pushed the door wide open; the light went out.

Marilyn gasped and then, unable to see in the dark room, found the light switch she knew would light up the kitchen, the first room after entering her place of residence. "Clyde!" she shouted, then collapsed, conscious.

Tom and Lori entered the kitchen but saw nothing unusual. Nor did they smell anything that was worthy of mention.

Marilyn was helped to a chair and seated, color having left her face. While she was trying to settle down, Tom and Lori serached every inch of the three small rooms. Nothing. They knew no one escaped out through one of the two windows, on account they were locked. That and the fact they seven stories up.

Dealing with a major dose of the creeps, Tom and his young-adult daughter returned to Marilyn.

"Mom," Tom said, "you said you saw Clyde. Clyde as in your husband?"

She heaved a sign, heart pounding. "Yes."

"But Grandpa's been dead for a little over 10 years Grandma." Lori reminded.

She burst into tears.

"You're gonna spend the night at my place, Mom," Tom insisted.

She nodded.

The three left the room and were soon at Tom's house. Because only Marilyn claimed to have seen the ghost of her husband, Tom and Lori could only wonder verify her claim. However, they knew something very strange had happened, and they feared the happening would affect them for the rest of their lives.

As for the ghost, if it was Clyde. . .he had returned on what would've been his 73rd birthday.

Marilyn had asked Tom and Lori to keep the chilling experience to themselves. But as Ben Franklin once said: THREE PEOPLE CAN KEEP A SECRET--BUT ONLY IF TWO ARE DEAD.

Marilyn has since returned to her place of residence but never hangs around long. At the moment she is out of town. She doesn't know when she'll return to Ottumwa. W.R.