*Title: The Shadow of a Midnight by Maurice Baring
Date Read: 28 October 2008
Available Online?: YES
Briefly: Civil servant Jameson relates a ghostly tale to his Russian hosts, which occurred during his time at Heidelberg University. Befriending a fellow student named Braun, the two set off on a summer walking tour of the country. Staying one night at a inn, in the small village of Salzheim, Jameson finds he cannot sleep. With little to do he keeps his attention on synchronising his watch with the quarter-hour chime of the village church-tower clock. However, the chime for Midnight does not ring and soon after ghostly ‘goings on’ start to happen in the adjoining room of his friend Braun.
Afterthoughts: This story had nothing of note to really hold my interest. It was nothing to do with it being badly written, but everything to do with being largely unoriginal. It’s OK if you’re looking for a quick ghost story hit but there are much better stories out there.
Notable Quote: “When the clock struck a quarter to twelve I yawned for the first time, and I felt thankful that sleep seemed at last to be coming to me. I left off reading, and taking my watch in my hand I waited for midnight to strike. This quarter of an hour seemed an eternity. At last the hands of my watch showed that it was one minute to twelve. I put out my candle and began counting sixty, waiting for the clock to strike. I had counted a hundred and sixty, and still the clock had not struck. I counted up to four hundred; then I thought I must have made a mistake. I lit my candle again, and looked at my watch: it was two minutes past twelve. And still the clock had not struck! “
Rating: 
*Story read as part of the 31 Tales of Terror reading challenge.
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