Juliet signal., 1861-05-14
The stranger only grinned and passed out

The stranger only grinned and passed ou
of the door before him.
At the gate stood small vehicle, black
as ink. aud capable of containing only tws
! persons. A small elk like pony was fas,
tened to It's shafts. aud little black boy
held the reins. Hiram glanced doubtful,
at the shabby turn out, but in compIianct
to nod from his fellow traveller, stepped
IN and took his seat beside him. If ths
shaggy pony was sn all and uncompromis-
ing to look at, he was nevertheless as fee
OF foot as any race horse, and the dingy We
hlcle spun along at o rate which made old
Hiram cling to the sides with both hand,
and shut his eyes that he might not grow
| giddy. Upon passing from the village, il
! turned down the broad country road, and
paused at the margin of little piece Of
woodland.
Your Office seems to be in a very
strange locality" muttered old Hiram, sus-
piciously.
. Not at all.' replied the little man in
green; "only we are going by tho UNDER
ground way, so as not to attract atten-
| tion."
"Ah!' said old Hiram: "Well, this
does seem to be an underground passcge,
sure enough - tor they were turning now
into sort of cave, and only one faint ray
! of light in the far distance saved them from
being wrapped in utter durkness. 81 shall
be glad when ] am safe home again" he
added to himself :" How do know where
the fellow is taking me ?"
But even as he spoke the distant light
grew larger, and the carriage paused at an
iron bound door with grating in the top,
through which fell red glare, like that of
flame from the chimney of a pottery on a
dark night.
" This is our flee" said the little man in
green; and old Hiram followed him as he
leaped from the crazy vehicle, which sud-
deniy vanished In most mysterious man.
ner. rap at the door summoned dark
vIsaged mar, who admitted them without
parley, and old Hiram Gormley stood in q
yerItable counting house, the most spacious
which bad ever met his eyes. lie glanced
down the rows of dilligent clerks, all
dressed in black, and all engaged in making
entries In immense iron bound volumes at
the huge fire. which he could see reflected
on the roof through wide grating IN the
distance, and which rendered ar ything in
the way of lamps and candles unnecessary:
and then turned toward a tall, dark man,
who strobe towards him from the very cen.
tre of the glowing light He was clad in
black, and his hair was bound together in
an old fashioned cue. There was a scrt of
supple snake like ease in his movements.
and his feet were singularly shaped. and
covered with shoes that suggested either
the gnut or buEtons.
MIR. Gbrmley," said the little man in
green. Mr.. Gormley, partner. lie has
come to inspect our stock of -four, he'd like
to buy it in"
g lie would like to buy it in, would he ?'
said the new conner. You are very vel
come, MIR. GOrmley. have no doubt we
shall come to terms. Gentlemen, this is
Mr.. dIram Gormley, with whose name YOU
are so we'll acquainted, and whom you hay e
expected so long"
As he spoke, the long rowsyof black clad
clerks arose with one accord, and, bowing,
turned upon him their hollow, blood.shot
eyes. filled with the light which must have
been reflected from the fire beyond, it was
SO red and horrible.
Old Hiram GOrmley shud1ered inyo'un-
tarlly, as addressing himself to his two
companions, he said
Can see this flour of which you have
been speaking"
Certainly, sir" replied the taller cf the
two. as he flung open narrow door to his
| right. and beckoned Hiram to approach.
Light ur, boys, light up!"
Aud at the words myriad of torches
fiared down seemingly interminable Wis
Ia, and Hiram looked down upon mvriads
and myriads of barrels, stretching AWAY
until they faded into mere specs in the dis
taDce.
Il Full of -four, from the very first brand
down to the poorest not another barrel
left in the market. You car have the unper
! hand nf the whole of them, Hiram Gormlev
! when you can starve ten millions. if YOU
/ like. DO you close the bargain, or siall
| we send for some one else ?"
Hush. lagree. Tell me your terms, u
! gasped Hiram, DervOusly.
6 They are very easy" said the tall man
in black. :" Sit down, if you ease
Here is ren, ink, and paper, and the docu-
! ment."
Hiram seized the paper, and conned !,
rapidly, growing white and cold as be read
On-at last he flung it from him, and
screamed:
My soul Promise to give YOU nv
| soul. In the name of the fend who are
you?"
! Your humble servant" said the black
clad creature, bowing; and Hiram CORN
| ley saw a cloven foot peeping from the
queer boot, and distinguished the perfume
| of birthstone.
" Let me CO." he said "let me 90"
" Softly why do you care so much fo,
wha. you have already mnrtgagedP Yor
are half mine already, do you know that p
1" Ii is false" said old Hiram. Il cbea
no man, / belong to the church and sub
scribod fifty dollars to the missionaries {
year ago"
The dark being grirnea contemptuousI,
=" Bring me Mr.. Gormley's box" ht
| said.
And be who conveyed old Hiram to tn,
spot where he now stood, sat upon the ia
Lle box like that in which the LAWYER,
keep the papers Of clients, labeled Hiram
| Gormley, esq.," From the depths of tbi,
box he drew pile Of parchment, aud reat
from thence:
A mortgage on the soul of Hiram
Gormley, given on the day when he turned
his daughter from his door. Another wher
he seized old widow Potter's furniture fo,
rent. Another. when he took advantage o.
flaw in the papers to evade the payment
OF JUST OeOt CT MS own. Myrlads wheI
he first began business and told fifty lies q
day, and gave false weight and measure
aud one tremendous mortgage for passing
through the world without one loving, ten
der. sympathizing feeling to mankind"
Your soul-bahi what is it wortt
now? ?"
I'm take it all back III have my
daughter and ner husband home. Illpay
-"
Too late" said the dark creature
Too late, Hiram Gormley, too late !'
But the old man, stretching out his hands
screamed aloud in terror, and fell back
wards in Inconsistencies
When Mrs. GormIey returned from thc
dinner party, she found her husband
stretched upon the heartb-rug. with blue
lump upon his forehead as large as n hem